Lower Control Arm - Rear

Replace the rear lower control arm on a 1992 Dodge Viper, including disconnection from the wheel knuckle and subframe, requiring wheel removal and suspension support.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear lower control arm × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Control arm bushings (if not included with arm) × 2 — Use OEM specification
• Ball joint nut (cotter pin type) × 1 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks in front of front wheels
3. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground (do not remove)
4. Apply penetrating oil to control arm fasteners and ball joint nut if corrosion is visible

Procedure

1. 1

   Raise and support vehicle
   Use floor jack to lift rear of vehicle at appropriate jacking point. Place jack stands under rear subframe rails. Lower vehicle onto jack stands. Remove wheel lug nuts completely and remove wheel.
2. 2

   Support suspension assembly
   Position floor jack under rear knuckle or lower suspension assembly to support weight and keep suspension at ride height position. This prevents sudden dropping when control arm is disconnected.
3. 3

   Remove ball joint cotter pin and nut
   Locate the outboard lower control arm attachment where the arm connects to the rear knuckle/upright. Verify the actual fastener type against the Viper service manual, as the rear lower arm typically uses a bolted pivot rather than a tapered ball joint. Remove the outboard lower control arm-to-knuckle fastener. Verify fastener type first: if a through-bolt is used, remove the nut and bolt; note orientation of any washers or spacers.
4. 4

   Separate ball joint from knuckle
   Separate the lower control arm from the knuckle by withdrawing the through-bolt. Use a ball-joint separator only if the platform actually uses a tapered stud; confirm against the service manual before applying separator force. Once separated, carefully lower jack slightly to allow knuckle to move away from control arm.
5. 5

   Remove front control arm mounting bolt
   Locate the front mounting bolt where control arm attaches to subframe. This is typically a through-bolt with nut on opposite side. Support control arm with one hand while using breaker bar and socket to remove bolt and nut. Note position of any washers or spacers.
6. 6

   Remove rear control arm mounting bolt
   Locate the rear mounting bolt where control arm attaches to subframe or chassis mounting point. Remove bolt and nut while supporting control arm. Control arm should now be free to remove from vehicle.
7. 7

   Remove control arm from vehicle
   Carefully maneuver control arm out of suspension area. May require slight repositioning of jack supporting knuckle. Inspect mounting points on subframe for damage or excessive wear.
8. 8

   Prepare mounting points and new control arm
   Wire brush all mounting bolt holes and surfaces on the frame mounting points to remove rust and debris. Inspect bushings in new control arm for proper installation and orientation. Apply light coating of anti-seize to bolt threads if desired, but do not apply to threads that will receive torque specification.
9. 9

   Install new control arm to subframe
   Position new control arm into mounting location. Install front mounting bolt through control arm bushing and subframe, threading nut onto opposite side. Hand-tighten only at this stage. Install rear mounting bolt in same manner and hand-tighten. Do NOT torque these bolts yet.
10. 10

    Connect ball joint to knuckle
    Use floor jack to raise knuckle to align with ball joint stud. Guide ball joint stud into knuckle taper. Install washer (if equipped) and ball joint nut. Torque ball joint nut to specification.
    Torque spec

    Ball Joint Nut88 Nm (65 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Install new cotter pin
    Install new cotter pin through ball joint nut castle and stud hole. If castle slots do not align with stud hole, tighten nut slightly (up to 1/6 turn additional) until alignment is achieved. Never loosen nut to align. Bend cotter pin ends to secure.
12. 12

    Install wheel and lower vehicle
    Install wheel onto hub. Thread all lug nuts by hand to prevent cross-threading. Snug lug nuts in star pattern with wrench but do not torque yet. Remove floor jack from under knuckle. Raise vehicle slightly with floor jack to remove jack stands. Lower vehicle completely so full weight is on wheels.
13. 13

    Torque control arm mounting bolts
    With vehicle weight on wheels (critical for proper bushing preload), torque both front and rear control arm mounting bolts to specification. This step must be performed with suspension at ride height to prevent bushing bind and premature failure.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Torque wheel lug nuts
    Torque wheel lug nuts to specification in star pattern. Make multiple passes, gradually increasing torque to final specification to ensure even seating.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts136 Nm (100 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Ensure all fasteners are torqued to specification with vehicle weight on wheels for control arm bolts
2. Verify cotter pin is properly installed and secured on ball joint
3. Double-check that all tools and parts have been removed from work area

Verification

• Test drive vehicle on smooth road at low speed and verify no clunking or unusual noises from rear suspension
• Perform visual inspection of control arm installation to confirm all fasteners are secure
• Schedule wheel alignment as suspension geometry has been altered
• After 50-100 miles, re-torque wheel lug nuts to specification

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