Lower Control Arm - Front

This procedure removes and replaces the front lower control arm on a 2005 Dodge Viper, including ball joint separation and control arm mounting bolt removal.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front lower control arm × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Control arm bushing set (if servicing separately) × 1 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level ground and engage parking brake.
2. Loosen front wheel lug nuts 1/4 turn while vehicle is still on the ground.
3. Raise front of vehicle using a floor jack at the front crossmember or designated jack points.
4. Support vehicle securely on jack stands placed under the frame rails or manufacturer-specified lift points.
5. Remove front wheel completely on the side being serviced.

Procedure

1. 1

   Inspect and document suspension position
   Before disassembly, inspect the control arm mounting location and document ride height. Take note of any shims or alignment adjustments at the control arm mounting points. Check for signs of previous damage or modification.
2. 2

   Support lower control arm
   Position a floor jack under the lower control arm ball joint area with a block of wood to distribute load. Raise the jack just enough to take up slack and support the weight of the control arm and knuckle assembly. This prevents sudden dropping when the ball joint is separated.
3. 3

   Remove ball joint castle nut
   Remove the cotter pin from the lower ball joint castle nut. Using the correct socket (verify size against the Viper FSM), remove the castle nut completely from the ball joint stud. If corrosion is present, apply penetrating oil and allow to soak for several minutes before attempting removal.
4. 4

   Separate ball joint from knuckle
   Using a ball joint separator or pickle fork, separate the lower ball joint stud from the steering knuckle. Insert the separator between the control arm and knuckle, striking firmly with a hammer if using a pickle fork. Alternatively, use a ball joint press-type separator to avoid damaging the ball joint boot if reusing the control arm. Once separated, slowly lower the floor jack to allow the control arm to drop away from the knuckle.
5. 5

   Access front control arm mounting bolt
   Locate the front lower control arm inner mounting bolt (verify mounting configuration against the Viper FSM). This bolt passes through the front bushing of the control arm. The bolt head will be accessible from one side with the nut on the opposite side.
6. 6

   Remove front control arm bolt
   Using the correct socket and wrench (verify fastener size against the Viper FSM), remove the front control arm mounting bolt and nut. Support the bolt as you remove the nut to prevent it from falling. The control arm will remain supported by the rear mounting bolt at this stage.
7. 7

   Remove rear control arm mounting bolt
   Locate the rear control arm mounting bolt that secures the control arm to the rear crossmember mounting point. Using the correct socket and wrench (verify fastener size against the Viper FSM), remove the rear mounting bolt and nut while supporting the control arm. Once this bolt is removed, the control arm will be free to drop.
8. 8

   Remove lower control arm
   Carefully maneuver the lower control arm out of the mounting position. It may require some rotation or angling to clear the suspension components and frame rails. Inspect the removed control arm for damage, cracks, or torn bushings. Check both mounting bushings for deterioration.
9. 9

   Clean mounting areas
   Using a wire brush, clean the control arm mounting surfaces on the crossmember and subframe. Remove any rust, debris, or old bushing material. Inspect the mounting bolt holes for damage, elongation, or thread damage. Clean the threads on the mounting bolts or replace if corroded.
10. 10

    Install new lower control arm
    Position the new lower control arm into the mounting location, aligning the bushings with the mounting holes in the crossmember. Insert the front mounting bolt first, threading the nut on loosely but leaving the fastener loose. Then insert the rear mounting bolt and thread its nut on loosely. Do NOT torque these bolts yet - they must be torqued with vehicle weight on wheels.
11. 11

    Connect ball joint to knuckle
    Raise the floor jack under the control arm to lift the ball joint stud into the steering knuckle mounting hole. Align the stud with the tapered hole and press upward until the stud is fully seated. Thread the castle nut onto the ball joint stud by hand.
12. 12

    Torque ball joint nut
    Using a torque wrench and the correct socket (verify size against the Viper FSM), torque the ball joint castle nut to the FSM-specified value. Ensure the nut is properly seated before torquing. After reaching torque, advance the nut as needed to align the next castle slot with the cotter pin hole in the stud. Install a new cotter pin and bend the ends to secure.
    Torque spec

    Ball Joint Nut88 Nm (65 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Reinstall wheel and lower vehicle
    Reinstall the wheel onto the hub, threading all lug nuts by hand. Lower the vehicle from the jack stands until the tire just contacts the ground but the jack stands are still supporting most of the weight. Torque the lug nuts to the FSM-specified value in a star pattern. Then fully lower the vehicle so all weight is on the wheels. Remove the floor jack from under the control arm.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts136 Nm (100 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Torque control arm mounting bolts with vehicle weight on wheels
    With the vehicle fully lowered and weight on the wheels, torque both control arm mounting bolts (front and rear) to the FSM-specified value. This is critical - torquing with the suspension hanging will preload the bushings and cause premature failure. Use a 21mm socket and torque wrench, torquing both the front and rear control arm bolts.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Reassembly is covered in the procedure steps above, with critical emphasis on torquing control arm bolts with vehicle weight on wheels.
2. Ensure the new cotter pin is properly installed and secured in the ball joint castle nut.
3. Verify all fasteners are torqued to specification before returning vehicle to service.

Verification

• Visually inspect all fasteners to confirm proper installation and torque.
• Verify the cotter pin is installed and properly bent in the ball joint castle nut.
• With vehicle on the ground, attempt to move the wheel in and out to check for any play in the ball joint or control arm mounting - there should be no movement.
• Test drive the vehicle at low speed in a safe area, checking for unusual noises, vibration, or handling issues.
• Schedule a four-wheel alignment immediately - this repair will have altered suspension geometry and toe settings.

Related trouble codes on this vehicle

Codes that commonly send this job to the bay — tap one for symptoms, causes, and diagnostic steps.

Chasing one of these codes and not sure which part is guilty? Ask a master mechanic about YOUR car →

More procedures for this vehicle