Upper Control Arm - Rear

Remove and replace the rear upper control arm on a 2008 Dodge Viper, including disconnecting the suspension components and fasteners necessary to free the control arm from the chassis and wheel hub.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear upper control arm × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Upper control arm ball joint castle nut × 1 — Use OEM specification if reusing is not recommended
• Control arm chassis mounting hardware × 1 — Inspect and replace if damaged

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid 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. Raise rear of vehicle with floor jack at approved jacking point
5. Support vehicle securely on jack stands placed at manufacturer-approved lift points on chassis
6. Remove rear wheel and tire assembly completely
7. Spray penetrating lubricant on all control arm fasteners and ball joint taper and allow to soak
8. Mark the position of any cam bolts or eccentric adjusters relative to the chassis for rough alignment reference during reassembly

Procedure

1. 1

   Support the rear knuckle assembly
   Position a floor jack with a block of wood under the rear knuckle or lower control arm to support the suspension assembly. Raise the jack just enough to take the load off the upper control arm but not enough to compress the suspension significantly. This prevents the suspension from dropping when the upper control arm is disconnected.
2. 2

   Disconnect the upper ball joint from the knuckle
   Locate the upper ball joint fastener where the upper control arm connects to the top of the rear knuckle. VERIFY the actual retention method against the factory service manual — the Viper rear upper ball joint may use a nut (with or without cotter pin) or a pinch/clamp bolt rather than a traditional castle nut. Remove the cotter pin if present, then remove the retaining nut completely from the ball joint stud using a socket and breaker bar. Use a ball joint separator tool or pickle fork to break the taper between the ball joint stud and the knuckle. Insert the separator between the knuckle and control arm and strike with a hammer until the taper releases. Do not damage the ball joint boot if reusing the control arm.
3. 3

   Remove the chassis mounting fasteners
   Locate the fasteners securing the upper control arm to the chassis mounting brackets. The rear upper control arm attaches at the chassis end via pivot bolt(s) — VERIFY the exact fastener count and configuration against the 2008 Viper service manual before proceeding. Note whether the bolts pass through eccentric washers or cam adjusters used for alignment adjustment. Remove the nuts from the chassis mounting bolts first, then remove the through-bolts completely. You may need to use a wrench to hold the bolt head while removing the nut on the opposite side.
4. 4

   Remove the upper control arm
   With all fasteners removed and the ball joint disconnected, maneuver the upper control arm away from the chassis mounting brackets and out of the vehicle. It may be necessary to adjust the jack height under the knuckle slightly to create clearance. Inspect the control arm bushings, ball joint, and mounting hardware for wear or damage.
5. 5

   Prepare the new upper control arm
   Inspect the new upper control arm to ensure it matches the original part. Verify that bushings are properly installed and that the ball joint boot is intact and properly seated. Compare the new arm to the old arm to confirm correct fitment. Clean the chassis mounting surfaces with a wire brush to remove rust and debris.
6. 6

   Install the new control arm to the chassis
   Position the new upper control arm into the chassis mounting brackets. Insert the chassis mounting bolts through the control arm bushings and brackets. If equipped with eccentric adjusters or cam bolts, align them to the reference marks made during disassembly for approximate alignment positioning. Thread the nuts onto the bolts but do not tighten fully at this time. Leave the fasteners loose enough to allow the bushings to pivot.
7. 7

   Connect the ball joint to the knuckle
   Adjust the supporting floor jack to align the ball joint stud with the hole in the top of the knuckle. Insert the ball joint stud into the knuckle taper. Install the castle nut onto the ball joint stud and tighten it firmly to seat the taper. Tighten the ball joint nut to the factory-specified torque (VERIFY exact specification in the 2008 Viper service manual — do not rely on a generic value). If the ball joint uses a castle/slotted nut, continue tightening as necessary to align the nut slots with the cotter pin hole and install a new cotter pin, bending the ends to secure. VERIFY whether a cotter pin is used on this platform before assuming this retention method.
8. 8

   Torque the chassis mounting fasteners
   With the vehicle weight supported by jack stands and the suspension at approximately ride height (jack supporting the knuckle/lower arm at normal position), torque the upper control arm chassis mounting fasteners to specification. Torque the chassis mounting fasteners to the factory-specified value (VERIFY exact specification in the 2008 Viper service manual — do not rely on a generic estimate). This must be done at ride height to prevent pre-loading the bushings.
9. 9

   Remove jack support and reinstall wheel
   Carefully lower and remove the floor jack supporting the rear knuckle assembly. Inspect the installation to ensure all fasteners are tight and no components are binding. Reinstall the rear wheel and tire assembly onto the hub. Thread the lug nuts onto the studs by hand to start. Use a torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts to the factory-specified torque in a star pattern (VERIFY exact lug nut torque specification for the 2008 Viper).

Reassembly

1. Torque all fasteners to specification with suspension at ride height to prevent bushing pre-load
2. Install new cotter pin in castle nut and bend ends securely
3. Reinstall wheel and torque lug nuts to specification in star pattern
4. Lower vehicle to ground and perform final lug nut torque verification
5. Suspension geometry has been altered; vehicle requires professional four-wheel alignment before normal driving

Verification

• Verify all fasteners are tight and torqued to specification
• Verify cotter pin is installed in ball joint castle nut and properly secured
• Bounce the rear suspension and listen for any unusual noises or rattles
• Perform a short test drive at low speed in a safe area and verify no unusual handling characteristics or noises
• Schedule and complete a professional four-wheel alignment to restore proper suspension geometry

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