This procedure covers the removal and replacement of the front lower control arm bushings on a 2015-2020 Ford F-150 with 5.0L V8, requiring control arm removal and pressing new bushings into place.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front lower control arm bushing kit (contains front and rear bushings) × 1 — Use OEM specification or equivalent
• Cotter pin for ball joint × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Anti-seize compound × 1 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid surface and engage parking brake
2. Chock rear wheels securely
3. Loosen front wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground
4. Raise front of vehicle and support on jack stands at frame rails behind lower control arms
5. Remove front wheels completely
6. Spray all control arm bolts, ball joint nut, and sway bar link hardware with penetrating oil and allow to soak for 15-20 minutes

Procedure

1. 1

   Disconnect sway bar link from lower control arm
   Locate the sway bar link connection at the lower control arm. Insert a 6mm Allen key into the top of the sway bar link shaft to prevent rotation. Use an 18mm socket to remove the lower sway bar link nut. Separate the link from the control arm and secure it out of the way with wire or zip tie.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link76 Nm (56 lb-ft)
2. 2

   Remove ball joint cotter pin and nut
   Locate the lower ball joint where it connects to the steering knuckle. Use cotter pin puller or needle nose pliers to remove and discard the cotter pin from the ball joint stud. Use a 21mm socket to remove the ball joint castle nut completely. Do not strike the ball joint stud yet.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut110 Nm (81 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Separate ball joint from knuckle
   Position ball joint separator (pickle fork) between the lower control arm and steering knuckle at the ball joint taper. Strike the separator firmly with a hammer to break the taper fit. Alternatively, use a ball joint press tool if available. Once separated, push the knuckle upward and secure it with wire to the frame to prevent strain on brake hose and ABS sensor wire.
   ⚠Do not strike the ball joint stud directly as this can damage the threads. Use only a proper separator tool.
4. 4

   Mark control arm position
   Before removing control arm bolts, use a paint marker or scribe to mark the position of the control arm relative to the frame mounting brackets. This will help with approximate alignment during reinstallation and preserve existing alignment settings.
5. 5

   Support control arm with jack
   Position a floor jack under the outer end of the lower control arm near the ball joint. Raise jack slightly to take up any slack and support the control arm weight. This prevents the arm from dropping suddenly when bolts are removed.
6. 6

   Remove rear control arm bolt
   Locate the rear control arm mounting bolt at the frame. This is the rearmost bolt holding the control arm to the frame bracket. Use a 19mm socket and breaker bar to remove the bolt and any washers completely. The control arm will now pivot on the front bolt only.
   Torque spec

   Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Remove front control arm bolt and remove control arm
   Use a 19mm socket and breaker bar to remove the front control arm mounting bolt at the frame bracket. Slowly lower the jack supporting the control arm and guide the control arm out of the frame brackets. Remove the control arm from the vehicle and place on a clean work surface.
   Torque spec

   Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
8. 8

   Press out old bushings
   Using a hydraulic press and appropriate control arm bushing press adapters, press out the old bushings from both the front and rear mounting eyes of the control arm. Position the control arm so the bushing is supported from underneath by a receiver cup large enough to accept the bushing. Apply steady pressure to push the bushing out. Clean the bushing bores thoroughly with a wire brush and inspect for damage or cracking.
   ⚠Ensure press adapters are properly centered on bushings to avoid damaging the control arm mounting eyes.
9. 9

   Press in new bushings
   Apply a light coating of dish soap or hydraulic fluid to the outer diameter of the new bushings and the control arm bores (do not use grease as it can cause bushings to slip). Position the new bushing squarely in the bore. Using the hydraulic press with proper adapters, press the bushing in until it is fully seated and flush with the control arm mounting eye. The bushing flange should contact the control arm evenly. Repeat for both front and rear bushings.
   ⚠Verify bushings are oriented correctly per manufacturer instructions. Some bushings have directional installation requirements.
10. 10

    Install control arm to frame
    Position the control arm back into the frame mounting brackets, aligning approximately with the marks made during disassembly. Insert the front control arm bolt first, but do not tighten. Use the floor jack to raise the control arm to align the rear mounting hole, then insert the rear bolt. Thread both bolts by hand to ensure proper engagement, but leave loose at this stage.
11. 11

    Reconnect ball joint to knuckle
    Lower the steering knuckle and align the ball joint stud with the hole in the knuckle. Insert the ball joint stud through the knuckle. Install the castle nut and tighten to specification using a 21mm socket and torque wrench. Align the castle nut slots with the ball joint stud hole and install a new cotter pin. Bend the cotter pin ends to secure.
    ⚠If castle nut slots do not align with cotter pin hole at specified torque, tighten further up to 1/6 turn to align. Never loosen the nut to align.
    Torque spec

    Ball Joint Nut110 Nm (81 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Reconnect sway bar link
    Position the sway bar link into the lower control arm mounting hole. Install the sway bar link nut. Hold the link shaft with a 6mm Allen key and torque the nut to specification using an 18mm socket and torque wrench.
    Torque spec

    Sway Bar Link76 Nm (56 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Install wheel and lower vehicle to ride height
    Install the wheel and thread lug nuts by hand. Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern to approximately 50 Nm. Carefully raise the vehicle slightly and remove jack stands. Lower the vehicle completely so the suspension is at normal ride height with full vehicle weight on the wheels. This is critical for proper bushing torque.
14. 14

    Torque control arm bolts at ride height
    With the vehicle on the ground at ride height, use a 19mm socket and torque wrench to torque both the front and rear control arm bolts to specification. It is essential that these bolts are torqued with the suspension loaded to prevent premature bushing failure.
    ⚠This step is critical. Control arm bolts torqued with suspension hanging will cause bushing bind and premature failure.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
15. 15

    Final wheel torque
    Torque all wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern using a torque wrench. Double-check that all lug nuts are properly torqued.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts169 Nm (125 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Repeat all steps for the opposite side if replacing both control arm bushings
2. Apply anti-seize to all bolt threads during reassembly to aid future service
3. Ensure all cotter pins are properly installed and bent to prevent backing out

Verification

• Test drive vehicle at low speed and verify no unusual noises from front suspension
• Check for proper steering response and no pulling to either side
• Have front end alignment checked and adjusted by a qualified technician within 50 miles of completion
• Re-torque wheel lug nuts after 50-100 miles of driving
• Inspect control arm bolts and ball joint cotter pin after first drive to ensure nothing has loosened

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