This procedure covers the replacement of rear control arm bushings on a 2015-2020 Ford F-150 with 3.5L EcoBoost engine, requiring removal of the control arm assembly and installation of new bushings.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear control arm bushing kit (inner and outer) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Cotter pin (if ball joint nut type requires) × 1 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground
3. Raise rear of vehicle and support securely on jack stands at frame rails
4. Remove rear wheel on side being serviced
5. Apply penetrating oil to control arm bolts and ball joint nut, allow 10-15 minutes to penetrate
6. Identify upper or lower control arm requiring bushing replacement

Procedure

1. 1

   Support rear axle assembly
   Position floor jack under rear axle housing or differential to support the weight. Raise jack until it just contacts and slightly supports the suspension, but does not lift the vehicle. This maintains suspension geometry during disassembly.
2. 2

   Disconnect sway bar link if necessary
   If working on lower control arm, disconnect sway bar end link from control arm. Hold the shaft with appropriate size Allen key while loosening the nut to prevent spinning. Remove nut and separate link from control arm.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Remove ball joint connection
   Remove ball joint nut from control arm connection at the knuckle or axle mounting point. If cotter pin is present, remove it first. Use ball joint separator tool to break the taper connection. Insert separator between control arm and mounting point, then tighten or strike per tool design to release ball joint.
   ⚠Ball joint will release suddenly when taper breaks. Ensure jack is properly supporting suspension weight.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut101 Nm (75 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Remove control arm frame bolts
   Locate the two control arm mounting bolts at the frame rail. These are typically one front and one rear bolt. Use breaker bar to loosen bolts but do NOT remove completely yet. Note the orientation and position of any washers, spacers, or cam adjusters.
   ℹ️Some F-150 models use cam bolts for alignment adjustment. Mark position before removal or plan for alignment after installation.
   Torque spec

   Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Remove control arm from vehicle
   With jack supporting suspension, remove control arm mounting bolts completely. Carefully lower or raise jack slightly as needed to create clearance. Remove control arm from vehicle, maneuvering around brake lines, ABS wiring, and other components. Inspect removed arm for additional damage or wear.
6. 6

   Remove old bushings from control arm
   Using hydraulic press or control arm bushing press kit, press out old bushings from control arm. Position control arm in press with proper support to avoid distortion. Press from the side that provides cleanest removal path. Remove both inner and outer bushings if both are being replaced. Clean bushing bores thoroughly with wire brush.
   ⚠Ensure control arm is properly supported in press to prevent bending or damage to the arm.
7. 7

   Install new bushings
   Apply light coating of dish soap or bushing lubricant to bushing outer diameter and control arm bore. Position new bushing squarely in control arm bore, ensuring proper orientation per manufacturer instructions. Use press to slowly drive bushing into place until fully seated and flush with control arm housing. Verify bushing is not cocked or misaligned. Repeat for second bushing position if applicable.
   ℹ️Some bushings have directional installation requirements. Verify void orientation matches OEM specifications before pressing.
8. 8

   Install control arm to frame
   Position control arm back into mounting location at frame rail. Insert frame mounting bolts with any washers, spacers, or cam adjusters in original orientation. Thread bolts in by hand to prevent cross-threading. Do NOT torque bolts at this time - leave them hand tight plus 1-2 turns.
9. 9

   Reconnect ball joint
   Raise or lower jack under axle to align ball joint stud with mounting hole in knuckle or axle bracket. Insert ball joint stud into taper hole and install nut. Tighten ball joint nut to specification. If cotter pin type, ensure castle nut slots align with stud hole and install new cotter pin, spreading ends to secure.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut101 Nm (75 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Reconnect sway bar link if removed
    If sway bar link was disconnected, reconnect to control arm mounting point. Hold shaft with Allen key and tighten nut to specification.
    Torque spec

    Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Install wheel and lower vehicle
    Install wheel onto hub and hand-tighten lug nuts in star pattern. Lower vehicle from jack stands until full vehicle weight is on suspension but wheels just touching ground. This loads the suspension in normal ride height position.
12. 12

    Torque control arm bolts with weight on suspension
    With vehicle weight on suspension at normal ride height, torque both control arm frame mounting bolts to specification. This is critical - torquing bushings in the unloaded position will cause premature bushing failure and noise.
    ⚠Control arm bolts MUST be torqued with vehicle at ride height. Torquing in full droop or full compression will twist bushings and cause failure.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Final wheel installation
    Raise vehicle slightly and remove jack from under axle. Lower vehicle completely to ground. Torque wheel lug nuts to specification in star pattern.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts156 Nm (115 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Ensure all fasteners are properly torqued to specification
2. Verify no tools or parts were left in wheel well area
3. Check that brake lines and ABS wiring are not pinched or stressed by control arm installation

Verification

• Test drive vehicle at low speed and verify no clunking or unusual noises from rear suspension
• Perform figure-eight maneuvers in parking lot to load suspension and verify bushing installation
• Schedule 4-wheel alignment, especially if cam bolts were disturbed during removal
• Recheck control arm bolt torque after 50-100 miles of driving

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