Lateral Arm

This procedure covers the removal and replacement of the rear lateral arm (lower control arm) on a 2018-2024 Honda Accord with the 1.5L turbocharged engine.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear lateral arm (lower control arm) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Ball joint castle nut × 1 — Replace if damaged
• Control arm mounting bolts × 2 — Inspect and replace if corroded

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. Raise rear of vehicle with floor jack at designated jacking point
5. Support vehicle securely on jack stands placed at rear subframe or body pinch welds
6. Remove rear wheel completely
7. Spray penetrating oil on ball joint nut and control arm bolts if corrosion is present

Procedure

1. 1

   Support the rear knuckle assembly
   Position a floor jack under the rear brake rotor or knuckle assembly with a block of wood to protect components. Raise jack just enough to slightly compress the suspension and take load off the lateral arm. This prevents the knuckle from dropping when the arm is disconnected.
2. 2

   Remove the ball joint castle nut
   Locate the lateral arm ball joint connection at the bottom of the rear knuckle. Remove the cotter pin if equipped. Using a 17mm socket, remove the castle nut securing the ball joint to the knuckle. Do not reuse the castle nut if it shows thread damage.
   ℹ️Some model years use a prevailing torque nut instead of a castle nut with cotter pin.
3. 3

   Separate the ball joint from the knuckle
   Install a ball joint separator tool between the lateral arm and knuckle. Tighten the separator to apply pressure, then tap the knuckle boss with a hammer to shock the taper loose. Alternatively, use a pickle fork, though this may damage the ball joint boot. Once separated, lower the jack slightly to provide clearance for arm removal.
   ⚠Do not strike the ball joint stud directly as this can damage the threads.
4. 4

   Remove the front lateral arm mounting bolt
   Locate the front mounting point where the lateral arm connects to the rear subframe. Using a 19mm socket and breaker bar, remove the through-bolt securing the arm to the front bushing bracket. Note the orientation of any washers or spacers for reinstallation.
   ℹ️The front bolt passes through the arm bushing and subframe bracket. Support the arm to prevent it from falling.
5. 5

   Remove the rear lateral arm mounting bolt
   Move to the rear mounting point of the lateral arm at the subframe. Using a 19mm socket, remove the rear through-bolt. The lateral arm is now free to be removed from the vehicle. Carefully extract the arm, noting the position of any alignment marks or tabs.
6. 6

   Inspect and clean mounting points
   Inspect the subframe mounting brackets for cracks, elongated bolt holes, or damage. Clean the bolt holes and mounting surfaces with a wire brush. Check the ball joint taper seat in the knuckle for damage or wear. Apply a thin coat of anti-seize to the ball joint taper (not the threads).
7. 7

   Install the new lateral arm to subframe
   Position the new lateral arm to the subframe, aligning the front and rear mounting points. Insert the front mounting bolt first, threading it through the subframe bracket and arm bushing. Do not tighten yet. Install the rear mounting bolt similarly. Hand-tighten both bolts to hold the arm in position.
   ⚠Do not fully torque these bolts yet. They must be torqued with vehicle weight on wheels to prevent bushing bind.
8. 8

   Connect ball joint to knuckle
   Raise the floor jack to lift the knuckle assembly and align the ball joint stud with the hole in the knuckle. Insert the stud into the taper and install the new castle nut. Torque the ball joint nut to specification using a torque wrench.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut84 Nm (62 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Install cotter pin if applicable
   If your model uses a castle nut with cotter pin, align the castle nut slots with the cotter pin hole in the ball joint stud. Install a new cotter pin and bend the ends to secure. If slots don't align, tighten the nut slightly more (never loosen to align).
10. 10

    Reinstall wheel and lower vehicle
    Remove the floor jack from under the knuckle. Reinstall the rear wheel and hand-tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern. Lower the vehicle until the wheels just touch the ground but the suspension is not fully loaded. Torque the lug nuts to specification in a star pattern.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts129 Nm (95 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Final torque control arm bolts with weight on wheels
    With the vehicle lowered and weight fully on the wheels, torque the front and rear lateral arm mounting bolts to specification. This ensures the bushings are in their neutral position and prevents premature wear. Torque both bolts using a torque wrench.
    ⚠This step is critical. Torquing with suspension unloaded will cause bushing failure and suspension noise within thousands of miles.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Verify all fasteners are torqued to specification
2. Confirm cotter pin is properly installed and secured if applicable
3. Remove wheel chocks and lower vehicle completely

Verification

• Test drive the vehicle and listen for abnormal suspension noises, particularly clunking over bumps
• Verify steering feel is normal and vehicle tracks straight
• Inspect the installation area for any loose fasteners or leaking fluids
• Schedule a four-wheel alignment within 50 miles as the lateral arm affects rear toe and camber settings

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