Upper Control Arm - Rear

This procedure covers the removal and replacement of the rear upper control arm on a 2018-2024 Honda Accord with 1.5L turbo engine, including disconnection from the ball joint and mounting points.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear upper control arm × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Ball joint castle nut (if damaged) × 1 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level ground and engage parking brake
2. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground (do not remove)
3. Raise rear of vehicle with floor jack at designated jacking points
4. Support vehicle securely on jack stands placed under frame rails
5. Remove rear wheel completely
6. Spray all fasteners with penetrating oil and allow to soak for 10-15 minutes if fasteners show corrosion

Procedure

1. 1

   Support the knuckle assembly
   Place a floor jack under the rear knuckle assembly with a block of wood to protect components. Raise jack just enough to take up slack and support the suspension in a neutral position. This prevents the knuckle from dropping when the control arm is disconnected.
2. 2

   Remove ball joint castle nut
   Locate the upper control arm ball joint connection at the top 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. Keep the nut if it is in good condition for potential reuse.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut84 Nm (62 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Separate ball joint from knuckle
   Use a ball joint separator tool or pickle fork to separate the upper control arm ball joint taper from the knuckle. Insert the tool between the control arm and knuckle, then strike or apply pressure according to tool design. The joint should pop free once sufficient force is applied. Avoid prying against the ball joint boot to prevent damage.
   ⚠Apply force gradually. Sudden separation can cause the knuckle to drop or tools to slip.
4. 4

   Remove front control arm mounting bolt
   Locate the front mounting bolt securing the control arm to the chassis. This bolt passes through the front bushing of the control arm. Using a 17mm socket and wrench, remove the bolt and washer completely. Note the orientation of any washers or spacers for reassembly.
   Torque spec

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

   Remove rear control arm mounting bolt
   Locate the rear mounting bolt securing the control arm to the chassis through the rear bushing. Using a 17mm socket and wrench, remove this bolt and washer. The control arm should now be free to remove from the vehicle. Lower the arm away from the knuckle.
   Torque spec

   Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
6. 6

   Remove control arm from vehicle
   Extract the control arm from the suspension area. You may need to maneuver it around other suspension components. Inspect the removed control arm bushings and ball joint for wear, cracks, or damage to confirm replacement was necessary.
7. 7

   Prepare new control arm
   Unpack the new control arm and verify it matches the original part in configuration and mounting point locations. Check that the ball joint stud moves freely but without excessive play. Clean the mounting surfaces on the chassis with a wire brush to ensure proper bolt seating.
8. 8

   Install new control arm to chassis
   Position the new control arm into place aligning the bushing holes with the mounting points on the chassis. Insert both front and rear mounting bolts through the bushings and chassis brackets. Thread the bolts by hand to ensure proper alignment. Do NOT torque these bolts yet - they must be torqued with vehicle weight on wheels.
   ⚠Only hand-tighten control arm bolts at this stage. Final torque must be applied with vehicle at ride height.
   Torque spec

   Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Connect ball joint to knuckle
   Raise or lower the floor jack supporting the knuckle to align the ball joint stud with the hole in the top of the knuckle. Insert the ball joint stud through the knuckle hole. Thread the castle nut onto the ball joint stud and tighten.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut84 Nm (62 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Torque ball joint nut
    Using a torque wrench and 17mm socket, torque the ball joint castle nut to specification. If using a castle nut with cotter pin, torque to specification then advance to the next castle slot if needed to align the cotter pin hole. Install a new cotter pin and bend ends to secure.
    Torque spec

    Ball Joint Nut84 Nm (62 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Reinstall wheel
    Mount the rear wheel onto the hub, ensuring the wheel seats flush against the hub surface. Thread all lug nuts by hand, then snug them in a star pattern with a wrench. Do not torque yet.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts129 Nm (95 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Lower vehicle to load suspension
    Carefully raise the vehicle slightly to remove jack stands. Lower the vehicle completely so that full vehicle weight is on the wheels and suspension is at normal ride height. This is critical for proper control arm bushing alignment before final torque.
13. 13

    Torque control arm bolts at ride height
    With the vehicle weight on the wheels, torque both the front and rear control arm mounting bolts to specification. Use a torque wrench and 17mm socket. This ensures the bushings are in their neutral position and will not be preloaded incorrectly.
    ⚠This step is critical. Torquing control arm bolts with suspension hanging will cause premature bushing failure.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Torque wheel lug nuts
    Using a torque wrench and 19mm socket, torque the wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern. Make two complete passes to ensure even torque distribution.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts129 Nm (95 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Control arm mounting bolts must be torqued at ride height with vehicle weight on suspension
2. If replacing both sides, repeat the entire procedure for the opposite rear control arm
3. Verify ball joint castle nut cotter pin is properly installed and secured if equipped

Verification

• Test drive the vehicle at low speed and verify no clunking or rattling noises from rear suspension
• Perform a visual inspection under the vehicle to confirm all fasteners are tight and properly seated
• Schedule a four-wheel alignment as soon as possible, as replacing the upper control arm will affect rear camber and toe settings
• After 50-100 miles of driving, re-check the torque on all fasteners including lug nuts and control arm bolts

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