Remove and replace the upper control arm on a 2018-2024 Honda Accord 1.5L Turbo, including ball joint separation and proper torque sequencing with vehicle weight on wheels.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Upper control arm assembly × 1 — Use OEM Honda part or equivalent
• Ball joint castle nut × 1 — Replace if damaged or reuse OEM

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Loosen wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground (do not remove)
3. Raise front of vehicle with floor jack at designated lift point
4. Support vehicle securely on jack stands under frame rails
5. Remove wheel completely and set aside
6. Spray penetrating oil on ball joint nut and control arm bolts, allow to soak 10-15 minutes

Procedure

1. 1

   Support the knuckle assembly
   Place a floor jack under the lower control arm or knuckle to support the suspension weight. Raise jack just enough to take load off upper control arm but not lift vehicle off jack stands. This prevents the knuckle from dropping when ball joint is disconnected.
2. 2

   Remove ball joint castle nut
   Locate the upper ball joint nut where upper control arm connects to steering knuckle. Remove cotter pin if present. Using 17mm socket, remove the ball joint castle nut completely. Keep nut for inspection - replace if threads are damaged.
3. 3

   Separate ball joint from knuckle
   Install ball joint separator tool between upper control arm and knuckle. Tighten separator to apply pressure on the taper joint. Strike the knuckle boss area sharply with a hammer while maintaining pressure until ball joint separates. Do not strike the ball joint stud directly. If using pickle fork, position carefully to avoid damaging the boot.
   ⚠Avoid damaging ball joint boot if reusing control arm. Use proper ball joint separator tool rather than striking components.
4. 4

   Remove rear control arm bolt
   Locate the rear mounting bolt connecting upper control arm to subframe. This is typically the bolt closer to the firewall. Using 19mm socket and breaker bar, remove the bolt completely. Support control arm by hand to prevent it from dropping.
5. 5

   Remove front control arm bolt
   Remove the front mounting bolt connecting upper control arm to subframe. Using 19mm socket, remove bolt completely. Lower and remove the upper control arm from vehicle. Note the orientation and position of any washers or spacers.
6. 6

   Clean mounting surfaces
   Use wire brush to clean the subframe mounting points where control arm bolts install. Remove any rust, dirt, or debris. Clean the ball joint taper seat in the steering knuckle. Inspect threads in subframe for damage.
7. 7

   Install new upper control arm
   Position new upper control arm into subframe mounts. Ensure any alignment tabs or locating features are properly seated. Insert front and rear control arm bolts finger-tight only. Do not torque at this time. Verify arm moves freely through range of motion.
8. 8

   Connect ball joint to knuckle
   Align ball joint stud with hole in steering knuckle. Use floor jack under lower control arm to raise knuckle if needed to align holes. Push ball joint stud through knuckle. Install new or cleaned castle nut and thread on by hand.
9. 9

   Torque ball joint nut
   Using torque wrench and 17mm socket, torque the ball joint castle nut to specification. Tighten only to the next castle slot that aligns with cotter pin hole - do not back off to align. Install new cotter pin and bend tabs to secure.
   Torque spec

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

    Install wheel and lower vehicle
    Reinstall wheel onto hub and thread lug nuts by hand. Lower vehicle until tire just touches ground but most weight still on jack stands. Using torque wrench, torque lug nuts to specification in star pattern. Fully lower vehicle so all weight is on wheels.
    Torque spec

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

    Torque control arm bolts with vehicle weight loaded
    With vehicle fully lowered and all weight on wheels, torque both control arm mounting bolts to specification. Use 19mm socket and torque wrench. Torque rear bolt first, then front bolt. This ensures proper bushing preload with suspension at normal ride height.
    ⚠Control arm bolt torque must be performed with vehicle weight on wheels to properly preload bushings. Torquing with suspension hanging will cause premature bushing failure.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Verify all fasteners are torqued to specification
2. Remove floor jack from under vehicle
3. Perform final visual inspection of all connections
4. Test suspension by bouncing corner of vehicle - listen for unusual noises

Verification

• With vehicle on ground, verify no excessive play in upper ball joint by grasping tire at top and bottom and attempting to rock - minimal movement should be present
• Turn steering wheel lock to lock and verify smooth operation with no binding or noise
• Take vehicle for slow test drive and verify no unusual noises from suspension over bumps
• Schedule professional wheel alignment to verify camber, caster, and toe settings are within specification

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