This procedure covers the removal and replacement of the rear control arm bushings on a 2016-2021 Honda Civic with the 1.5L turbo engine, requiring partial suspension disassembly and hydraulic pressing of new bushings.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear control arm bushing kit (both bushings) × 1 — Use OEM Honda bushings or equivalent
• Cotter pin for ball joint × 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
3. Raise rear of vehicle and support securely on jack stands placed on frame rail points
4. Remove rear wheels completely
5. Spray all fasteners to be removed with penetrating oil and allow to soak for 10-15 minutes

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove ball joint from knuckle
   Remove the cotter pin from the ball joint castle nut using pliers or side cutters. Loosen the ball joint nut but do not remove completely (leave 2-3 threads engaged). Use the ball joint separator to break the taper loose from the knuckle. Once separated, remove the nut completely.
2. 2

   Disconnect sway bar link if necessary
   If the sway bar link interferes with control arm removal, hold the shaft with an Allen key and remove the lower sway bar link nut. Swing the link out of the way or remove completely.
3. 3

   Support control arm
   Place a floor jack under the rear control arm to support its weight before removing mounting bolts. Raise jack slightly to take tension off the bolts but do not compress the suspension.
4. 4

   Remove control arm mounting bolts
   Remove both the front and rear control arm mounting bolts that attach the control arm to the subframe. Note the position and orientation of any washers or spacers. Lower the jack slowly and remove the control arm from the vehicle.
5. 5

   Inspect and clean control arm
   Place the control arm on a workbench. Inspect the ball joint for excessive play or damage. Clean the bushing bore areas with a wire brush, removing any rust or debris. Mark the orientation of the old bushings with a paint marker before removal.
6. 6

   Press out old bushings
   Using the hydraulic press and appropriate sized adapters, press out the old bushings from the control arm. Support the arm properly to prevent bending. Press from the side that allows the bushing to exit without damaging the bore.
   ⚠Ensure control arm is properly supported in press to prevent bending or distortion of the arm.
7. 7

   Prepare and install new bushings
   Clean the bushing bores thoroughly with brake cleaner. Apply a light coat of soapy water or bushing lubricant to the outer sleeve of the new bushings (do not use oil or grease). Align the bushing orientation marks with the control arm orientation marks. Press new bushings in squarely using the hydraulic press until fully seated and flush with the control arm.
8. 8

   Install control arm to subframe
   Position the control arm back into the subframe mounting points. Insert both front and rear mounting bolts with any washers or spacers in their original positions. Thread the bolts by hand first. Do NOT torque these bolts yet - they must be torqued with vehicle weight on the suspension.
9. 9

   Reconnect ball joint to knuckle
   Raise the control arm with the floor jack to align the ball joint stud with the knuckle hole. Insert the ball joint stud into the knuckle and install the castle nut. Torque the ball joint nut to specification and install a new cotter pin through the castle nut slot and ball joint stud. Bend cotter pin ends to secure.
   Torque spec

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

    Reconnect sway bar link if removed
    If the sway bar link was disconnected, reconnect it to the control arm. Hold the shaft with an Allen key and torque the nut to specification.
    Torque spec

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

    Install wheel and lower vehicle
    Install the rear wheel and hand-tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern. Lower the vehicle until the suspension is at normal ride height with the full weight of the vehicle on the wheels, but keep the jack stands in place for safety.
12. 12

    Torque control arm bolts with vehicle weight on suspension
    With the vehicle at normal ride height and weight on the suspension, torque both the front and rear control arm mounting bolts to specification. This is critical - torquing these bolts while the suspension is hanging will cause premature bushing failure.
    ⚠Control arm bolts MUST be torqued with vehicle weight on suspension. Failure to do so will twist the bushings and cause premature failure.
    Torque spec

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

    Final torque wheel lug nuts
    Raise vehicle slightly to remove jack stands, then lower completely to ground. Torque all wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts129 Nm (95 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Ensure all fasteners are torqued to specification in the correct sequence
2. Verify the new cotter pin is properly installed and bent to secure the ball joint nut
3. Double-check that control arm bolts were torqued with vehicle weight on suspension

Verification

• Test drive the vehicle at low speeds and verify no clunking or unusual noises from the rear suspension
• Check for proper wheel alignment - a professional alignment is recommended after suspension work
• Re-torque all fasteners after 50-100 miles of driving
• Visually inspect for any signs of interference or contact between suspension components

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