This procedure covers the removal and replacement of the rear upper control arm on a 2016-2021 Honda Civic with the 1.5L turbo engine.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear upper control arm × 1 — 52400-TBG-A01 or aftermarket equivalent
• Ball joint castle nut × 1 — Use OEM specification or replace if damaged

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks at front wheels
3. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground
4. Raise rear of vehicle and support securely on jack stands at manufacturer-specified jacking points
5. Remove rear wheel completely
6. Spray penetrating lubricant on control arm bolts and ball joint nut if fasteners show corrosion

Procedure

1. 1

   Support the knuckle assembly
   Position a floor jack under the rear knuckle assembly to support its weight. Raise the jack just enough to take the load off the upper control arm but do not compress the suspension. This prevents the knuckle from dropping when the control arm is disconnected.
2. 2

   Remove the ball joint castle nut
   Locate the upper control arm ball joint where it connects to the top of the knuckle. Remove the cotter pin if present. Using a 17mm socket, remove the castle nut securing the ball joint to the knuckle. Do not attempt to remove the ball joint from the taper yet.
   Torque spec

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

   Separate the ball joint from the knuckle
   Use a ball joint separator or pickle fork to break the taper fit between the ball joint stud and the knuckle. Insert the separator between the control arm and knuckle, then apply force to pop the ball joint free. Avoid striking the knuckle directly with a hammer to prevent damage.
   ⚠Using a pickle fork will likely destroy the ball joint boot. Ensure you are replacing the control arm before using this method.
4. 4

   Remove the front control arm mounting bolt
   Locate the front mounting bolt that secures the control arm to the subframe. This bolt runs horizontally through the front bushing of the control arm. Using a 19mm socket and breaker bar, remove the bolt completely. Note the orientation of any washers or spacers.
   Torque spec

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

   Remove the rear control arm mounting bolt
   Locate the rear mounting bolt that secures the control arm to the subframe. This bolt also runs horizontally through the rear bushing. Using a 19mm socket and breaker bar, remove this bolt completely. The control arm should now be free to remove.
   Torque spec

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

   Remove the upper control arm
   Carefully maneuver the upper control arm out of the suspension assembly. You may need to lower or raise the jack supporting the knuckle slightly to create clearance. Inspect the mounting points on the subframe and clean any rust or debris with a wire brush.
7. 7

   Install the new upper control arm
   Position the new upper control arm into place, aligning the bushings with the mounting points on the subframe. Insert the ball joint stud into the knuckle hole. Adjust the jack height under the knuckle as needed to align all mounting points.
8. 8

   Install control arm mounting bolts hand-tight
   Insert both front and rear control arm mounting bolts through the bushings and subframe. Thread the bolts in by hand and tighten them just enough to hold the control arm in position. Do NOT torque these bolts yet - they must be torqued with vehicle weight on wheels.
   ⚠Control arm bolts are torqued in a later step with vehicle at normal ride height. Torquing now will damage bushings.
9. 9

   Install and torque the ball joint nut
   Thread the castle nut onto the ball joint stud at the knuckle. Using a torque wrench and 17mm socket, torque the nut to specification. If using a castle nut, ensure the castellations align with the cotter pin hole. If they do not align, tighten slightly more (never loosen) until alignment is achieved, then install a new cotter pin.
   Torque spec

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

    Reinstall the wheel and lower vehicle
    Remove the jack from under the knuckle. Reinstall the rear wheel and thread lug nuts on by hand. Lower the vehicle until the tire just contacts the ground but the full weight is still on the jack stands. Torque the lug nuts to specification in a star pattern. Then fully lower the vehicle to the ground so the suspension is at normal ride height.
    Torque spec

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

    Torque control arm bolts at ride height
    With the vehicle on the ground at normal ride height and suspension loaded, torque both the front and rear control arm mounting bolts to specification using a 19mm socket and torque wrench. This ensures the rubber bushings are not pre-loaded in a twisted position.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Ensure all fasteners are torqued to specification
2. Verify the cotter pin is properly installed in the ball joint castle nut
3. Remove wheel chocks from front wheels

Verification

• Bounce the rear of the vehicle several times and verify no unusual noises from the control arm area
• Visually inspect that all bolts are tight and the ball joint is properly seated
• Test drive the vehicle at low speed and verify normal handling with no clunking or knocking sounds
• Have a professional wheel alignment performed as soon as possible, as replacing the upper control arm affects rear camber and toe settings

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