suspension

Lower Control Arm

for 2015 Kia Forte 1.8L I4 · FWD

Difficulty

Moderate

Time

2.0 h

Tools

Steps

This procedure covers the removal and replacement of the lower control arm on a 2015 Kia Forte with 1.8L I4 engine, including disconnection of the ball joint and control arm mounting points.

Warnings

⚠️Never work under a vehicle supported only by a jack. Always use jack stands rated for the vehicle weight.

⚠Control arm bolts must be torqued with vehicle weight on the wheels. Failure to do so can cause premature bushing failure and poor handling.

⚠Ball joint separator tools can damage components if used improperly. Apply force gradually and avoid striking brake or suspension components.

Tools required

Floor jackEssential

Jack standsEssential

Torque wrench (10-200 Nm range)Essential

19mm socket for lug nutsEssential

17mm socket for ball joint nutEssential

18mm socket for control arm boltsEssential

Ball joint separator or pickle forkEssential

Breaker barEssential

Pry bar

Wire brush

Penetrating oil

Wheel chocksEssential

Parts

Lower control arm assembly × 1 — Use OEM specification
Ball joint nut (if not reusable) × 1 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

Park vehicle on level, solid ground and engage parking brake
Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels
Loosen wheel lug nuts 1/4 turn while vehicle is still on ground
Raise front of vehicle with floor jack at designated jacking point
Support vehicle securely on jack stands under frame rails
Remove front wheel on side being serviced

Procedure

1
Apply penetrating oil to fasteners
Spray penetrating oil on the ball joint nut, control arm mounting bolts (front and rear), and allow to soak for 5-10 minutes. This will ease removal of fasteners that may have corrosion.
2
Remove ball joint castle nut
Locate the ball joint where the lower control arm connects to the steering knuckle. Remove the cotter pin if present. Using a 17mm socket, remove the ball joint castle nut completely. Do not reuse the nut if it shows deformation or thread damage.
3
Separate ball joint from knuckle
Position a ball joint separator tool between the control arm and steering knuckle at the ball joint taper. Tighten the separator tool gradually to press the ball joint stud out of the knuckle. Alternatively, use a pickle fork by driving it between the joint surfaces, but note this may damage the ball joint boot. Once separated, support the knuckle to prevent stress on the brake hose and ABS wire.
⚠Do not strike the ball joint stud directly with a hammer as this can damage the threads and internal components.
4
Remove rear control arm mounting bolt
Locate the rear mounting bolt that connects the control arm to the subframe. This is the rearward bolt closer to the back of the vehicle. Using an 18mm socket and breaker bar, remove the bolt completely. Support the control arm as the bolt may be under slight tension from the bushing.
5
Remove front control arm mounting bolt
Locate the front mounting bolt that connects the control arm to the subframe. Using an 18mm socket and breaker bar, remove this bolt completely. The control arm is now free and can be removed from the vehicle.
6
Remove control arm
Carefully maneuver the control arm out from between the subframe and steering knuckle. Inspect the mounting points on the subframe for damage or excessive corrosion. Clean the mounting surfaces with a wire brush if necessary.
7
Install new control arm
Position the new control arm into place between the subframe and steering knuckle. Insert the front mounting bolt first, threading it by hand to align the bushing. Then insert the rear mounting bolt. Do NOT fully tighten these bolts yet - they should be snug but able to rotate the bushings. Final torque will be applied with vehicle weight on wheels.
⚠Control arm mounting bolts must only be hand-tightened at this stage. Final torque specification applies only when vehicle weight is on the suspension.
8
Connect ball joint to knuckle
Align the ball joint stud with the hole in the steering knuckle. You may need to use a pry bar to position the knuckle properly. Insert the ball joint stud fully into the knuckle taper. Install a new castle nut and tighten to specification.
Torque spec
Ball Joint Nut84 Nm (62 lb-ft)
9
Reinstall wheel
Position the wheel onto the hub and thread all lug nuts by hand. Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern to bring wheel flush against hub, but do not torque to final specification yet.
10
Lower vehicle and torque control arm bolts
Carefully lower the vehicle from jack stands until the full weight of the vehicle is resting on the wheels and suspension is at normal ride height. This is critical for proper bushing alignment. Torque the front and rear control arm mounting bolts to specification using an 18mm socket and torque wrench. The bushings must be loaded at ride height to prevent premature wear.
⚠Control arm bolts MUST be torqued at normal ride height with vehicle weight on wheels, not while suspended on jack stands.
Torque spec
Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
11
Final torque wheel lug nuts
With vehicle on the ground, torque all wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern using a 19mm socket and torque wrench.
Torque spec
Wheel Lug Nuts129 Nm (95 lb-ft)

Reassembly

If a cotter pin was present in the ball joint castle nut, install a new cotter pin and bend ends to secure
Verify all fasteners are properly torqued and no tools or parts were left in the wheel well
Test drive vehicle at low speed in a safe area to verify no unusual noises or handling issues

Verification

Visually inspect that control arm is properly seated at all mounting points
Verify ball joint nut is torqued to specification and secured with cotter pin if applicable
Confirm control arm mounting bolts were torqued at ride height, not while suspended
Check that wheel lug nuts are torqued to specification
Test drive and verify no clunking noises during turning or over bumps
Schedule a front-end alignment as control arm replacement will affect camber and toe settings