suspension

Lower Control Arm

for 2014 Ram 2500 6.7L I6 Cummins Diesel · 4WD

Difficulty

Moderate

Time

3.2 h

Tools

Steps

Replace the lower control arm on the front suspension of a 2014 Ram 2500 4WD with 6.7L Cummins Diesel engine, including ball joint and mounting hardware removal and installation.

Warnings

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

⚠️Ball joint separator tools can release suddenly under pressure. Keep hands and face clear of the tool path.

⚠Control arm bolts must be torqued with vehicle weight on the suspension. Torquing while suspended will cause premature bushing failure.

⚠Inspect all suspension components for wear during disassembly. Replace any worn ball joints, tie rod ends, or bushings as needed.

Tools required

Floor jack and jack stands rated for 8000+ lbsEssential

Torque wrench (30-200 lb-ft range)Essential

Ball joint separator or pickle forkEssential

21mm socket for lug nutsEssential

18mm socket for ball joint nutEssential

21mm socket and wrench for control arm boltsEssential

Breaker barEssential

Pry bar

Wire brush

Penetrating oil

Dead blow hammer

Parts

Lower control arm assembly × 1 — Use OEM Mopar or equivalent heavy-duty replacement
Ball joint castle nut (if not included) × 1 — OEM specification
Cotter pin for ball joint × 1 — Standard automotive cotter pin

Preparation

Park vehicle on level ground and engage parking brake.
Chock rear wheels securely.
Loosen front wheel lug nuts 1/4 turn while vehicle is on ground.
Apply penetrating oil to ball joint nut, control arm bolts, and sway bar link connections. Allow 15-30 minutes to soak.
Raise front of vehicle and support on jack stands at frame rails behind lower control arm mounts.
Remove wheel and tire assembly completely.

Procedure

1
Support the knuckle assembly
Place a floor jack under the steering knuckle or lower ball joint area to support the weight of the knuckle and brake assembly. Raise jack just enough to take tension off the ball joint but not to lift the vehicle.
2
Disconnect sway bar link
Locate the sway bar link connection to the lower control arm. Use an Allen key to hold the shaft while loosening the nut with a wrench. Remove the nut and disconnect the sway bar link from the control arm. Allow the link to hang freely or support with wire if needed.
Torque spec
Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
3
Remove ball joint castle nut
Remove the cotter pin from the ball joint castle nut using pliers or wire cutters. Using an 18mm socket, remove the castle nut from the ball joint stud. Keep the nut if reusable, but replacement is recommended.
Torque spec
Ball Joint Nut119 Nm (88 lb-ft)
4
Separate ball joint from knuckle
Install a ball joint separator or pickle fork between the lower control arm and steering knuckle. Strike the tool firmly with a hammer to break the taper fit. Once separated, slowly lower the floor jack to allow the knuckle to pivot away from the control arm. Do not allow the brake hose or ABS wire to become stretched or damaged.
⚠️Ball joint may separate suddenly. Keep hands clear and control the descent of the knuckle with the floor jack.
5
Remove front control arm bolt
Locate the front control arm mounting bolt at the frame bracket. This bolt runs horizontally through the front bushing of the control arm. Using a 21mm socket and wrench, remove the nut and bolt completely. Note the orientation of any washers or spacers for reassembly.
Torque spec
Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
6
Remove rear control arm bolt
Locate the rear control arm mounting bolt at the frame bracket. Using a 21mm socket and wrench, remove the nut and bolt completely. Support the control arm as you remove the last bolt to prevent it from falling.
Torque spec
Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
7
Remove lower control arm
With both mounting bolts removed, carefully maneuver the lower control arm out of the frame brackets. You may need to pivot or rotate the arm to clear the sway bar and brake components. Inspect the frame mounting brackets for damage or excessive wear.
8
Clean mounting surfaces
Use a wire brush to clean the frame bracket mounting surfaces and bolt holes. Remove any rust, dirt, or debris. Clean the ball joint taper in the steering knuckle as well. Apply a thin coat of anti-seize to the mounting bolt threads (not the bolt heads or nuts).
9
Install new lower control arm
Position the new lower control arm into the frame brackets. Insert both front and rear mounting bolts through the bushings and frame brackets. Install nuts finger-tight only. Do NOT torque these bolts at this time - they must be torqued with vehicle weight on the suspension.
⚠Do not fully torque control arm bolts until vehicle is lowered to the ground. Premature torquing will damage bushings.
10
Connect ball joint to knuckle
Raise the floor jack to lift the lower control arm ball joint into the steering knuckle taper. Align the ball joint stud with the hole in the knuckle. The stud should seat firmly into the taper. Install the castle nut and tighten to specification. Install a new cotter pin through the castle nut slots and ball joint stud. Bend cotter pin ends to secure.
Torque spec
Ball Joint Nut119 Nm (88 lb-ft)
11
Reconnect sway bar link
Raise or position the sway bar link to align with the mounting point on the lower control arm. Install the mounting hardware and tighten the nut to specification while holding the shaft with an Allen key to prevent rotation.
Torque spec
Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
12
Reinstall wheel and lower vehicle
Install the wheel and tire assembly. Thread lug nuts by hand to prevent cross-threading. Snug lug nuts in a star pattern but do not fully torque yet. Remove jack stands and carefully lower the vehicle until the suspension is at normal ride height with full vehicle weight on the wheels. Do not fully lower to the ground yet.
13
Torque control arm bolts at ride height
With the vehicle at normal ride height (suspension loaded), torque the front and rear control arm mounting bolts to specification. This is critical - the bushings must be torqued in their normal operating position to prevent binding and premature wear.
⚠Vehicle must be at ride height with suspension loaded. Torquing in any other position will cause bushing failure.
Torque spec
Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
14
Final torque wheel lug nuts
Lower the vehicle completely to the ground. Torque the wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern to ensure even seating of the wheel.
Torque spec
Wheel Lug Nuts183 Nm (135 lb-ft)

Reassembly

Repeat procedure for opposite side if replacing both lower control arms.
Remove wheel chocks and test brake pedal feel before moving vehicle.
Road test vehicle at low speed in a safe area to verify normal handling and listen for any unusual noises.

Verification

Verify all fasteners are torqued to specification, especially control arm bolts with vehicle at ride height.
Verify ball joint castle nut has a new cotter pin properly installed and bent.
Check that sway bar link is properly connected and not binding.
Perform a visual inspection under the vehicle to ensure no loose hardware or damaged components.
Schedule a professional alignment as soon as possible - control arm replacement will affect camber and caster settings.
After 50-100 miles, re-check torque on all fasteners.