This procedure covers the replacement of the upper and lower front ball joints on a 2012-2017 Toyota Camry with the 2.5L I4 engine, including suspension disassembly and reassembly.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Lower ball joint × 2 — Use OEM specification
• Upper ball joint × 2 — Use OEM specification
• Cotter pins (split pins) × 4 — 3mm x 30mm
• Lower control arm pinch bolts × 2 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Loosen wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground
3. Raise front of vehicle and support securely on jack stands placed on frame rails
4. Remove both front wheels
5. Spray all ball joint nuts, pinch bolts, and control arm fasteners with penetrating oil and allow to soak

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove brake caliper and rotor
   Remove the two brake caliper mounting bolts (17mm) and hang the caliper from the strut spring using wire or a bungee cord. Do not let it hang by the brake hose. Remove the brake rotor by pulling it off the hub. If stuck, use penetrating oil and light hammer taps.
2. 2

   Disconnect sway bar link
   Locate the sway bar link connecting to the lower control arm. Hold the ball stud with an Allen key while removing the lower nut with a 14mm socket. Disconnect the link from the control arm.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Remove upper ball joint cotter pin and nut
   Locate the upper ball joint where it connects to the steering knuckle. Remove and discard the cotter pin using pliers or a cotter pin puller. Remove the upper ball joint castle nut using a 19mm socket. Do not fully separate yet.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut88 Nm (65 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Remove lower ball joint cotter pin and nut
   Remove and discard the cotter pin from the lower ball joint castle nut. Remove the lower ball joint castle nut using a 21mm socket. Keep track of which torque spec applies to upper vs lower joints based on nut size.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut88 Nm (65 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Separate ball joints from knuckle
   Using a ball joint separator tool or pickle fork, carefully separate both the upper and lower ball joints from the steering knuckle. Strike the separator tool with a hammer to break the taper free. The knuckle assembly will become loose once both joints are separated.
   ⚠Support the knuckle and hub assembly to prevent it from falling when the second ball joint releases.
6. 6

   Remove lower control arm pinch bolt
   Locate the pinch bolt that secures the lower ball joint to the lower control arm. Remove this bolt completely using a 17mm socket. This pinch bolt clamps the ball joint stud and must be replaced with a new bolt during reassembly.
   Torque spec

   Pinch Bolt61 Nm (45 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Press out old lower ball joint
   Using a ball joint press kit or hydraulic press with appropriate adapters, press the old lower ball joint out of the lower control arm. Ensure the press is centered and properly aligned to avoid damaging the control arm bore. Clean the bore thoroughly with a wire brush after removal.
   ⚠Ensure press adapters are properly sized to prevent damage to control arm mounting bore.
8. 8

   Press in new lower ball joint
   Position the new lower ball joint in the control arm bore with the correct orientation (stud pointing down). Using the ball joint press, carefully press the new joint into place until it is fully seated. The joint should be flush and not cocked at an angle.
9. 9

   Replace upper ball joint
   If the upper ball joint is pressed into the upper control arm, follow the same press-out and press-in procedure as the lower joint. If it is bolted on (some configurations), remove the mounting bolts, remove the old joint, install the new joint with new hardware, and torque to specification per service manual.
   ℹ️Some Camry configurations use a bolted upper ball joint. Verify your specific configuration before proceeding.
10. 10

    Reinstall lower ball joint to knuckle
    Insert the lower ball joint stud through the steering knuckle. Install a new pinch bolt and torque to 61 Nm (45 lb-ft). Ensure the pinch bolt gap closes completely as it is tightened.
    Torque spec

    Pinch Bolt61 Nm (45 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Reconnect upper ball joint
    Position the steering knuckle so the upper ball joint stud inserts through the knuckle. Install the castle nut and torque to either 88 Nm (65 lb-ft) or 102 Nm (75 lb-ft) depending on your specific ball joint specification. Align the castle nut slots with the stud hole and install a new cotter pin. Bend the cotter pin ends to secure.
    Torque spec

    Ball Joint Nut88 Nm (65 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Reconnect sway bar link
    Reconnect the sway bar link to the lower control arm. Hold the ball stud with an Allen key and torque the nut to 55 Nm (41 lb-ft).
    Torque spec

    Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Reinstall brake components
    Reinstall the brake rotor onto the hub. Position the brake caliper over the rotor and install the caliper mounting bolts. Torque the caliper bolts to manufacturer specification (not provided in torque list).
14. 14

    Install wheels and initial lowering
    Install the front wheels and hand-tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern. Lower the vehicle until the tires just touch the ground but the suspension is not fully loaded. This allows access to control arm bolts while supporting vehicle weight.
15. 15

    Final torque control arm bolts and wheel lug nuts
    With vehicle weight on the suspension, torque all lower control arm mounting bolts to 165 Nm (122 lb-ft). This critical step ensures proper bushing alignment. Fully lower the vehicle and torque wheel lug nuts to 136 Nm (100 lb-ft) in a star pattern.
    ⚠Control arm bolts must be torqued at normal ride height to prevent premature bushing failure.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)

    Wheel Lug Nuts136 Nm (100 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Repeat all steps for the opposite side if replacing both sides
2. Ensure all cotter pins are properly installed and bent to prevent backing out
3. Double-check that all fasteners are torqued to specification
4. Verify brake caliper bolts are tight and brake operation is normal before driving

Verification

• Start the engine and turn the steering wheel full lock in both directions while stationary to verify no binding or interference
• Perform a visual inspection of all ball joint connections to ensure proper seating
• Test drive the vehicle at low speed and verify no abnormal noises, vibrations, or steering concerns
• Schedule a professional wheel alignment immediately after this repair, as camber and toe will be affected
• After 50-100 miles, re-check torque on all fasteners, particularly wheel lug nuts and control arm bolts

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