This procedure covers the removal and replacement of the rear lateral arm (lower control arm) on a 2012-2017 Toyota Camry with 2.5L I4 engine.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear lateral arm (lower control arm) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Ball joint castle nut × 1 — Reuse if undamaged or replace with OEM
• Cotter pin × 1 — Replace with new

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Loosen wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground
3. Raise rear of vehicle and support securely on jack stands at manufacturer-recommended jacking points
4. Remove wheel completely
5. Spray penetrating oil on all lateral arm fasteners and ball joint nut, allow to penetrate for 10-15 minutes

Procedure

1. 1

   Support the suspension
   Position a floor jack under the rear knuckle or lower control area to support the suspension assembly. Raise jack slightly to take up weight but do not lift vehicle off jack stands. This prevents the suspension from dropping when arm is disconnected.
2. 2

   Remove the ball joint cotter pin
   Locate the ball joint castle nut where the lateral arm connects to the rear knuckle. Straighten and remove the cotter pin using pliers or a cotter pin removal tool. Discard the old cotter pin.
3. 3

   Loosen the ball joint nut
   Using a 19mm socket, loosen the ball joint castle nut but do not remove it completely yet. Leave the nut threaded on a few turns to protect the threads during separation.
   Torque spec

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

   Separate the ball joint
   Using a ball joint separator tool or pickle fork, insert between the knuckle and lateral arm ball joint. Strike with a hammer or apply pressure until the taper separates. Once separated, remove the castle nut completely. Lower the floor jack slightly to provide clearance.
5. 5

   Remove front lateral arm bolt
   Locate the front mounting bolt that secures the lateral arm to the front mounting bracket on the subframe. Using a 19mm socket and breaker bar, remove the bolt completely. The bolt passes through a bushing, so it may require some force to extract.
6. 6

   Remove rear lateral arm bolt
   Locate the rear mounting bolt that secures the lateral arm to the rear mounting bracket. Using a 19mm socket and breaker bar, remove this bolt completely. Support the lateral arm as you remove the final bolt.
7. 7

   Remove the lateral arm
   Once both mounting bolts are removed and ball joint is disconnected, maneuver the lateral arm out of the vehicle. It may be necessary to angle or rotate the arm to clear suspension components. Inspect the removed arm for damage, cracking, or torn bushings.
8. 8

   Clean mounting surfaces
   Use a wire brush to clean the mounting bolt holes in both the front and rear brackets on the subframe. Remove any rust, dirt, or debris. Inspect mounting brackets for cracks or damage. Clean the ball joint taper seat on the knuckle.
9. 9

   Install new lateral arm
   Position the new lateral arm into place, aligning the ball joint stud with the hole in the rear knuckle. Install the castle nut on the ball joint and thread it on by hand. Do not torque yet.
10. 10

    Install mounting bolts
    Insert both front and rear mounting bolts through the lateral arm bushings and into the subframe brackets. Thread the bolts by hand to ensure proper alignment. Do not torque these bolts yet - they must be torqued with vehicle weight on wheels.
11. 11

    Torque ball joint nut
    Using a torque wrench and 19mm socket, torque the ball joint castle nut to specification. Align the castle nut slots with the ball joint stud hole by tightening slightly if needed (never loosen to align). Install a new cotter pin and bend the ends to secure.
    Torque spec

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

    Reinstall wheel
    Mount the wheel onto the hub, threading lug nuts by hand. Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern with a hand wrench, but do not torque to final specification yet.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts136 Nm (100 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Lower vehicle to ground
    Remove jack stands and carefully lower the vehicle until full weight is on all four wheels. This puts the suspension at ride height, which is required for proper control arm bolt torque.
14. 14

    Torque control arm bolts
    With vehicle weight fully on wheels, use a torque wrench to torque both the front and rear lateral arm mounting bolts to specification. Torquing at ride height is critical to prevent bushing binding and premature wear.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
15. 15

    Torque wheel lug nuts
    Using a torque wrench, torque all wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern. Verify each lug nut reaches proper torque.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts136 Nm (100 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Always install a new cotter pin at the ball joint - never reuse old pins
2. Ensure castle nut slots align with ball joint stud hole by tightening only, never loosening
3. Verify all fasteners are properly tightened before test driving vehicle

Verification

• Test drive vehicle at low speed and verify no clunking or unusual noises from rear suspension
• Perform a visual inspection under the vehicle to confirm all bolts are tight and cotter pin is properly installed
• Schedule a four-wheel alignment as replacing the lateral arm will affect rear suspension geometry and tire wear patterns

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