Sway Bar Link - Rear

This procedure covers the removal and replacement of the rear sway bar link (stabilizer link) on a 2012-2017 Toyota Camry with the 2.5L I4 engine.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear sway bar link × 1 — 48820-06030 or equivalent

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid surface and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks in front of the front wheels
3. Loosen the rear wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on the ground (do not remove)
4. Raise the rear of the vehicle with a floor jack at the rear jacking point
5. Secure the vehicle on jack stands positioned at the manufacturer-recommended rear lift points
6. Remove the rear wheel completely

Procedure

1. 1

   Inspect and prepare the sway bar link
   Locate the rear sway bar link connecting the sway bar to the rear suspension control arm or knuckle assembly. Inspect the condition of the upper and lower nuts. If corrosion is present, spray penetrating oil on both nuts and allow 10-15 minutes to penetrate.
2. 2

   Remove the upper sway bar link nut
   Insert a 6mm Allen key into the center of the upper ball joint stud to hold it from spinning. Using a 14mm wrench, remove the upper nut that secures the sway bar link to the sway bar. The Allen key prevents the stud from rotating during removal.
   ⚠Do not allow the ball joint stud to spin freely as this can damage the ball joint socket and make removal difficult.
3. 3

   Remove the lower sway bar link nut
   Using the same technique, insert the 6mm Allen key into the lower ball joint stud to hold it stationary. Remove the lower 14mm nut that secures the sway bar link to the rear control arm or knuckle.
4. 4

   Remove the sway bar link
   Pull the sway bar link down and out from the upper mounting point, then remove it from the lower mounting point. If the link is stuck, gently tap the ball joint stud with a plastic mallet while pulling to separate it from the mounting point.
5. 5

   Clean mounting points
   Use a wire brush to clean the sway bar and control arm mounting points where the new link will attach. Remove any rust, dirt, or debris to ensure proper seating of the new link.
6. 6

   Install the new sway bar link
   Position the new sway bar link by inserting the lower ball joint stud into the control arm or knuckle mounting point first, then align the upper ball joint stud with the sway bar mounting point. Thread both nuts onto the studs by hand to prevent cross-threading.
7. 7

   Torque the sway bar link nuts
   Using the 6mm Allen key to hold each ball joint stud from spinning, torque both the upper and lower nuts to specification. Torque the lower nut first, then the upper nut.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Reinstall the rear wheel and hand-tighten the lug nuts
2. Lower the vehicle from the jack stands using the floor jack
3. Remove the jack stands and lower the vehicle completely to the ground
4. Torque the wheel lug nuts to 110 Nm (80 lb-ft) in a star pattern

Verification

• Test drive the vehicle at low speed over small bumps and listen for any knocking or clunking noises from the rear suspension
• If noise persists after replacement, recheck torque values and inspect other suspension components
• After 50-100 miles of driving, re-verify the sway bar link nut torque to ensure proper retention

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