This procedure covers the removal and replacement of the rear upper control arm on a 2012-2017 Toyota Camry with 2.5L I4 engine, including proper torque sequencing with vehicle weight on suspension.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear upper control arm assembly × 1 — 48610-06100 or aftermarket equivalent
• Ball joint castle nut (if damaged) × 1 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level ground and engage parking brake
2. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground (do not remove)
3. Raise rear of vehicle and support on jack stands at manufacturer frame points
4. Remove rear wheel completely
5. Spray control arm bolts and ball joint nut with penetrating oil if corrosion is present
6. Inspect control arm bushings and ball joint boot for damage to confirm replacement is necessary

Procedure

1. 1

   Support rear knuckle assembly
   Position floor jack under rear knuckle/spindle assembly to support weight and maintain suspension geometry. Raise jack just enough to take light load off control arm but not to lift vehicle off jack stands.
2. 2

   Remove ball joint castle nut
   Remove cotter pin from ball joint castle nut. Using 19mm socket, remove castle nut completely from upper control arm ball joint stud. Keep nut for reference if replacing with new.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut88 Nm (65 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Separate ball joint from knuckle
   Insert ball joint separator tool between control arm and knuckle at ball joint. Strike or apply pressure per tool design to separate ball joint taper from knuckle bore. Once released, remove separator tool and ensure ball joint stud is clear of knuckle.
   ⚠Ball joint may release suddenly. Control jack position to prevent knuckle from dropping.
4. 4

   Remove front control arm mounting bolt
   Locate front mounting bolt securing control arm to chassis (closest to vehicle centerline). Using 17mm socket and wrench, remove bolt and washer completely. Note orientation of any alignment shims or washers for reinstallation.
   Torque spec

   Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Remove rear control arm mounting bolt
   Locate rear mounting bolt securing control arm to chassis (closest to wheel well). Using 17mm socket and wrench, remove bolt and washer completely. Control arm is now free to remove.
   Torque spec

   Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
6. 6

   Remove upper control arm
   Guide upper control arm out of mounting position. May need to manipulate knuckle position slightly using floor jack. Clean mounting surfaces on chassis brackets with wire brush to remove corrosion and ensure proper seating of new control arm.
7. 7

   Install new upper control arm
   Position new upper control arm into chassis mounting brackets. Insert both front and rear mounting bolts with washers but do NOT tighten. Thread bolts by hand only at this stage to allow bushing movement. Ensure ball joint stud is aligned with knuckle bore.
8. 8

   Connect ball joint to knuckle
   Raise or lower floor jack under knuckle to align ball joint stud with knuckle bore. Insert stud fully into knuckle. Install new castle nut and tighten to specification using 19mm socket. Install new cotter pin through castle nut slots and bend ends to secure.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut88 Nm (65 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Install wheel and lower vehicle
   Install rear wheel and thread lug nuts by hand. Lower vehicle from jack stands until full vehicle weight is on suspension and wheels are on ground. This is CRITICAL before torquing control arm bolts. Remove floor jack from under knuckle.
10. 10

    Torque control arm mounting bolts
    With vehicle weight fully on suspension, torque front and rear control arm mounting bolts to specification using torque wrench and 17mm socket. Torquing these bolts in any other position will preload bushings incorrectly and cause premature failure.
    ⚠Control arm bolts MUST be torqued with vehicle weight on wheels. Failure to do so will destroy bushings.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Torque wheel lug nuts
    Using torque wrench and 19mm socket, torque all wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern to ensure even wheel seating.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts136 Nm (100 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. No additional reassembly required beyond installation steps
2. Ensure cotter pin is properly installed and bent on ball joint castle nut
3. Verify all fasteners are torqued to specification with vehicle at normal ride height

Verification

• Test drive vehicle at low speed and verify no clunking or unusual noises from rear suspension
• Perform visual inspection of control arm mounting bolts and ball joint nut to confirm no loosening
• Schedule four-wheel alignment within 100 miles as control arm replacement affects rear camber and toe settings
• Recheck all torque specifications after 50-100 miles of driving

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