This procedure covers the removal and replacement of the upper control arm on a 2012-2017 Toyota Camry with a 2.5L I4 engine, including disconnection of the ball joint and control arm mounting points.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Upper control arm assembly × 1 — 48068-06210 (Driver) or 48069-06210 (Passenger)
• Ball joint castle nut × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Cotter pin × 1 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels
3. Loosen wheel lug nuts on the side being serviced while vehicle is on ground
4. Raise front of vehicle with floor jack at manufacturer's specified lift point
5. Support vehicle securely on jack stands placed at reinforced frame points
6. Remove wheel completely
7. Spray all fasteners with penetrating oil and allow to soak for 10-15 minutes

Procedure

1. 1

   Access upper control arm area
   Remove any engine compartment covers or splash shields that obstruct access to the upper control arm mounting area. On the driver side, you may need to move wiring harnesses or hoses aside. Take photos for reassembly reference.
2. 2

   Remove ball joint cotter pin and nut
   Locate the ball joint castle nut where the upper control arm connects to the steering knuckle. Remove and discard the cotter pin using pliers or side cutters. Using a 19mm socket, loosen but do not fully remove the ball joint castle nut. Leave it threaded on 2-3 turns to protect threads during separation.
3. 3

   Separate ball joint from knuckle
   Position the ball joint separator tool or pickle fork between the upper control arm and steering knuckle. Strike the tool firmly with a hammer or use the threaded separator to apply pressure. Once the taper breaks free, remove the castle nut completely. Support the knuckle to prevent stress on other components.
   ⚠The ball joint may separate suddenly. Ensure nut is still threaded on during initial separation to prevent damage.
4. 4

   Remove front control arm mounting bolt
   Locate the front control arm mounting bolt that secures the control arm to the frame. This is typically a 17mm head bolt. Use a breaker bar if necessary to break it loose, then remove the bolt completely. Note the orientation of any washers or spacers for reinstallation.
5. 5

   Remove rear control arm mounting bolt
   Locate and remove the rear control arm mounting bolt using the same technique. This bolt may be under more tension, so support the control arm with one hand while removing the bolt. The control arm should now be free to remove from the vehicle.
6. 6

   Remove upper control arm
   Carefully maneuver the upper control arm out of the vehicle. It may require slight rotation or angling to clear other components. Inspect the ball joint boot and mounting bushings on the old part for signs of failure. Clean the mounting surfaces on the frame with a wire brush.
7. 7

   Install new upper control arm
   Position the new upper control arm into place, aligning the mounting points with the frame brackets. Install the front and rear control arm bolts finger-tight only at this stage. Ensure any washers or spacers are in their correct positions. Do not torque these bolts yet.
8. 8

   Connect ball joint to knuckle
   Guide the ball joint stud into the steering knuckle hole. Install the new castle nut and tighten to specification using a torque wrench. The nut should align with a cotter pin hole when properly torqued. If it does not align, tighten further to the next slot—never loosen to align.
   ⚠Never loosen a castle nut to align cotter pin holes. Always tighten to the next slot if needed.
   Torque spec

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

   Install cotter pin
   Insert the new cotter pin through the castle nut slots and ball joint stud hole. Bend the ends of the cotter pin over to secure it in place. Ensure the cotter pin is fully seated and properly retained.
10. 10

    Reinstall wheel and lower vehicle
    Reinstall the wheel and thread lug nuts on by hand. Lower the vehicle until the tire just contacts the ground but the suspension is not yet compressed. Torque the lug nuts in a star pattern to specification. Then lower the vehicle completely so full weight is on the wheels.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts136 Nm (100 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Torque control arm bolts with weight on wheels
    With the vehicle at normal ride height and weight fully on the wheels, torque both the front and rear control arm mounting bolts to specification. This is critical—torquing with the suspension unloaded will cause premature bushing failure. Use a torque wrench from underneath the vehicle or through the wheel well.
    ⚠Control arm bolts MUST be torqued at normal ride height with vehicle weight on wheels. Failure to do so will damage bushings and cause handling problems.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Reinstall any engine compartment covers or splash shields removed during disassembly
2. Reposition any wiring harnesses or hoses that were moved aside
3. Double-check all fasteners are properly torqued
4. Remove jack stands and lower vehicle completely

Verification

• Verify ball joint castle nut is torqued to specification and cotter pin is properly installed
• Confirm both control arm mounting bolts are torqued to specification with vehicle weight on wheels
• Bounce the front end of the vehicle several times and listen for any unusual noises
• Test drive vehicle at low speed in a safe area and verify normal handling
• Schedule a professional front-end alignment as soon as possible—this repair will affect camber and caster angles

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