Replace the front lateral arm (lower control arm) on a 2018-2024 Toyota Camry 2.5L I4, including ball joint separation and proper torque procedures.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front lateral arm (lower control arm) × 1 — Use OEM specification 48068-06260 or equivalent
• Cotter pin for ball joint × 1 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and apply parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels
3. Loosen front wheel lug nuts 1/4 turn while vehicle is on ground
4. Raise front of vehicle with floor jack at designated jacking point
5. Support vehicle securely with jack stands under frame rails
6. Remove front wheel completely
7. Spray all lateral arm bolts and ball joint nut with penetrating oil and allow to soak 10-15 minutes

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove ball joint cotter pin
   Locate the ball joint castle nut on the lower lateral arm where it connects to the steering knuckle. Straighten and remove the existing cotter pin using pliers. Discard the old cotter pin as it cannot be reused.
2. 2

   Loosen ball joint castle nut
   Using a 19mm socket, loosen the ball joint castle nut but do not remove it completely. Leave the nut threaded on by 2-3 turns to protect the threads and contain the ball joint when it separates.
   ⚠Do not fully remove the nut yet. Leaving it partially threaded prevents damage when the joint separates.
3. 3

   Separate ball joint from knuckle
   Position the ball joint separator tool between the lateral arm and steering knuckle. Apply pressure to separate the ball joint taper from the knuckle. Once separated, remove the castle nut completely and lower the lateral arm away from the knuckle. If using a pickle fork, be aware this may damage the ball joint boot.
   ⚠️The ball joint will separate suddenly under spring tension. Keep hands and face clear of the separation point.
4. 4

   Remove front lateral arm mounting bolt
   Locate the front mounting bolt that connects the lateral arm to the front subframe. This is typically a large 19mm or 22mm bolt. Using a breaker bar and appropriate socket, remove the front mounting bolt completely. Support the lateral arm to prevent it from falling.
5. 5

   Remove rear lateral arm mounting bolt
   Locate the rear mounting bolt that connects the lateral arm to the rear subframe bracket. Remove this bolt completely using the appropriate socket. The lateral arm should now be free to remove from the vehicle.
6. 6

   Remove lateral arm from vehicle
   Carefully maneuver the lateral arm out from between the subframe and steering knuckle. Inspect the old arm for bushing condition, cracks, or damage. Clean the mounting surfaces on the subframe with a wire brush to ensure proper seating of the new arm.
7. 7

   Install new lateral arm
   Position the new lateral arm into place between the subframe mounting points. Align the ball joint stud with the hole in the steering knuckle. Insert the front and rear mounting bolts by hand, threading them 2-3 turns. Do not torque these bolts yet.
   ⚠Control arm mounting bolts must not be torqued until vehicle weight is on the suspension. Only hand-tighten at this stage.
8. 8

   Install ball joint castle nut
   Push the ball joint stud up into the steering knuckle bore. Thread the new castle nut onto the ball joint stud by hand. Torque the castle nut to specification and align the next slot in the castle nut with the cotter pin hole. If necessary, tighten further (never loosen) to align the slot.
   ⚠Never loosen the castle nut to align the cotter pin hole. Only tighten further if needed for alignment.
   Torque spec

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

   Install new cotter pin
   Insert a new cotter pin through the castle nut slot and ball joint stud hole. Bend the ends of the cotter pin around the castle nut to secure it in place. Verify the cotter pin cannot back out.
10. 10

    Reinstall wheel and lower vehicle
    Reinstall the front wheel and hand-tighten all lug nuts in a star pattern. Lower the vehicle slowly from the jack stands until the tires contact the ground but the suspension is not yet compressed. Do not remove the jack completely yet.
11. 11

    Torque control arm mounting bolts at ride height
    With the vehicle weight on the suspension but still partially supported by the jack, bounce the front suspension several times to settle it. Torque both the front and rear lateral arm mounting bolts to specification. This must be done with vehicle weight on the suspension to prevent bushing preload and premature failure.
    ⚠This is a critical step. Torquing with suspension unloaded will cause bushing failure within weeks or months.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Final wheel torque
    Fully lower the vehicle to the ground and remove the jack. Using a torque wrench, torque all wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern. Perform two complete star-pattern passes to ensure even torque distribution.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts136 Nm (100 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Control arm mounting bolts must be torqued at normal ride height to prevent bushing damage
2. New cotter pin must be installed and properly secured on the ball joint castle nut
3. Verify all fasteners are torqued to specification before test driving

Verification

• Bounce the front suspension firmly several times and verify no clunking or abnormal noises
• Verify the ball joint cotter pin is properly installed and bent to prevent backing out
• Test drive at low speed and verify no vibration, pulling, or steering abnormalities
• Perform a visual inspection underneath to confirm no interference between the lateral arm and other components
• Schedule a wheel alignment as suspension geometry has been altered

More procedures for this vehicle