This procedure covers the removal and replacement of the rear upper control arm on a 2018-2024 Toyota Camry with the 2.5L I4 engine, including proper torque specifications and alignment considerations.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear upper control arm × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Cotter pin × 1 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface 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 securely on jack stands at manufacturer-specified jacking points
4. Remove rear wheel on side being serviced
5. Spray control arm bolts and ball joint nut with penetrating oil if showing corrosion

Procedure

1. 1

   Support the knuckle assembly
   Position a floor jack under the rear knuckle or lower control arm to support the suspension assembly. Raise jack just enough to take light pressure off the upper control arm without lifting the vehicle. This prevents the suspension from dropping when the upper control arm is disconnected.
2. 2

   Remove ball joint cotter pin
   Locate the upper ball joint nut at the rear knuckle. Straighten and remove the cotter pin using needle-nose pliers or a cotter pin removal tool. Discard the old cotter pin as it cannot be reused.
3. 3

   Remove ball joint nut
   Using a 17mm wrench, remove the ball joint castle nut from the upper control arm ball joint stud. Keep the nut accessible as you may need to thread it back on partway during separation to protect the threads.
4. 4

   Separate ball joint from knuckle
   Use a ball joint separator tool or pickle fork to separate the upper control arm ball joint from the rear knuckle. Position the tool between the control arm and knuckle, then apply force to pop the tapered stud free. If using a pickle fork, be aware this may damage the ball joint boot. A puller-type separator is preferred for clean removal.
   ⚠Support the control arm as the ball joint separates to prevent it from dropping suddenly.
5. 5

   Remove front control arm mounting bolt
   Locate the front mounting bolt that connects the control arm to the chassis. This bolt passes through the forward bushing of the control arm. Using a 19mm socket and wrench, remove the bolt and any washers or spacers. Note the orientation of any washers for reinstallation.
6. 6

   Remove rear control arm mounting bolt
   Locate the rear mounting bolt that connects the control arm to the chassis. This bolt passes through the rear bushing of the control arm. Using a 19mm socket and wrench, remove the bolt and any washers or spacers. Note the orientation for reinstallation.
7. 7

   Remove upper control arm
   With both mounting bolts removed and the ball joint separated, remove the upper control arm from the vehicle. Inspect the mounting points on the chassis for corrosion or damage. Clean mounting surfaces with a wire brush if necessary.
8. 8

   Install new upper control arm
   Position the new upper control arm into place on the chassis. Insert both the front and rear mounting bolts through the bushings and chassis brackets. Thread the bolts by hand but do not tighten yet. The control arm should move freely on the bolts.
9. 9

   Connect ball joint to knuckle
   Align the upper control arm ball joint stud with the hole in the rear knuckle. You may need to adjust the floor jack height slightly to align the components. Push the ball joint stud through the knuckle until it is fully seated. Thread the castle nut onto the ball joint stud by hand.
10. 10

    Torque ball joint nut and install cotter pin
    Torque the ball joint castle nut to specification. After reaching proper torque, continue tightening only as needed to align the next castle slot with the cotter pin hole in the stud (do not back off the nut). Install a new cotter pin through the castle nut and ball joint stud, then bend the ends of the pin to secure it.
    Torque spec

    Ball Joint Nut88 Nm (65 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Install wheel and lower vehicle
    Install the rear wheel and hand-tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern. Lower the vehicle until the tires just contact the ground but the suspension is at normal ride height with vehicle weight on the wheels. Do not fully lower vehicle onto jack stands yet.
12. 12

    Torque control arm mounting bolts
    With the vehicle weight on the suspension (tires on ground), torque both the front and rear control arm mounting bolts to specification. This is critical - the bushings must be torqued at normal ride height to prevent premature wear. Torque the bolts in the center of their movement range.
    ⚠Control arm bolts MUST be torqued with vehicle weight on suspension. Torquing with suspension hanging will cause bushing failure.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Final wheel installation
    Fully lower the vehicle to the ground. Torque the wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern using a torque wrench.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts136 Nm (100 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Ensure all fasteners are torqued to specification
2. Verify cotter pin is properly installed and bent
3. Confirm no tools or parts were left in the wheel well

Verification

• Bounce the rear of the vehicle several times to settle the suspension and verify no unusual noises
• Visually inspect that the ball joint is fully seated in the knuckle
• Verify the cotter pin is secure and the ball joint nut is tight
• Schedule a wheel alignment immediately - the upper control arm affects camber and toe settings
• Test drive at low speed and verify no pulling, vibration, or unusual handling

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