This procedure covers removal and replacement of the upper control arm on the front suspension of a 2018-2024 Toyota Camry with the 2.5L I4 engine.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Upper control arm assembly × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Cotter pin × 1 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Loosen front wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground
3. Raise front of vehicle with floor jack at designated lift point
4. Support vehicle securely on jack stands placed at frame rails
5. Remove front wheel completely
6. Spray penetrating oil on control arm bolts and ball joint nut if fasteners show corrosion

Procedure

1. 1

   Access upper control arm area
   Remove the wheel well liner clips or fasteners as needed to access the upper control arm mounting points. On the Camry, you may need to partially pull back the inner fender liner to access the forward mounting bolt. Use a 12mm socket or appropriate tool for the plastic clips.
2. 2

   Remove ball joint cotter pin
   Locate the ball joint nut where the upper control arm connects to the steering knuckle. Straighten and remove the cotter pin using pliers or a cotter pin removal tool. Discard the old cotter pin as it must not be reused.
3. 3

   Loosen ball joint nut
   Using a 17mm socket, loosen but do not fully remove the ball joint nut at this time. Leave the nut threaded on a few turns to protect the threads and prevent the knuckle from dropping suddenly when the ball joint separates.
4. 4

   Separate ball joint from knuckle
   Insert a ball joint separator tool or pickle fork between the upper control arm and steering knuckle. Strike the tool with a hammer or apply pressure according to tool design to separate the ball joint taper from the knuckle. Once separated, remove the ball joint nut completely. Support the knuckle assembly to prevent strain on brake lines and ABS wiring.
   ⚠Do not allow the knuckle and brake assembly to hang by the brake line or ABS sensor wire. Support it with wire or a bungee cord if necessary.
5. 5

   Remove rear control arm mounting bolt
   Locate the rear mounting bolt that secures the control arm to the chassis. This bolt passes through the rear bushing of the control arm. Use a 17mm or 19mm socket to remove this bolt completely. Note the orientation of any washers or spacers.
6. 6

   Remove front control arm mounting bolt
   Remove the front mounting bolt that secures the control arm to the chassis. This bolt passes through the front bushing. Use appropriate socket size (typically 17mm or 19mm) and remove the bolt completely. The upper control arm should now be free to remove from the vehicle.
7. 7

   Remove upper control arm
   Carefully maneuver the upper control arm out of the wheel well area. It may need to be rotated or angled to clear the strut assembly and other suspension components. Inspect the mounting areas on the chassis for damage or excessive rust.
8. 8

   Prepare and install new control arm
   Transfer any brackets or hardware from the old control arm to the new one if required. Clean the mounting bolt holes in the chassis with a wire brush. Position the new upper control arm into place, aligning the bushings with the chassis mounting points. Insert both mounting bolts finger-tight but do not torque yet.
9. 9

   Connect ball joint to knuckle
   Align the ball joint stud with the hole in the steering knuckle. You may need to use a pry bar or lift the control arm to align it properly. Install the ball joint nut and tighten it hand-tight initially.
10. 10

    Torque ball joint nut and install cotter pin
    Using a torque wrench and 17mm socket, torque the ball joint nut to specification. The castellations on the nut must align with the cotter pin hole in the ball joint stud. If alignment is not achieved at exact torque, tighten further (never loosen) until the next castellation aligns with the hole. Install a new cotter pin and bend the ends to secure it.
    ⚠Never loosen the ball joint nut to align the cotter pin hole. Only tighten further to the next castellation if needed.
    Torque spec

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

    Reinstall wheel well liner
    Reinstall any wheel well liner clips or fasteners that were removed for access. Ensure all clips are properly seated.
12. 12

    Reinstall wheel
    Mount the wheel onto the hub and install all lug nuts hand-tight. Lower the vehicle until the tire just touches the ground but the suspension is not yet loaded.
13. 13

    Torque control arm mounting bolts with vehicle loaded
    With the vehicle weight resting on the wheels (suspension at normal ride height), torque both the front and rear control arm mounting bolts to specification. This is critical for proper bushing alignment and longevity. Use a torque wrench with the appropriate socket size.
    ⚠Control arm bolts MUST be torqued at normal ride height with vehicle weight on suspension. Torquing while suspended will cause premature bushing failure.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Final torque wheel lug nuts
    With the vehicle still on the ground, torque the wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern to ensure even seating of the wheel.
    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. Check that wheel well liner is properly secured
4. Repeat procedure for opposite side if necessary

Verification

• Start the engine and turn the steering wheel lock-to-lock while stationary to verify no binding or unusual noises from the control arm area
• Test drive the vehicle at low speed in a safe area and verify normal steering feel and no clunking noises over bumps
• Have the front end alignment checked and adjusted by a qualified technician as soon as possible after control arm replacement
• After 50-100 miles of driving, re-check all control arm fastener torques

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