This procedure covers the replacement of the front upper control arm bushings on a 2014-2019 Toyota Corolla with the 1.8L I4 engine, requiring removal of the control arm for bushing replacement or installation of a complete control arm assembly.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front upper control arm assembly (complete) × 1 — 48068-02180 (LH) or 48069-02180 (RH)
• Cotter pin × 1 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Loosen wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground
3. Raise front of vehicle and support securely on jack stands at the subframe or designated lift points
4. Remove front wheel on the side being serviced
5. Spray penetrating oil on all fasteners to be removed and allow to soak for 10-15 minutes
6. Inspect control arm, ball joint, and surrounding components for damage or excessive wear

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove cotter pin and loosen ball joint nut
   Locate the upper control arm ball joint at the steering knuckle. Straighten and remove the cotter pin from the ball joint castle nut. Using a 17mm socket, loosen the ball joint nut but do not remove it completely yet. Leave the nut threaded on 2-3 turns to protect the threads during separation.
2. 2

   Separate ball joint from knuckle
   Position a ball joint separator tool between the control arm and steering knuckle at the ball joint taper. Strike the separator tool or tighten the screw-type separator to break the taper free. Once the taper is broken, remove the castle nut completely and remove the separator tool. Swing the control arm away from the knuckle.
   ⚠Do not strike the ball joint stud directly with a hammer as this can damage the threads and ball joint.
3. 3

   Disconnect sway bar link (if necessary)
   If the sway bar link interferes with control arm removal, disconnect it from the control arm. Hold the ball stud shaft with a 6mm Allen key while removing the upper nut with a 14mm socket. The link can remain attached to the sway bar.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Support the lower control arm
   Place a floor jack under the lower control arm or knuckle to support the suspension weight and prevent the assembly from dropping when the upper control arm is removed. Raise the jack just enough to slightly compress the suspension.
5. 5

   Remove strut tower mounting nuts
   Open the hood and locate the three upper strut mounting nuts at the strut tower. Using a 14mm socket, remove all three nuts. Note the position of any alignment marks or washers for reassembly.
   ⚠Ensure the lower control arm is properly supported before removing strut tower nuts to prevent suspension collapse.
   Torque spec

   Strut Tower Nuts50 Nm (37 lb-ft)
6. 6

   Remove control arm mounting bolts
   Locate the two control arm mounting bolts that attach the control arm to the vehicle body/subframe. Using a 19mm socket and breaker bar, remove both bolts. The front bolt is accessed from the front of the vehicle, and the rear bolt from below. Note the position and orientation of any washers or alignment shims.
   ℹ️Some models may have alignment shims or eccentric bolts for camber adjustment. Mark or photograph their position before removal.
   Torque spec

   Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Remove control arm assembly
   Carefully maneuver the control arm assembly out of the vehicle. It may be necessary to lower or raise the floor jack slightly to create clearance. Remove the control arm from the wheel well. Clean the mounting areas on the subframe and strut tower with a wire brush.
8. 8

   Replace bushings or install new control arm
   If replacing bushings only: Use a hydraulic press with appropriate adapters to press out the old bushings and press in new ones, ensuring proper alignment. If installing a complete new control arm assembly: Inspect the new assembly to ensure it matches the old one and that all bushings and ball joint are in good condition. Transfer any alignment shims from the old arm to the new one.
   ℹ️Pressing bushings requires specific tooling to avoid damage. Most technicians replace the complete control arm assembly for reliability.
9. 9

   Install control arm to vehicle
   Position the control arm assembly into the mounting location. Insert both control arm mounting bolts through the bushings and into the subframe/body. Thread the bolts by hand but do NOT torque them yet - they must be torqued with the vehicle weight on the suspension. Ensure any alignment shims are in their original positions.
10. 10

    Install strut tower nuts
    Align the upper strut mount with the strut tower holes. Install the three mounting nuts and torque to specification using a 14mm socket and torque wrench.
    Torque spec

    Strut Tower Nuts50 Nm (37 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Connect ball joint to knuckle
    Clean the ball joint stud and taper hole in the knuckle with a wire brush. Position the control arm ball joint stud into the knuckle taper hole. Install the castle nut and tighten to specification. The castle nut slots must align with the cotter pin hole - if not aligned, tighten further (never loosen) until the next slot aligns.
    ⚠Never loosen a castle nut to align the cotter pin hole. Only tighten to the next slot if needed.
    Torque spec

    Ball Joint Nut84 Nm (62 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Install new cotter pin
    Insert a new cotter pin through the castle nut and ball joint stud hole. Bend the ends of the cotter pin around the nut to secure it in place. Ensure the cotter pin is fully seated and cannot fall out.
13. 13

    Reconnect sway bar link (if disconnected)
    If the sway bar link was disconnected, reconnect it to the control arm. Hold the ball stud shaft with a 6mm Allen key while tightening the nut with a 14mm socket to the specified torque.
    Torque spec

    Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Install wheel and lower vehicle
    Reinstall the wheel and hand-tighten all lug nuts in a star pattern. Lower the vehicle until the tires just touch the ground but the full weight is not yet on the suspension. Torque the lug nuts to specification in a star pattern.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts129 Nm (95 lb-ft)
15. 15

    Torque control arm bolts with vehicle loaded
    Completely lower the vehicle so the full weight is on the suspension. This ensures the bushings are in their neutral position. Bounce the front end a few times to settle the suspension. Using a 19mm socket and torque wrench, torque both control arm mounting bolts to specification.
    ⚠Failure to torque control arm bolts with the vehicle weight on the suspension will cause premature bushing failure and poor handling.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Ensure all fasteners are torqued to specification in the correct sequence
2. Verify the cotter pin is properly installed and secured in the ball joint castle nut
3. Double-check that control arm bolts were torqued with vehicle weight on the suspension

Verification

• Test drive the vehicle and verify there are no unusual noises from the front suspension
• Check for proper steering response and that the vehicle tracks straight
• Perform a visual inspection under the vehicle to confirm all fasteners are tight and the cotter pin is secure
• Have a professional wheel alignment performed as control arm removal affects camber and caster settings

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