This procedure covers the removal and replacement of the front upper control arm on a 2014-2019 Toyota Corolla with a 1.8L I4 engine.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front upper control arm assembly × 1 — 48068-02100 (Left) or 48069-02100 (Right)
• Ball joint castle nut × 1 — Replace if cotter pin hole damaged
• Cotter pin × 1 — Replace during reassembly

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and apply parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels
3. Loosen front wheel lug nuts while vehicle is still on ground
4. Raise front of vehicle with floor jack and support securely on jack stands at manufacturer-specified lift points
5. Remove front wheel on side being serviced
6. Spray ball joint nut and control arm mounting bolts with penetrating oil if corrosion is present

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove ball joint cotter pin
   Locate the upper control arm ball joint where it connects to the steering knuckle. Straighten and remove the cotter pin from the castle nut on the ball joint stud. Discard the old cotter pin as it should not be reused.
2. 2

   Loosen ball joint castle nut
   Using a 19mm socket, loosen but do not completely remove the ball joint castle nut. Leave the nut threaded on a few turns to prevent the control arm from dropping suddenly when the ball joint separates.
3. 3

   Separate ball joint from knuckle
   Position a ball joint separator tool or pickle fork between the control arm and steering knuckle. Strike or apply pressure to separate the ball joint taper from the knuckle. Once separated, remove the castle nut completely and lower the control arm away from the knuckle.
   ⚠A pickle fork will damage the ball joint boot. Use only if replacing the control arm assembly.
4. 4

   Remove front control arm mounting bolt
   Locate the front control arm mounting bolt that attaches the control arm to the frame or subframe. Using a 17mm socket and breaker bar if needed, remove the front mounting bolt completely. Support the control arm to prevent it from hanging on the rear bolt.
5. 5

   Remove rear control arm mounting bolt
   Remove the rear control arm mounting bolt using a 17mm socket. The control arm can now be removed from the vehicle. Note the orientation and positioning of any washers or spacers for reinstallation.
6. 6

   Clean mounting surfaces
   Use a wire brush to clean the mounting bolt holes in the frame and remove any rust, dirt, or debris. Clean the ball joint taper seat in the steering knuckle with a wire brush or clean rag. Inspect all mounting points for damage or excessive corrosion.
7. 7

   Install new upper control arm
   Position the new upper control arm into the mounting brackets on the frame. Insert both mounting bolts but do not tighten them yet. The control arm bushings must be torqued with the vehicle at normal ride height to prevent premature bushing failure. Thread the bolts in enough to hold the control arm in position.
8. 8

   Connect ball joint to knuckle
   Lift the control arm ball joint stud into the tapered hole in the steering knuckle. You may need to use a pry bar or jack to align the holes. Thread the castle nut onto the ball joint stud by hand, then tighten with a 19mm socket to the specified torque.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut84 Nm (62 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Install new cotter pin
   Align the castle nut slots with the hole in the ball joint stud. If needed, tighten the nut slightly more to align the slots - never loosen to align. Insert a new cotter pin through the hole and bend the ends to secure it properly.
10. 10

    Reinstall wheel
    Mount the wheel onto the hub and thread the lug nuts on by hand. Tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern with a hand wrench, but do not torque to final specification yet.
11. 11

    Lower vehicle to load suspension
    Carefully lower the vehicle from the jack stands until the suspension is loaded with the vehicle's weight on the wheels, but keep the jack partially supporting the vehicle for safety. The suspension must be at normal ride height before torquing the control arm mounting bolts.
12. 12

    Torque control arm mounting bolts
    With the vehicle weight on the suspension, torque both control arm mounting bolts to specification using a 17mm socket and torque wrench. Torque the front bolt first, then the rear bolt. This ensures the bushings are not pre-loaded in a twisted position.
    Torque spec

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

    Final wheel installation
    Raise the vehicle completely, remove jack stands, and lower the vehicle fully to the ground. Torque the wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern using a torque wrench and 21mm socket.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts129 Nm (95 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Ensure all fasteners are torqued to specification before driving
2. Control arm mounting bolts must be torqued with vehicle weight on suspension
3. New cotter pin must be properly installed and secured
4. Verify ball joint has full range of motion without binding

Verification

• Verify all bolts are torqued to specification including ball joint nut, control arm bolts, and wheel lug nuts
• Check that cotter pin is properly installed and secured in ball joint castle nut
• Test drive vehicle at low speed and verify no abnormal noises from front suspension
• Schedule a front-end alignment to ensure proper camber and caster settings
• Re-check all fastener torques after 50-100 miles of driving

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