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

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear upper control arm × 1 — 48740-02110 or aftermarket equivalent
• Ball joint castle nut (if applicable) × 1 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

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

Procedure

1. 1

   Support the rear knuckle assembly
   Position a floor jack under the rear knuckle or lower control arm to support the suspension assembly. Raise slightly to take load off the upper control arm but do not lift the vehicle. This prevents the knuckle from dropping when the upper control arm is disconnected.
2. 2

   Remove the ball joint castle nut
   Locate the upper control arm ball joint where it connects to the rear knuckle. Remove the cotter pin if equipped. Using a 17mm socket, remove the castle nut from the ball joint stud. Do not reuse the castle nut if it is a self-locking type.
3. 3

   Separate the ball joint from the knuckle
   Use a ball joint separator tool or pickle fork to separate the upper control arm ball joint from the rear knuckle. Position the separator between the control arm and knuckle, then tighten or strike according to tool type until the taper releases. Avoid damaging the ball joint boot if reusing the control arm.
4. 4

   Remove the front control arm mounting bolt
   Locate the front mounting bolt that secures the control arm to the chassis/subframe. Using a 19mm socket and wrench, remove the bolt and any washers. Note the orientation of washers and spacers for reinstallation. The bolt may be tight due to bushing friction.
5. 5

   Remove the rear control arm mounting bolt
   Locate the rear mounting bolt that secures the control arm to the chassis/subframe. Using a 19mm socket and wrench, remove the bolt and any washers. Note the orientation of all components. The control arm can now be removed from the vehicle.
6. 6

   Inspect mounting points and clean
   Inspect the chassis mounting points for damage, cracks, or excessive corrosion. Check the knuckle ball joint taper seat for damage. Use a wire brush to clean the mounting bolt holes and ball joint taper seat on the knuckle. Remove any rust or debris that could prevent proper seating.
7. 7

   Install the new upper control arm
   Position the new upper control arm into the chassis mounting brackets. Insert the front and rear mounting bolts with washers in their original orientation, but do not tighten yet. Thread the bolts just enough to hold the control arm in position. Ensure the control arm is properly aligned in the mounting brackets.
8. 8

   Connect the ball joint to the knuckle
   Align the ball joint stud with the hole in the rear knuckle. You may need to adjust the floor jack height to align the components. Push the ball joint stud into the knuckle taper. Install the new castle nut and tighten to specification using a torque wrench.
   ⚠Ensure the ball joint taper is fully seated in the knuckle before torquing the nut. A partially seated taper can fail under load.
   Torque spec

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

   Install cotter pin if equipped
   If the ball joint nut uses a cotter pin, align the castle nut slots with the stud hole. If necessary, tighten the nut slightly (no more than 1/6 turn) to align the slots. Never loosen the nut to align. Insert a new cotter pin and bend the ends to secure.
10. 10

    Reinstall the wheel
    Mount the wheel onto the hub and thread all lug nuts by hand. Tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern until snug but do not torque yet. The wheel must be installed to load the suspension before torquing control arm bolts.
11. 11

    Lower vehicle to load suspension
    Remove the floor jack from under the knuckle. Lower the vehicle from the jack stands until the full weight is on the wheels and suspension is at normal ride height. The vehicle should be on the ground or on drive-on ramps. This is critical for proper control arm bolt torque.
12. 12

    Torque control arm mounting bolts
    With the vehicle weight on the suspension, torque the front and rear control arm mounting bolts to specification using a torque wrench and 19mm socket. Torque both bolts in the loaded condition to prevent bushing bind.
    ⚠Control arm bolts must be torqued at normal ride height. Torquing with suspension hanging will cause premature bushing failure.
    Torque spec

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

    Torque wheel lug nuts
    Using a torque wrench, tighten the wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern. Make at least two passes to ensure even torque distribution.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts129 Nm (95 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. If working on both sides, repeat the procedure for the opposite rear upper control arm
2. Verify all fasteners are torqued to specification
3. Ensure no tools or parts are left in the wheel well or under the vehicle

Verification

• Test drive the vehicle at low speed and verify no unusual noises from the rear suspension
• Check for proper handling and stability during straight-line driving and turns
• Verify the ball joint nut cotter pin is properly installed and secured
• Schedule a four-wheel alignment as soon as possible, as replacing the upper control arm will affect rear camber and toe settings

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