Lower Control Arm Replacement Honda Accord

Here's how to replace the lower control arm on a 2003-2007 Gen 7 Honda Accord.

Many older Honda's use a double wishbone suspension. The setup includes an upper wishbone, or control arm, a lower control arm, steering knuckle and a coil-over strut all held together at the upper and lower ball joints.

Over time, the control arm bushings could crack due to wear. This could cause problems with alignment, poor handling, excessive or abnormal tire wear or vibrations on the highway.

Replacing the lower control arm on a Honda requires the removal of the suspension fork, lower ball joint, stabilizer linkage, and two bolts attaching it to the subframe.

The OEM stabilizer linkage is most likely rusted and worn and will require you to cut it off and replace it with a new one.

The rear control arm bushing bolt sometimes get seized in the sleeve of the bushing and can't be removed. It will have to be cut off from the subframe and the bushing be pressed out, and a new bolt installed.

A ball joint separator is required to pop the ball stud cone free from the taper on the lower control arm.

It is recommended to use a scissor jack to support the steering knuckle assembly so the upper ball joint does not take all the weight. Take care not to pull the CV axle out too far when maneuvering the steering knuckle free from the ball joint, as that can cause the CV tripod to slip out. If this happens, simply jerk and rotate the axle - hub assembly until it slips back into place.

The use of air tools is not necessary but makes the job a lot faster. Use a breaker bar to break bushing bolts free because the rubber will just absorb the impact and won't budge.

Once the control arm is free, take it to a shop to have them press out the old bushings and press in new ones. New control arms with bushings preloaded are also available to make the job much easier.