🔧 Front Lower Control Arms - Replacement

Replacing both front lower control arms restores steering stability, fixes clunks, and helps correct uneven tire wear. On your Tacoma, the alignment will shift when these arms come out, so a professional alignment is required after the job.

Difficulty Level: Advanced | Estimated Time: 3-5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Support the truck securely with jack stands before removing suspension parts.
• Keep hands clear when separating the ball joint from the knuckle.
• Do not let the brake hose or ABS wire hang unsupported.
• Mark cam bolt positions before removal, then plan on a wheel alignment after repair.
• No battery disconnect is required for this job.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated for truck weight)
• Wheel chocks
• 21mm socket
• 22mm socket
• 24mm socket
• 19mm socket
• Breaker bar
• Torque wrench
• Ratchet
• Paint marker
• Penetrating oil
• Ball joint separator (specialty)
• Pry bar
• Pliers
• Gloves
• Safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front lower control arm, left - Qty: 1
• Front lower control arm, right - Qty: 1
• Lower control arm cam bolt hardware kit - Qty: 2
• New cotter pins - Qty: 2

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground and set the parking brake.
• Chock the rear wheels.
• Loosen the front lug nuts before lifting the truck.
• Spray penetrating oil on the pivot bolts, cam bolts, and ball joint nut.
• Have a wheel alignment scheduled after the repair.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and secure the front of the truck

• Use a floor jack to raise the front of the Tacoma by the frame.
• Place jack stands under the frame rails and lower the truck onto them.
• Remove the front wheels with a 21mm socket.

Step 2: Mark the alignment hardware

• Use a paint marker to mark the cam bolt washers and bolt positions.
• These marks help you get close during reassembly.

Step 3: Separate the lower ball joint

• Use a 19mm socket and ratchet to remove the lower ball joint nut.
• If a cotter pin is installed, remove it first with pliers.
• Use a ball joint separator to release the stud from the steering knuckle.

Step 4: Remove the control arm pivot bolts

• Use a 22mm socket and breaker bar to remove the rear cam bolt hardware.
• Use a 24mm socket and breaker bar to remove the front pivot bolt.
• Keep the washers and cams in order by side.

Step 5: Remove the control arm

• Lower the arm slightly with the floor jack if needed.
• Use a pry bar to guide the arm out of the frame brackets.
• Remove the arm from the truck.

Step 6: Install the new control arm

• Position the new arm into the frame brackets by hand.
• Install the front and rear pivot bolts loosely first.
• Insert the ball joint stud into the knuckle and install the nut.
• Tighten the lower ball joint nut to 103 Nm (76 ft-lbs).
• Install a new cotter pin if the nut uses one.

Step 7: Repeat on the other side

• Perform the same removal and installation steps on the opposite side.
• Keep the hardware separated so the cam settings do not get mixed up.

Step 8: Torque the pivot bolts at ride height

• Lower the Tacoma so the suspension is at normal ride height.
• Use a torque wrench with the correct sockets to tighten the pivot hardware.
• Tighten the front pivot bolt to 167 Nm (123 ft-lbs).
• Tighten the cam bolt nuts to 125 Nm (92 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Reinstall the wheels

• Install the wheels and hand-tighten the lug nuts.
• Use a 21mm socket to snug them down.
• Tighten the lug nuts to 131 Nm (97 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• Check that all bolts are tight and all cotter pins are installed.
• Drive slowly at first and listen for clunks or popping.
• Get a professional front-end alignment right away.
• Recheck hardware after the first test drive.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $700-$1,200 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $240-$500 (parts only)

You Save: $460-$700 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 3-5 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.