🔧 Grand Cherokee - Rear Control Arm Replacement

This repair replaces the rear suspension control arms on your Grand Cherokee. The rear suspension uses multiple links/control arms per side, so this guide covers the common rear upper and lower control/link arms and explains how to keep the alignment close enough to drive safely to an alignment shop.

Difficulty Level: Advanced | Estimated Time: 3-6 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support your Grand Cherokee with jack stands. Never work under a vehicle held up only by a floor jack.
• ⚠️ The rear suspension and differential are heavy. Keep fingers clear when removing bolts.
• ⚠️ Do not remove all rear links at once. Replace one arm at a time so the suspension does not shift suddenly.
• ⚠️ Final-tighten control arm bolts at normal ride height. Tightening with the suspension hanging can tear new bushings.
• ⚠️ A four-wheel alignment is required after replacing rear control arms.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required for this mechanical repair.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 3-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• Safety glasses
• Mechanic gloves
• 1/2-inch drive breaker bar
• 1/2-inch drive torque wrench (up to 200 ft-lbs)
• 3/8-inch drive ratchet
• 1/2-inch drive ratchet
• 21mm socket
• 18mm socket
• 15mm socket
• 21mm wrench
• 18mm wrench
• 15mm wrench
• Pry bar set
• Dead blow hammer
• Paint marker
• Tape measure
• Penetrating oil
• Wire brush

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear upper control arm/link - Left: Qty: 1
• Rear upper control arm/link - Right: Qty: 1
• Rear lower control arm/link - Left: Qty: 1
• Rear lower control arm/link - Right: Qty: 1
• Rear toe link - Left: Qty: 1
• Rear toe link - Right: Qty: 1
• Rear control arm mounting bolt and nut kit - Qty: 1
• Rear stabilizer bar link nuts - Qty: 2

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🅿️ Park your Grand Cherokee on level ground and set the parking brake.
• 🧱 Place wheel chocks in front of the front wheels.
• 📏 Measure from the center of each rear wheel hub to the lower edge of the fender. Write both measurements down.
• 🖊️ Use a paint marker to mark any eccentric/cam washer positions before loosening bolts. These washers affect alignment.
• 💧 Spray penetrating oil on every rear control arm bolt and nut. Let it soak for 10-15 minutes.
• 🛞 Loosen the rear wheel lug nuts slightly before lifting the vehicle.
• 🔧 Replace one arm at a time. This keeps the rear suspension located and makes the job safer.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift and Support the Rear

• Use a 21mm socket and 1/2-inch drive breaker bar to loosen the rear wheel lug nuts one turn.
• Use the floor jack under the approved rear lift point to raise the rear of your Grand Cherokee.
• Place jack stands under the approved rear frame support points.
• Lower the vehicle gently onto the jack stands.
• Keep the floor jack nearby to support the lower control arm or rear knuckle as needed.

Step 2: Remove the Rear Wheel

• Use a 21mm socket to remove the lug nuts.
• Remove the rear wheel.
• Place the wheel flat under the side of the vehicle as an extra safety backup.
• Keep lug nuts in one place.

Step 3: Clean and Mark the Alignment Bolts

• Use a wire brush to clean dirt and rust from the rear control arm mounting bolts.
• Use a paint marker to mark the position of each cam washer or eccentric washer before loosening it.
• An eccentric washer is an offset washer that changes wheel alignment when rotated.
• These marks help you drive carefully to the alignment shop, but they do not replace a real alignment.

Step 4: Support the Rear Suspension Arm or Knuckle

• Place the floor jack under the rear lower control arm or rear knuckle.
• Raise it slightly until it just supports the suspension weight.
• The knuckle is the metal part that holds the wheel hub and connects the suspension arms.

Step 5: Remove the Rear Stabilizer Link if It Blocks Access

• Use an 18mm socket and 18mm wrench to remove the rear stabilizer bar link nut if the link blocks the control arm bolt.
• Move the stabilizer link aside.
• The stabilizer link connects the sway bar to the suspension and helps reduce body lean.
• During installation, tighten the rear stabilizer link nut to Torque to 95 Nm (70 ft-lbs).

Step 6: Replace the Rear Upper Control Arm/Link

• Use an 18mm socket and 18mm wrench to loosen the inner upper control arm bolt and nut.
• Use an 18mm socket and 18mm wrench to loosen the outer upper control arm bolt and nut at the knuckle.
• Remove one bolt at a time while supporting the arm with your hand.
• Use a pry bar set gently if the arm is stuck in the bracket.
• Compare the old and new upper arm to make sure the shape and bushing locations match.
• Install the new upper arm by hand.
• Start both bolts and nuts by hand to avoid cross-threading.
• Snug the bolts with an 18mm socket and 18mm wrench, but do not final-tighten yet.
• Final upper arm/link mounting bolt torque at ride height is Torque to 115 Nm (85 ft-lbs).

Step 7: Replace the Rear Toe Link

• Use a paint marker to clearly mark the toe link adjuster position before loosening it.
• Use a 21mm socket and 21mm wrench to loosen the inner toe link bolt and nut.
• Use an 18mm socket and 18mm wrench to loosen the outer toe link bolt and nut at the knuckle.
• Remove the toe link from the vehicle.
• The toe link controls whether the rear tire points slightly inward or outward.
• Install the new toe link in the same direction as the old one.
• Line up your paint marks as closely as possible.
• Start all hardware by hand first.
• Snug the hardware with a 21mm socket, 21mm wrench, 18mm socket, and 18mm wrench, but do not final-tighten yet.
• Final toe link mounting bolt torque at ride height is Torque to 115 Nm (85 ft-lbs).

Step 8: Replace the Rear Lower Control Arm/Link

• Keep the floor jack lightly supporting the lower control arm.
• Use a 21mm socket and 21mm wrench to loosen the inner lower control arm bolt and nut.
• Use a 21mm socket and 21mm wrench to loosen the outer lower control arm bolt and nut at the knuckle.
• Slowly lower or raise the floor jack a small amount if the bolts are tight from suspension pressure.
• Remove the bolts and take out the lower control arm.
• Use a dead blow hammer to tap the arm loose if needed.
• Compare the old and new lower control arms before installing.
• Install the new lower control arm into the brackets.
• Start the bolts and nuts by hand.
• Snug the bolts with a 21mm socket and 21mm wrench, but do not final-tighten yet.
• Final lower control arm/link mounting bolt torque at ride height is Torque to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs).

Step 9: Reconnect the Rear Stabilizer Link

• Move the stabilizer link back into position.
• Install the nut by hand.
• Use an 18mm socket, 18mm wrench, and torque wrench to tighten the stabilizer link nut to Torque to 95 Nm (70 ft-lbs).

Step 10: Set the Rear Suspension to Ride Height

• Use the floor jack under the rear lower control arm or knuckle.
• Raise the suspension until the hub-to-fender measurement matches the number you wrote down earlier.
• This puts the bushings in their normal resting position before tightening.
• Do not skip this step.

Step 11: Final-Tighten the Rear Control Arm Bolts

• Use an 18mm socket, 18mm wrench, and torque wrench to tighten the rear upper arm/link bolts to Torque to 115 Nm (85 ft-lbs).
• Use a 21mm socket, 21mm wrench, and torque wrench to tighten the rear lower arm/link bolts to Torque to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs).
• Use a 21mm socket, 21mm wrench, 18mm socket, 18mm wrench, and torque wrench to tighten the rear toe link bolts to Torque to 115 Nm (85 ft-lbs).
• Make sure any cam washer paint marks still line up closely.

Step 12: Reinstall the Rear Wheel

• Install the wheel onto the hub by hand.
• Use a 21mm socket to snug the lug nuts in a star pattern.
• Use the floor jack to lift the vehicle slightly.
• Remove the jack stands.
• Lower your Grand Cherokee to the ground.
• Use a 21mm socket and torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts to Torque to 176 Nm (130 ft-lbs).

Step 13: Repeat on the Other Rear Side

• Use the same steps on the opposite rear side.
• Replace rear suspension arms in left/right pairs when possible for even handling and tire wear.

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Check that every rear control arm bolt, toe link bolt, stabilizer link nut, and lug nut is torqued.
• ✅ Take a short, slow test drive. Listen for clunks, pops, or rubbing.
• ✅ If the steering wheel is off-center or the vehicle pulls, drive slowly and go directly for alignment.
• ✅ Get a professional four-wheel alignment as soon as possible.
• ✅ Recheck lug nut torque after 25-50 miles.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $800-$1,700 including parts, labor, and alignment

DIY Cost: $250-$850 parts only, depending on which rear arms are replaced

You Save: $500-$900+ by doing it yourself!

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

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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