🔧 Front Lower Control Arm Bushings - Replacement

Assumption: This covers the front lower control arm bushings on your Sienna, since “suspension bushings” can refer to several locations.

The bushings in the lower control arms help isolate road vibration and keep the front suspension stable. On your Sienna, worn bushings can cause clunks, wandering, and uneven tire wear, so replacement restores steering feel and suspension control.

Difficulty Level: Advanced | Estimated Time: 4-7 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Support the van with jack stands on solid, level ground before working underneath.
• Use wheel chocks on the rear wheels to prevent rolling.
• Use caution around rusted fasteners; control arms can shift when bolts are removed.
• Mark cam bolt positions before loosening to help preserve alignment.
• An alignment is required after this repair.
• Battery disconnect is not required.

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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
• 21mm socket
• 19mm socket
• 17mm socket
• 14mm socket
• 3/8-inch drive ratchet
• 1/2-inch drive breaker bar
• Torque wrench
• Penetrating oil
• Paint marker
• Ball joint separator (specialty)
• Bushing press kit (specialty)
• Hydraulic press (specialty)
• Hydraulic jack

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Front lower control arm bushings - Qty: 2
• Front lower control arm bolt nuts - Qty: 2
• Front lower control arm bolts - Qty: 2
• Front wheel alignment service - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground and engage the parking brake.
• Loosen the front wheel lug nuts slightly before lifting.
• Raise the front of the van and support it securely on jack stands.
• Remove the front wheels for access.
• Spray penetrating oil on the control arm bolts and let it soak if rust is present.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Remove the front wheels

• Use a 21mm socket to loosen and remove the lug nuts, then take off both front wheels.
• Set the wheels aside flat and out of the work area.

Step 2: Mark alignment positions

• Use a paint marker to mark the cam bolt positions on the lower control arm mounts.
• Mark both sides before loosening.

Step 3: Disconnect the lower control arm

• Use a 19mm socket and breaker bar to remove the lower control arm mounting bolts.
• If the knuckle needs extra movement, use a ball joint separator (specialty) to free the lower ball joint from the knuckle.
• Support the suspension with a hydraulic jack so it does not drop suddenly.

Step 4: Remove the control arm

• Lower the control arm out of the vehicle and remove it from the van.
• If a bolt is seized, apply more penetrating oil and work it gently back and forth.

Step 5: Press out the old bushings

• Use a bushing press kit (specialty) or hydraulic press (specialty) to remove the old bushings from the control arm.
• Clean the control arm bores before installing the new bushings.
• Keep the arm supported square in the press.

Step 6: Install the new bushings

• Use the bushing press kit (specialty) or hydraulic press (specialty) to press the new bushings in straight.
• Make sure each bushing is seated fully and oriented the same way as the originals.

Step 7: Reinstall the control arm

• Position the control arm back into place and hand-start all bolts.
• Use a 19mm socket to snug the hardware, but do not fully torque it yet if the suspension is hanging.
• Set the suspension at ride height with a hydraulic jack before final torque.
• Torque to 183 Nm (135 ft-lbs) for the lower control arm main bolts unless your replacement hardware kit specifies otherwise.

Step 8: Reassemble and torque the wheels

• Reinstall the front wheels.
• Use a 21mm socket and torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts.
• Torque to 103 Nm (76 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• Test drive slowly and listen for clunks or pulling.
• Have a professional alignment performed right away.
• Recheck all fasteners after the first drive if needed.
• Watch for uneven steering wheel position or tire wear.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $700-$1,400 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $180-$450 (parts only)

You Save: $520-$950 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 4-7 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.