How to replace the upper control arms 2014 – 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3

Chapter 1:

Measure

Step 1/1

Before lifting your vehicle, it is necessary to measure the distance between the centre of your wheel and the wheel arch. This will allow you to achieve an optimal tightening of the parts in their initial position.

Chapter 2:

Set up

Step 1/2

Brush the two nuts of the upper control arm retaining bolts, and spray them with penetrating oil.

Chapter 2:

Step 2/2

This truck is equipped with alignment camber bolts so that you can adjust the alignment of your vehicle. Using a marker, trace a line between the alignment camber bolt and the frame, which will allow you to get as close as possible to the initial wheel alignment setting when reassembling. In any case, a wheel alignment check will have to be carried out by a professional soon after having performed this operation.

Chapter 3:

Remove various components

Step 1/5

The components to be removed are very often seized up, so don’t hesitate to brush and to use penetrating oil to make removal easier.

Chapter 3:

Step 2/5

Using a fork, unclip the ABS sensor cable retaining clip located on the wheel knuckle.

Chapter 3:

Step 3/5

Using a ratchet and a 10 mm socket, unscrew the nut holding the ABS sensor harness and brake hose bracket to the upper control arm.

Chapter 3:

Step 4/5

Unclip the ABS sensor connector. Disconnect it by pushing the red tab and pulling on the pod.

Chapter 3:

Step 5/5

Using a fork, unclip the ABS sensor cable retaining clip located on the brake hose bracket. Then shift the clamp.

Chapter 4:

Remove the control arm ball joint

Step 1/6

It is necessary to support the lower control arm with a jack to prevent the wheel knuckle from falling.

Chapter 4:

Step 3/6

You must then disengage the upper control arm ball joint from the wheel knuckle. Brush the upper control arm ball joint retainer nut and spray it with penetrating oil.

Chapter 4:

Step 4/6

Using a 17mm wrench, loosen the upper control arm ball joint nut and unscrew it a few threads.

Chapter 4:

Step 5/6

If you do not have a ball joint puller, a tool specifically designed for this task, take a hammer and hit the knuckle.

Chapter 4:

Step 5/6

The ball joint should come out of the knuckle. Finish unscrewing the nut.

Chapter 4:

Step 6/6

Then remove the upper control arm ball joint from the wheel knuckle. You can use a plastic mallet.

Chapter 5:

Remove the strut

Step 1/6

Brush the 2 strut foot bolts, then spray them with penetrating oil.

Chapter 5:

Step 2/6

Using a ratchet and a 17 mm socket, unscrew the 2 strut foot retaining bolts.

Chapter 5:

Step 3/6

Now you need to unscrew the 3 nuts on the upper strut mount. Using a fork, unclip all the wiring harness clips on the upper strut mount retaining nuts.

Chapter 5:

Step 4/6

Brush the 3 nuts holding the strut mount bearing and spray them with penetrating oil. Then, from the engine compartment, unscrew the 3 upper strut mount retaining nuts using a ratchet, an extender and an 18 mm socket.

Chapter 5:

Step 5/6

The strut is now free. You can now remove the strut foot from its slot.

Chapter 5:

Step 6/6

Lower the jack to gain the space needed to remove the strut. If necessary, tap with a hammer or pry with a crowbar to facilitate handling. You can now take extract the strut.

Chapter 6:

Remove the upper control arm

Step 1/5

You now have access to the two bushings bolts of the upper control arm. Then using a ratchet and a 21mm socket, unscrew the two alignment camber bolts holding nuts. Finish unscrewing by hand.

Chapter 6:

Step 2/5

You can now remove the two alignment camber bolts. You can extract them by jiggling the lower control arm back and forth.

Chapter 6:

Step 3/5

Using a fork, remove the rubber protection.

Chapter 6:

Step 4/5

You can now remove the upper control arm. If necessary, pry with a crowbar to facilitate handling.

Chapter 6:

Step 5/5

Brush the control arm area to facilitate its installation.

Chapter 7:

Install the new upper control arm

Step 1/10

Take the new control arm and unscrew the nut supplied with it.

Chapter 7:

Step 2/10

Grease the control arm bushings to facilitate its installation.

Chapter 7:

Step 3/10

Reattach the rubber protection. Then install the control arm. If necessary, pry with a crowbar to facilitate handling.

Chapter 7:

Step 4/10

You can now remove the two alignment camber bolts.

Chapter 7:

Step 5/10

Assemble the camber bolt. Then put it back in place.

Chapter 7:

Step 6/10

Use a plastic mallet to align the control arm bushings with the bolt insertion holes. Then put the bolt in place.

Chapter 7:

Step 7/10

Take the second camber bolt. Depending on the condition of the camber bolts, you can apply grease to extend the bushings’ lifespan.

Chapter 7:

Step 8/10

Using a ratchet and a 21 mm socket, turn the alignment camber bolts to realign them with the previously drawn marks, which will allow you to get as close as possible to the initial wheel alignment setting.

Chapter 7:

Step 9/10

It is important that the control arm slides easily in their slots, before a final tightening is carried out.

Chapter 7:

Step 10/10

Then screw the nuts back on with a ratchet until they make contact. Hold the bolt using a 21 mm wrench.

Chapter 8:

Install the new strut

Step 1/8

In our case, we took advantage of this operation to change the strut. Using a flat head screwdriver, remove the speed nuts on the strut so that you can reinstall them on the new one later.

Chapter 8:

Step 2/8

Take your new strut. Then remove the safety tape.

Chapter 8:

Step 3/8

Unscrew the 3 nuts holding the strut mount bearing.

Chapter 8:

Step 4/8

Replace the speed nuts recovered from the old strut. You can use a plastic mallet.

Chapter 8:

Step 5/8

Pass the strut through the upper control arm, then install the upper part first.

Chapter 8:

Step 6/8

Loosely screw a nut back on to hold it together.

Chapter 8:

Step 7/8

Press the lower control arm to gain space for the strut foot.

Chapter 8:

Step 8/8

Use the new bolts supplied with the strut. Then loosely screw the 2 bolts back on.

Chapter 9:

Put the control arm ball joint back

Step 1/3

Using a wire brush, brush the knuckle, then apply silicone grease to the flat part that will be in contact with the rubber boot of the upper ball joint.

Chapter 9:

Step 2/3

Using the jack, lift the wheel knuckle unit so that the upper control arm ball joint can be returned to its slot.

Chapter 9:

Step 3/3

Secure the assembly by screwing the nut on the ball joint a few threads by hand.

Chapter 10:

Tightening tips

Step 1/8

To avoid damaging the bushings, tighten the upper arm control and strut holding bolts in the “vehicle on the ground” position. Lift the wheel knuckle with the jack until the original measurement between the center of the wheel and the wheel arch is reached.

Chapter 10:

Step 2/8

Using a ratchet and a 16 mm socket, screw the strut foot retaining bolts back in until they make contact.

Chapter 10:

Step 3/8

Finish tightening using a torque wrench.

Chapter 10:

Step 4/8

Next, screw the 3 nuts that hold the mounts back on until there is contact. Finish tightening using a torque wrench. Then, reattach the clips.

Chapter 10:

Step 5/8

Screw the nut of the upper control arm ball joint back on.

Chapter 10:

Step 6/8

You can now complete the tightening of the upper control arm ball joint with a torque wrench.

Chapter 10:

Step 7/8

You can then complete the second ball joint nut tightening phase by adding 100 degree angular clamping.

Chapter 10:

Step 8/8

Finish tightening the camber bolts with a torque wrench. Remove the jack.

Chapter 11:

Put the ABS sensor back

Step 1/4

Put the metal bracket back in place. And screw it back on.

Chapter 11:

Step 2/4

Reconnect the ABS sensor’s power cables.

Chapter 11:

Step 3/4

Replace the ABS sensor cable and clip it back into its slots.

Chapter 11:

Step 4/4

Remove the jack.

Chapter 12:

Put the vehicle back on the ground

Step 1/2

Then, you will be able to put the wheels back on your vehicle.

Chapter 12:

Step 2/2

Put your truck back on the ground before properly fixing the wheels in place.

Chapter 13:

Safety tips

Step 1/1

During this operation, you will be intervening on the front axle of your car, so it is advisable to perform a wheel alignment afterwards. Operation complete.