How To Tighten Lower Control Arm: How Tight Must The Bolts Be?

When you’re installing any operation-critical components on your car, such as the lower control arms, the proper installation procedures must be adhered to. So, how do you correctly tighten a lower control arm?

Well, I can tell you for sure that this is way easier to do than it might seem at first. Once you’ve jacked up your car and secured it, locate the lower control arms, and identify all the bolts that you need to tighten.

The initial tightening steps, which can be done by hand to hold it in place, are then followed by the proper, final torquing process using a torque wrench, ensuring that you apply the right amount of torque on it.

With that in mind, here’s a quick little guide that I’ve put together to show you everything you need to do to properly tighten your lower control arms…

• Step 1: Keep your car on the ground vs lifted up
• Step 2: Initial prep work & tools needed
• Step 3: Lifting up your car
• Step 4: Locating the lower control arm
• Step 5: Initial hand-tightening to secure it
• Step 6: Lower your car back to the ground
• Step 7: Final tightening and torquing
• Step 8: Final inspections & test drive

Step 1: Tightening On The Ground vs Lifted In The Air

Before we move on, there’s a common debate that needs to be answered… Should you tighten the lower control arms on the ground, or do so when your car is lifted off the ground? Here are some facts…

The general consensus here, having spoken to professional mechanics and other car enthusiasts, is that a majority of folks heavily lean toward tightening the lower control arms with your car on the ground.

This ensures that the car’s suspension is in its natural position, mimicking the load it bears during regular use. Tightening in the air can pre-load the bushings, leading to uneven wear or even premature failure.

If it’s not feasible to tighten on the ground, using a jack to simulate load conditions on the suspension can be an effective alternative. Therefore, I recommend that you tighten the control arms on the ground.

Step 2: Initial Preparation & Gathering The Tools Needed

Another crucial step that we can’t skip, before you go ahead and tighten those control arms, there’s a bit of prep work that needs to be done:

1. Park on a Level Surface: Begin by parking your car on a flat, level surface. This prevents your car from moving around while you’re working and ensures accuracy in your work.
2. Gather Necessary Tools: Assemble all the tools you’ll need. Key among these is a torque wrench, essential for precise tightening. Other tools would include socket wrenches and a range of sockets, in varying sizes.
3. Safety Gear: Prioritize safety by wearing some gloves and safety goggles. This gear will protect you from any debris or accidental slips while working.

One thing that I’d like to highlight is the use of a torque wrench. A torque wrench is indispensable for this task. This tool allows you to apply a very specific amount of torque to the lower control arm bolt.

This ensures that it’s neither too tight nor too loose. When using a torque wrench, apply steady pressure until you reach the specified torque. It’s important, however, to avoid over-tightening the bolt.

Over-tightening can lead to lower control arm bolt or component damage. Elsewhere, under-tightening can otherwise result in loose lower control arm bolts, leading to safety issues and uneven wear.

Step 3: Lifting Up Your Vehicle

As I highlighted earlier, it’s ideal and more preferable that you tighten the lower control arms with your car on the ground. However, lifting up your car is still necessary before you tighten it properly:

1. Choosing the Right Jack: Use a reliable hydraulic jack when lifting up your car, and make sure that the jack is able to support the weight of your car. This type of jack is stable and easy to control.
2. Locating Lift Points: Identify all the designated lift points on your vehicle. These are usually mentioned in the vehicle’s owner’s manual and are designed to handle the car’s weight without causing damage.
3. Lifting the Car: Now, carefully lift up your car using the jack. While you’re doing that, make sure that it rises evenly and steadily.
4. Securing with Jack Stands: Once the car is lifted to the required height, place some jack stands under it for support. This adds an extra layer of safety, as the weight of your car now rests on these solid jack stands, and not on the jack itself.
5. Safety Check: To make sure that your car is secured, perform a gentle shake test on the car to ensure it’s securely supported by the jack stands.

Step 4: Locating The Lower Control Arm

With your car lifted, it’s time to locate and identify the lower control arms that you need to tighten:

1. Identifying the Component: First up, you’ll need to locate the lower control arm. This is typically near the front wheels of your car, connecting the suspension assembly to your vehicle’s frame.
2. Identifying Bolts for Tightening: Look for the bolts at both ends of the lower control arm. These are the ones that you’ll be working on later.
3. Cleaning the Area: Since you’re already down there, it’s a good idea to clean any dirt or grime around the bolts and the lower control arm. This improves visibility and makes the tightening process smoother.

Step 5: Initial Hand-Tightening To Hold It In Place

Prior to properly tightening your lower control arms, you’ll need to at least hand-tighten it to keep it held in place and secured for later:

1. Hand-Tightening: With your car still lifted, begin by hand-tightening the bolts on the lower control arm. This step is crucial for keeping the lower control arm aligned and in place.
2. Snug, Not Tight: Ensure the bolts are snug but not fully tightened. The goal here is to keep the arm stable, not to apply the final torque. The latter is what we’ll be doing later. After hand-tightening, it’s wise to go over each bolt again to ensure none are missed.

Step 6: Lowering Your Car Back To The Ground

Finally, it’s time to lower your car back to the ground, so we can proceed with properly tightening the lower control arms:

1. Remove Jack Stands: Carefully remove the jack stands from under your vehicle.
2. Lowering the Car: Slowly lower your car back to the ground using the hydraulic jack. Also, make sure that your vehicle is completely stable on the ground before fully removing the jack stands and jack.
3. Check Stability: Once your car is on the ground, give your car a gentle push to make sure that it’s stable and the suspension is bearing the weight as it normally would.

Step 7: Final Tightening And Torqueing

At this point, you’re ready to finally tighten the lower control arms and torquing it to spec:

1. Final Tightening: With your car’s weight now on the wheels, proceed to the final tightening of the lower control arm bolts. This step is crucial as it sets the control arm in its natural operating position.
2. Using a Torque Wrench: Attach your torque wrench and adjust it to the specifications mentioned in your vehicle’s service or owner’s manual. This ensures the bolts are tightened to the exact required torque.
3. Applying Torque Evenly: When you’re tightening each bolt, do so evenly, while gradually applying torque. Avoid over-tightening it, as this can strip the bolts or damage the control arm.
4. Cross-Checking Torque: Once tightened, go over each bolt once again to make sure that they’re all torqued to the specified level.

Remember, your car’s service manual is your go-to resource for the correct torque specifications. These lower control arm bolt torque specifications can vary significantly between different makes or models.

So, it’s crucial to refer to your specific vehicle’s manual. The manual will provide the exact torque values needed for safe and effective tightening of the lower control arm bolts, and using a torque wrench.

Step 8: Post-Tightening Inspection & Test Drive

Before going off for a drive and calling it a day, I’d highly recommend that you double-check everything, and once you’re confident that it’s tightened properly, go for a short test drive to confirm this:

1. Visual Inspection: Inspect the lower control arm and surrounding areas for any signs of misalignment or damage.
2. Check for Unusual Noises: Gently rock your car or push down on the front end to check for any unusual noises that might indicate a problem.
3. Initial Test Drive: When you’re ready to head out, take your car for a short, slow test drive in a safe area. In particular, make sure to listen for any unusual sounds and pay attention to the vehicle’s handling.
4. Handling Check: Ensure that your car steers smoothly and doesn’t pull to one side. This might otherwise indicate improper alignment, if you do notice veering or drifting.
5. Final Assessment: After the test drive, do a final assessment of your lower control arm area to ensure that everything remains tight and secure.