OEM 2004 Toyota Matrix Control Arm

2004 Toyota Matrix Parts Questions & Experts Answers

• Q: How to replace the control arm on 2004 Toyota Matrix?

  A: The control arm replacement requires wheel removal first followed by front stabilizer link assembly disconnection from both right-hand side (RH) and left-hand side (LH) using same procedures. The separation of the front suspension arm sub-assembly lower No.1 LH requires removal of the bolt and two nuts from the lower ball joint assembly front LH and the same process should be applied to the RH side. 2WD power steering gear assembly replacement demands four bolt removal but 4WD requires two bolts and two nuts and the bolt must be loosened since the nut cannot rotate before suspending the assembly. Start by suspending the engine before detaching both front suspension crossmember sub-assemblies from the transmission jack while removing corresponding bolts and nuts based on 2WD or 4WD specifications then lower the transmission jack to remove the crossmember. Fix the new front suspension arm sub-assembly lower No.1 LH position by removing its two bolts and nut before fastening it down. Install the front suspension crossmember sub-assembly by using a transmission jack to lift the part while tightening Bolt A to 157 Nm and Bolt B to 113 Nm for both sides with the Special Service Tool: 09670-00010. The appropriate bolts and nuts for the 2WD or 4WD application should be installed to the transverse engine mounting insulator and engine mounting member sub-assembly center with a torque setting of 52 Nm. Install the stabilizer bar front using four bolts at 19 Nm. The rack & pinion power steering gear assembly gets installation using specified bolts according to torque requirements of 58 Nm for 2WD and 127 Nm for 4WD. Heat the front suspension arm sub-assembly lower of No.1 LH then install it with two nuts and a bolt to the lower ball joint assembly front LH at 89 Nm before repeating the procedure for the RH side. Start by utilizing the front wheels to stabilize the front suspension following step-by-step assembly of both front stabilizer link assemblies. Completion includes lowering the vehicle while torquing to 103 Nm before bouncing it to stabilize the suspension. After inspecting the front wheel alignment it is necessary to fully tighten the front suspension arm sub-assembly lower No.1 LH with its two bolts and nut at 137 Nm and verify the bolt's tightness since the nut cannot rotate.