2011 Nissan Altima Lower Control Arm Replacement

In this video i will show and explain how to replace your lower control arms in a 2011 Nissan Altima. You will need a floor jack, jack stands, your new control arms, various size sockets and open wrenches + ratchet set 1/2 drive, including some extensions and deep sockets. Large break over bar for more leverage, and to make it easier an air compressor and air ratchet, but is not 100% necessary. This job can be done without the air tools.

[@sheeshalready]

I edited this post because I just did the other side yesterday, after having done one side last week. Two hours from lift to drop. Remove the 3 bolts, pull hard on the control arm away from the two rear bolts, and it comes right off, then slides right out of the knuckle. To put the new one on, remove the tie rod as you need it out of the way, AND you need the extra movement to move the knuckle around. Put the control arm in, putting the rear most bolt in first, then working it in to put in the front most bolt. Once those are in, apply a jack to where the tie rod was on the knuckle, jack that up a bit, and using a leverage bar on the control arm to push it down, start the process of putting the front ball joint into the knuckle assembly. This worked very well for a job done on the ground. Good luck!

[@ATrainETV]

I no longer have this car but thank you for the advice and your comment. Hopefully it can help others with replacing these parts easier.

[@kevinf1512]

If you are having trouble getting the new ball joint in . Put a jack under the control arm not under ball joint and jack the ball joint into the knuckle it pops right in

[@ATrainETV]

Thanks for the advice!!! Next time I do a job like this again I'll try that. 😅 I definitely had trouble. Thanks for the comment, and please consider subscribing!!

[@davidseibert1907]

Now I'm going to give advice for future reference or anyone else is out there doing it start with the ball joint line up the backside vaults or the inside bolts rather and once you're done doing that put the ball joint in once the ball joints in try to get those back bolts lined up with the bushings as close as possible put a jack up underneath the control arm Jack it up a little bit it's going to be a bitch still I had to fight with one side really hard the other side went pretty well but it was a hell thought I was going to take about 4 hours to do both sides first I took about an hour second side about an hour and at that point I was still fighting the back bolts rainstorm came down took another hour from me and finally the rain stopped is a fresh mine that went back to it and well I'm doing that part now but I will still say the above instructions just seems to be the easiest way especially if you have a lift if not just make sure you don't jack up your control arm past the height of your jack the last thing you want to be doing is hammering away on a control arm that's holding all the way to the car p cuz the control arm won't move first off second it's very dangerous have fun

[@jasonmckeaigg9143]

Anytime you do a job like that ..change the CV joints if needed...thanks for sharing🤙

[@ATrainETV]

That's actually on my list next and struts. Thanks for your comment, please consider subscribing.

[@snowmanDIY]

I'm fighting a 2010 nissan altima doing this and man I can't get it to go. Going to continue to fight tomorrow.

[@ATrainETV]

Try some WD-40 on the ball joint. That's what I did and it finally popped right in. I used a small sledge hammer with towel wrapped around it to hit it in from the bottom. I fought with it for a long time too. You'll get it, just be patient. You don't wanna tear that rubber boot. Thanks for your comment and please consider subscribing. I hope my video helps some. Good luck!

[@snowmanDIY]

@@ATrainETV Unfortunately already torn boot too. I'll try wd40 for sure. Was trying to do ball joint first and then other 2 bolts, bolts won't go in. Tried in reverse but now I have lower strut bolts out but ran out of steam. What a pain. Dealer wanted $1,500, now way I'm paying that.

[@ATrainETV]

Auto zone sells this multipurpose repair tape. You could use it for torn rubber boots. It's only 10 dollars or so. Once you get it in there all back together you can wrap it around boot that's torn and it'll keep all the grease in and dirt out for a while, you'll just have to check it every now and then and replace as needed. Since the boot is torn that would help maintain the life of the new control arm. Make sense?

[@snowmanDIY]

@@ATrainETV yep, what is that tape called?

[@ATrainETV]

www.autozone.com/miscellaneous-non-automotive/tape/p/design-engineering-silicone-self-healing-tape/720952_0_0?cmpid=LIA:US:EN:AD:NL:1000000:GEN:10574827360&gclid=CjwKCAjwjtOTBhAvEiwASG4bCM2viJFOqD43xQXAKpDrhG6Cito2bpWwvSSJ9L8w-CqTCNZLgOB2WhoCxfkQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[@mpowersmedia3219]

What a pain in the ass. Happy Father's Day!

[@ATrainETV]

Thank you, and happy Father's day to you too!

[@tim_jackson]

How did you get the ball joint back in? You had mentioned you had to take off part of the rotor assembly. Did that help?

[@ATrainETV]

So when I did the other side it was much easier because I was a little bit more experienced basically you just have to align the Ball joint up with the socket at the right angle maybe turn the rotor a little bit, taking all that stuff apart was not necessary but at the time I thought it was. I also sprayed the ball joint and the socket that it goes into with a lot of WD40 and I took a hard rubber mallet and I hit the bottom of the control arm to get it to go in on the 2nd one it went in no problem.

[@bryananderson-p6r]

where did you buy your parts

[@ATrainETV]

Autozone

[@taryonjohnson9725]

Great video working on Nissan cars can be a plain in the (A word). I tell you I have a 2012 Nissan Altima 3.5 SR and I would never recommend getting a Nissan vehicle there CVT transmission are crap and the Nissan corporation is trying to keep people from working on there cars just to make more money for Nissan. Nissan in general ain't a damn as a car company.

[@ATrainETV]

Thanks for watching and your comment! Yeah I honestly think that all dealerships/cars are made harder for non-mechanics to work on. Making it where you have to take them in to them. I no longer have this vehicle but do have other Nissans.

[@eid3535]

What brand you think would be better? I have to replace the ones on my maxima

[@ATrainETV]

I used duralast from autozone......I just replaced the driver side yesterday and i must say I can feel the difference. I think for the price duralast is a good part. And easy to get from autozone.....if your not doing any racing and stuff like that.....just normal driving, they should last you a good while

[@ATrainETV]

I went ahead and changed out outer tie rod ends too, duralast as well.....only about $23 at autozone pretty easy to change out too......I just didn't record it.

[@rainypath96]

moog

[@maniacslap1623]

Bruh breaking these bolts...PITFA

[@ATrainETV]

They are especially if you not completely under the car like most shops have. Working from the floor with just a jack and stands make it harder. I used a break over bar and a air compresser to help me, although it was possible without it. I know I didn't show me actually getting to ball joint part. I have gotten alot of criticism for not showing that actual part. I am using my phone to record and did not have a tripod, so I just did the best I could. I hope my video helped, I also am not a professional so this is just how I completed this job.

[@maniacslap1623]

​I went and bought a longer bar, 24in. Spray them shyts some more and got action. Now, reinstalling...PITFA lmao thanks for the reply!

[@NotAJ-yn3xe]

Yeah it's a pain in the ass

[@ATrainETV]

Yeah it really is, I agree. Have to have a lot of patience. But it's completely possible to do it yourself, plus this is one of those jobs that once you do it, you won't have to do it again for a very long time, or at all depending on how long you own the vehicle

[@NotAJ-yn3xe]

I'm a diesel mechanic and it was still difficult. Got it together though thanks for sharing.

[@ATrainETV]

Anytime brother

[@bryananderson-p6r]

where did you buy your parts

[@ATrainETV]

Auto zone