Replacing 13-18 Nissan Altima Rear Control arms!

Brief overview of how to replace your worn or broken rear control arms on your 2013 to 2018 Nissan Altima. These control arms are prone to break at the bushing connection area and leave the car disabled and or unsafe to operate!

[@jeteye97]

Great tips. I wish you would’ve shown what spring compressor you recommended and how you would get it in there because that’s tight for a guy in a garage working off floor jacks.

[@SmittysShop]

I thought I mentioned in the video, but I don't use a spring compressor. I use the weight of the car and a jack or jack stand. The clamshell type would probably work best and there is plenty of room to use that type of compressor if you drop the arm down as shown. It would be much easier compressing the spring, in terms of aligning the bolts etc. I've done enough of these that I find it quicker to forgo the compressor.

[@kellys577]

Well done!

[@billtucker4631]

Excellent tips and tricks! Great information.

[@SmittysShop]

I appreciate you, as always, Bill Tucker!

[@webmoss]

I’m here because my GF just broke her left rear control arm. Definitely a defect!

[@SmittysShop]

No doubt in my mind!!!

[@AlejandroMartinez-qb6jl]

There’s an extension on these cars. Go to the dealership they’ll do it for free.

[@webmoss]

@@AlejandroMartinez-qb6jl went to the dealership about 2 months ago and they just informed me that defect/recall has “expired” and will not cover it.

[@SmittysShop]

@@AlejandroMartinez-qb6jl They are running what they call a "campaign." They have extended the warranty 84 months. Typically that is calculated by the "In service" date. This only covers the arms alone and only if they are broken at the bushing. If you are lucky enough to have a dealer that will perform this job for "free" please let people know. RARELY will you get out of the dealership on a warranty repair and pay nothing. I worked 17 years at a Nissan dealership. Dealerships are TOUGH!

[@Garage-wt5jl]

Thanks a lot Smitty. Doing mine now 💪🏾

[@SmittysShop]

Good luck to ya!

[@Garage-wt5jl]

@@SmittysShop Got her done!

[@wqwwqwqqpoppopoo]

Apparently there was an open recall of this part but it just expired in April. Wouldn't you know it waited to break until now 🙃

[@SmittysShop]

Of course!! Depending on the year of your car, talk to your dealer. If you get nowhere with that see if Nissan Corp will “Good Will” the repair for you!

[@PoliticallyIncorrectMechanic]

Not sure where you're at but in Cleveland if that stab link is more than 6 months old, it's getting torched off and replaced. Also, those cam bolts are going to be froze to the bushing sleeves and probably melted off and replaced too.

[@SmittysShop]

@@PoliticallyIncorrectMechanic Upstate NY and surprisingly, this one came apart fairly easy. It was a friends car and spent the majority of its life garage kept!

[@SmittysShop]

@@PoliticallyIncorrectMechanic Upstate NY and surprisingly, this one came apart fairly easy. It was a friends car and spent the majority of its life garage kept!

[@PoliticallyIncorrectMechanic]

​@@SmittysShopitd have to be! You guys use more salt than we do right? Year round almost?

[@SmittysShop]

@@PoliticallyIncorrectMechanic We use a LOT for sure. Plus we use the brine spray also which is nasty stuff, too!

[@dbstotty]

My question should the lower control arm assembly be sat down with the weight of the car before all bolts are tightened? I only ask because when I added a lift to my pick up I had to let bushings turn as a whole and not twist the rubber.

[@SmittysShop]

That is a good practice when possible!

[@mehdizare6667]

how much cost for replace this with part?

[@SmittysShop]

The cost can vary considerably depending or your market, etc!

[@lewis257r]

Just turn the radio up and walla takes care of the problem

[@kevinthomas8035]

The design is so much easier on the previous gen the arm swung all the way down.

[@pfabio2948]

Need to do this on my mother's car but for some reason no parts stores can even find it. Cant find it on rock auto either. No idea where to find it. Cam anyone please help

[@SmittysShop]

Make sure her car is not covered by the campaign through Nissan. If not, search ebay or Amazon for the aftermarket arms!