One of the more common items that will need to be replaced on an aging Honda Civic is the upper control arm, which is part of the steering mechanism on the front wheels. When the bushings wear out on the control arms, the front-end alignment can go out of specs and cause uneven tire wear as well as instability when driving. The same thing can be said for the ball joint, which also wears out over time. But replacing the upper control arm isn't difficult, and should take about 30 minutes per side when done correctly.
Lift the front of the vehicle using the jack and support it on the jack stands. Be sure the vehicle is secure before crawling underneath.
Remove the front wheels using the lug wrench, and place them out of the way of your workspace.
Use the needle-nose pliers to straighten the cotter pin on the castle nut that secures the upper control arm to the steering knuckle.
Pull the cotter pin out of the castle nut using the cotter pin puller. This may take some extra force, and if the pin isn't flat enough, you may have to wiggle it with the needle nose to pull it free.
Remove the castle nut using the ratchet wrench and appropriate socket. The lower control arm and steering knuckle assembly will drop down at this point, so make sure that you hold it steady and lower is gently.
Pop the hood and locate the strut towers, which are on either side of the engine bay directly above the wheels.
Unbolt the upper control arm from the strut tower. On each side of the strut tower is a bolt that secures the upper control arm to the tower.
Remove the factory upper control arm from the vehicle.
Bolt the replacement upper control arm into the strut tower using the factory hardware and the ratchet wrench.
Push the steering knuckle up to the upper control arm and bolt the factory castle nut to the balljoint. If you need help lifting the knuckle, use the jack to guide it upward.
Place the replacement cotter pin into the upper balljoint and through the notches in the castle nut, and use the needle nose pliers to bend each tab of the cotter pin away from the balljoint. This is to lock the nut so it doesn't loosen due to vibrations from driving, so be sure to bend the cotter pin points. If the old bin breaks, replace it with a new one.
Replace the wheel and lift the vehicle off of the jack stands. Repeat on the other side.
