Replace the lower ball joint on a 2024 Tesla Cybertruck Cyberbeast. The Cybertruck's front suspension uses an aluminum-intensive control arm assembly; on many builds the lower ball joint is integrated into the control arm and is serviced as an assembly. Confirm part availability before disassembly.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Lower ball joint (or lower control arm assembly if integrated) × 1 — Manufacturer-specified Cybertruck front lower ball joint / LCA — verify by VIN
• Cotter pin for ball joint castle nut × 1 — OEM-spec cotter pin (single-use)
• Steering knuckle pinch bolt × 1 — OEM-spec single-use pinch bolt
• Ball joint nut (if specified single-use) × 1 — OEM-spec castellated nut

Preparation

1. Park on level ground, place in P, engage parking brake.
2. Exit ALL doors with the key fob/phone key away from the vehicle. Wait at least 2 minutes for HV systems to fully de-energize, even on this non-HV job.
3. Disconnect the 48V low-voltage battery per Tesla Cybertruck service procedure (location and connector style differ from 12V S/3/X/Y — refer to Service Manual).
4. DO NOT touch, cut, or pierce ANY orange cable — these are high-voltage and lethal.
5. If at any point you encounter an orange cable, an HV component, or are unsure if a system is de-energized: STOP and consult a Tesla-certified technician.
6. Enable Service Mode / Jack Mode on the touchscreen to lock out air suspension self-leveling before lifting.
7. Loosen front wheel lug nuts while the vehicle is still on the ground.
8. Lift the front of the vehicle using OEM-specified jacking points and support on rated jack stands.
9. Remove the front wheel on the affected side.
10. Inspect the work area for any orange HV cabling, sensor harnesses, or air suspension lines before proceeding.

Procedure

1. 1

   Document and photograph as-found condition
   Photograph the front suspension, sway bar link orientation, brake hose/ABS/wheel-speed sensor routing, and any alignment-related shim/cam markings on the lower control arm. Cybertruck steer-by-wire still uses front toe geometry; reference marks help return to baseline.
2. 2

   Support the lower control arm
   Place a transmission jack or floor jack under the lower control arm near the ball joint to support spring/strut preload. The Cybertruck uses air suspension — ensure the strut is unloaded and the air system is depressurized via Service Mode before separating the ball joint.
   ⚠Releasing a loaded ball joint without supporting the LCA can cause sudden movement and injury.
3. 3

   Disconnect sway bar end link from the lower control arm
   Hold the end link shaft with an Allen/hex key and remove the nut. Swing the link clear of the control arm.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Disconnect any sensors/lines attached to the knuckle or LCA
   Detach the wheel-speed sensor connector, brake hose bracket, and any ride-height or suspension sensor links from the knuckle/LCA as needed. Do not stretch or kink the brake hose. Set sensors aside; do not let them dangle.
   ⚠Cybertruck ride-height sensors are part of the air suspension calibration — handle gently and avoid bending the link arms.
5. 5

   Remove cotter pin and ball joint nut
   Straighten and remove the cotter pin from the lower ball joint stud. Loosen the castellated nut. Back the nut off until the top is flush with the threads but DO NOT fully remove yet — leaving the nut on protects the threads and prevents the knuckle from dropping when it releases.
6. 6

   Loosen the steering knuckle pinch bolt (if applicable to LCA-to-knuckle interface)
   If the lower ball joint stud is retained by a pinch-bolt design at the knuckle, remove the pinch bolt and discard it (single-use). If retained only by a castle nut, skip this step. Refer to the Tesla Service Manual to confirm which design your VIN uses.
   ⚠Pinch bolt is single-use and CRITICAL — always install a new bolt.
   Torque spec

   Pinch Bolt61 Nm (45 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Separate the ball joint from the steering knuckle
   Use a press-style ball joint separator. Avoid pickle-fork wedges if the boot is to be reused (they tear boots). Apply steady pressure until the taper releases. Once free, remove the castle nut completely and lower the knuckle clear of the ball joint stud. Support the knuckle with a bungee or stand — do not let it hang on the brake hose, axle CV, or wiring.
   ⚠Do not strike the knuckle or LCA with a hammer — both are aluminum/forged and can crack or deform.
   ⚠Steer-by-wire feedback is electronic; flopping the knuckle does not affect the yoke, but excessive movement can damage the half-shaft inner joint.
8. 8

   Remove the lower ball joint or LCA assembly
   If the ball joint is serviced separately, remove its retaining hardware from the LCA per the manufacturer-specified procedure (typically circlip or press-fit — confirm with the Service Manual). If the ball joint is integrated, remove the LCA inboard pivot bolts and extract the entire arm. Note the orientation of any cam/eccentric alignment hardware.
   ℹ️If the ball joint is press-fit into the LCA, this is a press-shop operation — consider replacing the LCA as an assembly instead.
   Torque spec

   Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Install the new lower ball joint / LCA
   Install the new ball joint into the LCA per the manufacturer-specified method, OR install the new LCA assembly using the original (or replacement, if specified single-use) inboard hardware. Hand-thread the inboard control arm bolts but do NOT final-torque yet — final torque is done with vehicle weight on wheels.
10. 10

    Reconnect ball joint stud to steering knuckle
    Insert the ball joint stud into the knuckle. Install a NEW castellated nut. Torque the ball joint nut to specification, then advance only as needed to align the cotter pin hole — never back off to align. Install a NEW cotter pin and bend the legs to OEM specification.
    ⚠️If using the cotter-pin spec (102 Nm / 75 lb-ft), torque to that value first; if using the no-cotter-pin design, torque to 88 Nm / 65 lb-ft. Confirm the correct spec for your build before proceeding.
    Torque spec

    Ball Joint Nut88 Nm (65 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Install new pinch bolt (if applicable)
    If the design uses a pinch bolt at the ball joint/knuckle interface, install a NEW pinch bolt and torque to specification.
    Torque spec

    Pinch Bolt61 Nm (45 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Reattach sway bar link, sensors, and brake hose bracket
    Reconnect the sway bar end link, holding the shaft with an Allen key while torquing the nut. Reinstall the wheel-speed sensor connector, brake hose bracket, and any ride-height sensor link. Verify routing matches your earlier photos.
    Torque spec

    Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Reinstall the front wheel and snug the lug nuts.
2. Lower the vehicle until the wheels are on the ground and the suspension is at normal ride height (re-enable air suspension and exit Jack Mode briefly to allow leveling, then re-disable for final torque if procedure allows; otherwise lower onto drive-on ramps).
3. With vehicle weight on the wheels, final-torque the lower control arm inboard bolts to specification — torquing while unloaded will preload the bushings incorrectly.
4. Torque wheel lug nuts in a star pattern to specification.
5. Reconnect the 48V low-voltage battery per Tesla Cybertruck procedure.
6. Exit Service Mode / Jack Mode on the touchscreen.
7. Cycle the air suspension through Low / Standard / High via the touchscreen and confirm normal operation.

Verification

• Confirm no warning messages on the touchscreen related to suspension, ABS, ride height, or steer-by-wire after a key cycle.
• Visually verify the new cotter pin is installed and bent, and the ball joint boot is seated and undamaged.
• Bounce-test the corner and listen for clunks; recheck sway bar link and ball joint nut after the test.
• MANDATORY: Perform a 4-wheel alignment. Replacing the lower ball joint/LCA changes camber and toe. Cybertruck steer-by-wire still relies on accurate front toe; misalignment will accelerate tire wear and may set faults.
• Road-test at low speed first in a safe area, then at higher speed. Confirm tracking is straight, no vibration, and no clunking over bumps.
• Re-torque check: after 100-300 km of driving, recheck the ball joint nut and control arm bolts to spec.
• Service interval reminder unrelated to this job but commonly overlooked on Cybertruck: brake fluid every 2 years, cabin filter every 2 years, and drive unit gear oil per Tesla's revised (non-'lifetime') schedule. Mention to the owner.

More procedures for this vehicle