Replacement of a front lower control arm on the 2024 Tesla Cybertruck Tri-Motor (Cyberbeast). The Cybertruck uses a heavy-duty multi-link front suspension with air springs and steer-by-wire; final fastener torque must be applied at ride height with the vehicle's weight on the wheels.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front Lower Control Arm Assembly (Cybertruck-specific, side-specific LH/RH) × 1 — Manufacturer-specified Cybertruck front LCA — confirm via VIN
• Ball joint castle nut / prevailing-torque nut (single-use if specified by OEM) × 1 — OEM replacement fastener
• Control arm pivot bolts (replace if OEM specifies single-use) × 2 — OEM-spec control arm bolts

Preparation

1. Park on level ground, place in P, engage parking brake.
2. Exit ALL doors with key fob 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 (Cybertruck uses 48V, not 12V — locate the LV battery per Tesla service documentation and follow the 48V-specific disconnect procedure).
4. DO NOT touch, cut, or pierce ANY orange cable — these are high-voltage (800V on Cybertruck) 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. Before powering down: enter Service Mode / Jack Mode on the center display to disable air suspension self-leveling and vehicle wake events.
7. Confirm tire pressures and note current ride height — you will reference this during torque-at-ride-height steps.
8. Loosen the wheel lug nuts a half turn while the vehicle is still on the ground.
9. Raise the vehicle on a lift rated for Cybertruck weight using only Tesla-designated lift points; never lift on the HV battery enclosure or air spring lines.
10. Schedule a 4-wheel alignment for after the repair — required.

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove the front wheel
   Fully remove the lug nuts and pull the front wheel off the side being serviced. Set the wheel aside on its sidewall to avoid damage to the aero/finish.
2. 2

   Inspect surrounding harnesses and air lines
   Identify and route-protect the air suspension supply line, ABS/wheel speed sensor harness, and brake hose near the knuckle. Do not stretch or kink the air line — it is pressurized even with the system off.
   ⚠Air line is plastic/composite — a small nick will require replacement of the entire line.
3. 3

   Disconnect the sway bar end link from the lower control arm (if the link mounts there)
   Hold the end link shaft with an Allen key and remove the nut. If the Cybertruck's end link instead attaches to the strut, skip this step. Swing the link clear.
   Torque spec

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

   Support the knuckle/hub assembly
   Place a jack stand or transmission jack under the steering knuckle / hub carrier to support its weight before separating the ball joint. This prevents the assembly from hanging on the upper control arm or damper and prevents damage to the steer-by-wire actuator linkage at the rack.
   ⚠Do not let the knuckle hang freely — the brake hose, wheel speed sensor wiring, and air line can be damaged.
5. 5

   Separate the lower ball joint from the knuckle
   Remove the cotter pin (if present) and ball joint nut. Use a proper ball joint separator — do NOT use a pickle fork that damages the boot if the ball joint will be reused on a new arm. Lower the control arm out of the knuckle taper.
   ⚠Discard the ball joint nut if OEM specifies single-use; replace with new.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut88 Nm (65 lb-ft)
6. 6

   Mark and remove the inner control arm pivot bolts
   Note the position of any cam/eccentric washers if equipped — mark with a paint pen so initial alignment can be approximated. Remove the inner pivot bolts securing the control arm to the front subframe/cradle. Support the arm during removal as the bolts come out.
   ⚠Pivot bolts are long and may be tight in the bushing sleeve — penetrating fluid and gentle persuasion are preferred over heat near the air line and HV battery.
7. 7

   Remove the old control arm
   Maneuver the lower control arm out and down from the subframe. Compare the new arm side-by-side with the old to verify correct side, ball joint orientation, and bushing geometry before installation.
8. 8

   Install the new lower control arm into the subframe
   Position the new arm into the subframe brackets. Hand-thread the inner pivot bolts (use new bolts if OEM specifies). Do NOT fully torque the inner bolts yet — they must be torqued at ride height to avoid pre-loading the bushings.
9. 9

   Reconnect the ball joint to the knuckle
   Raise the knuckle onto the new ball joint stud. Install a new ball joint nut and tighten to specification. Install a new cotter pin if the design uses one — do not back off the nut to align the slot; tighten further to the next slot if required, within spec.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut88 Nm (65 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Reconnect the sway bar end link
    Reattach the end link to the control arm (or strut, depending on configuration). Hold the stud with an Allen key while torquing the nut.
    Torque spec

    Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Reinstall the wheel
    Mount the wheel and snug the lug nuts in a star pattern. Do not final-torque until the vehicle is on the ground.
12. 12

    Lower vehicle to ride height and final-torque pivot bolts
    Lower the Cybertruck so suspension is loaded at normal ride height with full vehicle weight on the wheels. Restore air suspension to normal ride height via Service Mode if applicable. Then final-torque the inner control arm pivot bolts to specification. This step is critical — torquing while unloaded will destroy the bushings within months.
    ⚠️Skipping the at-ride-height torque step will cause premature bushing failure and may create unpredictable handling — do not skip.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Final-torque the lug nuts
    With the vehicle on the ground, torque the wheel lug nuts in a star pattern to specification.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts136 Nm (100 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Reconnect the 48V low-voltage battery using the Cybertruck-specific procedure.
2. Exit Service Mode / Jack Mode via the touchscreen and allow air suspension to self-level.
3. Cycle the vehicle on and verify no chassis, ABS, steer-by-wire, or air suspension faults are displayed.
4. Confirm steering centers correctly via the steer-by-wire system (the yoke should self-center at vehicle wake).

Verification

• Perform a 4-wheel alignment — mandatory after any control arm replacement.
• Inspect the new ball joint boot and bushings for damage or pinching after the first short drive.
• Test drive at low speed on a closed area first: verify no clunks, no pulling, and that steer-by-wire response feels symmetric left/right.
• Recheck Control Arm Bolts torque after the first 100–200 miles is good practice for safety-critical fasteners.
• Scan for chassis/ADAS DTCs using diagnostic equipment; the Cybertruck's driver-assist cameras may need recalibration if alignment thrust angle changed significantly.
• While the vehicle is on the lift, this is also a good opportunity to check Tesla service-interval items: brake fluid (2-year interval), cabin air filter (2-year interval), and tire rotation (every ~6,250 mi).

More procedures for this vehicle