Replacement of a rear lower control arm on a 2024 Tesla Cybertruck Cyberbeast Tri-Motor. This vehicle uses air suspension and a 48V low-voltage architecture, both of which affect prep and reassembly procedures.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear lower control arm assembly (manufacturer-specified for Cybertruck rear) × 1 — Refer to Tesla EPC for 2024 Cybertruck rear LCA
• Control arm bolts/nuts (single-use if specified by Tesla) × 1 — Per Tesla Service Manual — replace if listed as TTY/single-use
• Ball joint nut (replace if single-use) × 1 — Per Tesla Service Manual

Preparation

1. Park on level ground, place in P, engage parking brake.
2. Exit ALL doors with the 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. Enter the touchscreen Service menu and activate Jack Mode (or equivalent suspension transport setting) to disable air suspension self-leveling.
4. Disconnect the 48V low-voltage battery per the Tesla Service Manual procedure for Cybertruck. Note: this is a 48V system, NOT 12V — use appropriate procedure and PPE.
5. DO NOT touch, cut, or pierce ANY orange cable — these are high-voltage (800V) and lethal.
6. 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.
7. Chock the front wheels. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts on the affected side while the vehicle is still on the ground.
8. Lift the vehicle using Tesla-approved lift points and adapters. Support on jack stands rated for Cybertruck weight if not on a full lift.
9. Remove the rear wheel on the affected side.

Procedure

1. 1

   Inspect and photograph suspension geometry
   Before disassembly, photograph the rear suspension from multiple angles. Note cam-bolt index marks (if present) at the inboard control arm mount — these set rear toe/camber and must be returned to position to minimize alignment drift. Inspect the air suspension bag, ride-height sensor linkage, and any wiring routed along the control arm.
2. 2

   Support the rear knuckle/hub assembly
   Place a transmission jack or sturdy jack stand under the rear knuckle to support the assembly once the control arm is disconnected. This prevents the half-shaft, air spring, and brake hose from being stressed when the arm is removed.
   ⚠Do not let the knuckle hang freely — this can damage the CV joint boot and overextend the brake hose and ABS/ride-height wiring.
3. 3

   Disconnect sway bar end link (if it interferes)
   If the sway bar end link mounts to or interferes with the lower control arm on this vehicle, remove the end-link nut while holding the stud with an Allen/hex key to prevent spinning. Swing the link clear.
   Torque spec

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

   Relieve air suspension load (if required)
   With Jack Mode active and the wheel off the ground, the air spring should be unloaded. If the rear air spring is mounted on or interferes with the lower control arm, follow the manufacturer-specified procedure to depressurize/decouple the air spring before continuing. Do not pry against the air spring bag.
   ⚠️A pressurized air spring released uncontrolled can cause serious injury. Confirm the system is depressurized before disconnecting any air-spring fastener.
5. 5

   Disconnect outboard ball joint / knuckle attachment
   Remove the ball joint nut securing the lower control arm to the rear knuckle. Use a manufacturer-specified separator tool to break the taper. Do not strike the knuckle or stainless body panels with a hammer.
   ⚠If the ball joint nut is specified as single-use by Tesla, replace it on reassembly.
   Torque spec

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

   Remove inboard control arm bolts
   Mark the position of any cam/eccentric bolts with a paint pen before loosening. Remove the inboard control arm through-bolts at the subframe. Support the arm as the last bolt is removed.
   Torque spec

   Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Remove the lower control arm
   Maneuver the control arm out of the subframe pocket and away from the knuckle. Inspect the bushings, ball joint, and mounting points on the subframe and knuckle for damage or wear before installing the replacement.
8. 8

   Install the new lower control arm — inboard side
   Position the new control arm into the subframe pocket. Install the inboard bolts hand-tight, aligning any cam-bolt marks made during removal. Do NOT final-torque yet — the arm must be loaded to ride height before final torque.
9. 9

   Reattach outboard ball joint to knuckle
   Seat the ball joint taper into the knuckle and install a new ball joint nut (if single-use). Torque to specification while preventing the stud from spinning per the manufacturer-specified method.
   Torque spec

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

    Reconnect sway bar link and any disturbed components
    Reinstall the sway bar end link, holding the stud with an Allen key while torquing the nut. Reconnect any wiring, ride-height sensor linkage, or brake hose retainers that were disturbed.
    Torque spec

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

    Reinstall wheel and lower vehicle
    Mount the rear wheel and hand-thread the lug nuts. Lower the vehicle so its full weight is on the wheels (or use a drive-on lift / wheel cribs to support at ride height). This is required before final-torquing the inboard control arm bolts.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts136 Nm (100 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Final-torque inboard control arm bolts at ride height
    With the suspension loaded at ride height, final-torque the inboard control arm bolts to specification. Torquing at full droop will preload the bushings and cause premature failure.
    ⚠This step is critical. Skipping it will shorten bushing life and may cause noise/handling complaints.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Final-torque the wheel lug nuts in a star pattern to specification.
2. Reconnect the 48V low-voltage battery per Tesla procedure.
3. Power the vehicle on. Exit Jack Mode / Transport Mode via the touchscreen and allow the air suspension to self-level.
4. Clear any suspension or chassis fault codes that may have set during the LV disconnect.
5. Drive the vehicle a short distance on a smooth surface to allow the air suspension to settle and ride-height sensors to recalibrate.
6. Schedule a four-wheel alignment on a rack rated for Cybertruck weight and wheelbase. Alignment is mandatory after control arm replacement.

Verification

• Confirm no suspension, ABS, or ride-height fault messages on the touchscreen after power-up.
• Verify the vehicle reaches normal ride height on all four corners and is level side-to-side.
• Listen for clunks, knocks, or air leaks during a low-speed test drive over varied surfaces.
• Re-check all critical fasteners (Control Arm Bolts, Ball Joint Nut, Sway Bar Link Nuts, Wheel Lug Nuts) after the test drive.
• Perform and document a four-wheel alignment; confirm rear toe and camber are within Tesla specification for Cybertruck.
• While the vehicle is in for alignment, this is a good opportunity to verify Tesla's other interval-based service items: brake fluid (every 2 years), cabin air filter (every 2 years), drive unit gear oil (initial 12,500 mi, then 25,000–50,000 mi), and battery coolant inspection (4 years / 50,000 mi). None are required by this job, but ride-height/alignment work is a natural point to check them.

More procedures for this vehicle