Replacement of a rear trailing arm bushing on a 2024 Tesla Cybertruck Cyberbeast. Due to the truck's mass (~6,800 lb) and air suspension, this job requires suspension unloading procedures and a hydraulic press for bushing replacement.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Trailing arm bushing (manufacturer-specified for Cybertruck rear suspension) × 1 — Refer to Tesla EPC for 2024 Cybertruck Tri Motor
• Trailing arm mounting bolt (single-use if specified by Tesla) × 1 — Verify in Tesla Service Manual whether bolt is torque-to-yield/single-use

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 per Tesla Service Manual procedure for Cybertruck (location and connector style differ from 12V Teslas).
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. Enter Service Mode via the touchscreen BEFORE disconnecting 48V power to disable air suspension auto-leveling and place suspension in Jack Mode / Transport height as specified by Tesla.
7. Chock the front wheels.
8. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts while the vehicle is still on the ground.
9. Raise the rear of the vehicle using only Tesla-approved lift points (refer to underbody lift point diagram — Cybertruck points differ from other Teslas due to exoskeleton structure). Support on rated jack stands.
10. Remove the rear wheel on the affected side.
11. Inspect the area for any orange HV cabling, harnesses, or thermal lines before proceeding. STOP if any orange cable is in the work zone.

Procedure

1. 1

   Document and mark suspension geometry
   Using a paint pen, mark the position of the trailing arm relative to the chassis bracket and any eccentric alignment cams. This provides a baseline for reassembly and reduces (but does not eliminate) the need for an alignment afterward. Photograph all fastener positions before removal.
2. 2

   Support the rear suspension
   Place a transmission jack or secondary floor jack under the rear lower control arm / knuckle assembly to support the suspension. The air spring should be deflated/in service mode, but the suspension geometry still carries weight when the trailing arm bolt is removed.
   ⚠Do not jack against the air spring, HV battery pack, or any cast aluminum thin-wall section.
3. 3

   Disconnect sway bar end link (if it interferes)
   If access to the trailing arm bushing requires it, disconnect the rear sway bar end link from the lower arm. Hold the link's shaft with the appropriate Allen key while loosening the nut to prevent shaft rotation.
   Torque spec

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

   Disconnect ride height sensor and any wiring
   Carefully unclip the air suspension ride height sensor link and any wheel speed sensor or brake wear sensor harness routed along the trailing arm. Do not pull on wires; release retaining clips. Note routing for reassembly.
   ⚠Damaged ride height sensors will cause the air suspension to fault and may require Tesla diagnostic software to clear.
5. 5

   Remove the trailing arm forward (chassis-side) mounting bolt
   Locate the forward chassis bracket where the trailing arm bushing resides. Remove the through-bolt and nut securing the trailing arm to the bracket. This is the bolt that passes through the bushing inner sleeve. Apply penetrating oil if seized; do not heat near the HV battery or air spring.
   ⚠️Do NOT use a torch or open flame near the HV battery pack, air lines, or wiring harnesses.
6. 6

   Remove rear-side trailing arm fasteners as required
   Depending on whether the trailing arm can be swung down with only the forward bolt removed, you may need to remove additional control arm bolts at the knuckle to gain clearance to extract the trailing arm. Support the arm before removing the final fastener.
   Torque spec

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

   Remove the trailing arm from the vehicle
   Carefully lower the trailing arm from the chassis bracket and remove it from the vehicle. Inspect the arm for cracks, corrosion, or deformation. The Cybertruck's stainless and aluminum suspension components must not be welded or straightened — replace if damaged.
8. 8

   Press out the old bushing
   Using a hydraulic press with appropriate receiving cup and driver sleeve, press the old bushing out of the trailing arm eye. Note orientation, voiding, and any directional indicators (arrows or notches) on the old bushing before removal.
   ⚠Never strike the trailing arm with a hammer to dislodge the bushing — the cast/forged structure can crack invisibly.
9. 9

   Clean and inspect the bushing bore
   Clean the bushing bore with a non-abrasive method. Inspect for ovaling, cracks, or galling. If the bore is damaged, the trailing arm must be replaced — do not attempt to machine or weld-repair.
10. 10

    Press in the new bushing
    Align the new bushing per the manufacturer's directional marks (voids typically oriented fore/aft for trailing arm bushings — verify against the old bushing and Tesla service documentation). Press in slowly and squarely using the press and proper sleeve until fully seated to the specified depth or shoulder.
    ⚠Installing the bushing rotated incorrectly will cause premature failure and possible NVH or handling complaints.
11. 11

    Reinstall the trailing arm — finger-tight only
    Position the trailing arm back into the chassis bracket and any knuckle/control-arm interfaces. Install all bolts and nuts finger-tight only at this stage. Final torque on bushing-loaded fasteners must occur with vehicle weight on the wheels.
12. 12

    Reconnect sway bar link and sensors
    Reconnect the sway bar end link, ride height sensor link, and any harness clips. Torque the sway bar link nut while holding the shaft with an Allen key.
    Torque spec

    Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Reinstall wheel and lower vehicle to curb height
    Reinstall the rear wheel and snug the lug nuts. Lower the vehicle so its full weight rests on the wheels at normal ride height. The air suspension may need to repressurize once 48V is reconnected and Service Mode is exited — perform final torque after the vehicle is at normal operating ride height.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts136 Nm (100 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Final torque of bushing-loaded fasteners at curb height
    With vehicle weight on the wheels at normal ride height, final-torque the trailing arm forward chassis bolt and any control arm bolts that pass through rubber bushings. This prevents preloading the bushing in twist, which would cause premature failure.
    ⚠Failing to torque at curb height will destroy the new bushing within months — this is the single most common DIY mistake on this job.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Verify all fasteners are torqued to specification, with bushing-loaded fasteners torqued at curb height.
2. Final-torque wheel lug nuts in a star pattern.
3. Reconnect the 48V low-voltage battery per Tesla procedure.
4. Exit Service Mode via the touchscreen and allow the air suspension to self-level.
5. Clear any suspension or chassis fault codes that may have set during the disconnect/reconnect cycle (some may require Tesla diagnostic tools).
6. Perform a four-wheel alignment — even with reference marks, suspension component R&R on Cybertruck warrants verification, especially given its weight and tire wear sensitivity.

Verification

• With the vehicle at normal ride height, visually confirm the new bushing is seated squarely with no rubber distortion or offset.
• Test drive at low speed first, listening for clunks over expansion joints — a properly installed bushing should be silent.
• Verify air suspension raises and lowers normally through all height settings via the touchscreen; no ride-height faults should be present.
• Confirm no ABS, traction control, or stability control warnings appear on the instrument cluster.
• Recheck the bushing-loaded bolt torque after the first 100-200 miles of driving as a precaution.
• Schedule a four-wheel alignment within a few days of repair if not performed immediately — Cybertruck's mass accelerates tire wear from any misalignment.
• Reminder: Tesla recommends tire rotation every 6,250 mi on this platform — consider rotating now while the vehicle is being serviced. Also verify brake fluid age (Tesla recommends replacement every 2 years) and battery coolant inspection interval (4 years / 50,000 mi).

More procedures for this vehicle