Brake Pads and Rotors - Front

Replace front brake pads and rotors on a 2024 Tesla Cybertruck Dual Motor. The Cybertruck uses oversized front brakes with 4-piston fixed-style calipers; pad wear sensors and the 48V low-voltage architecture require specific precautions versus prior Tesla models.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front brake pad set (OEM-spec for Cybertruck Dual Motor) × 1 — Manufacturer-specified Cybertruck front pad set
• Front brake rotors × 2 — Manufacturer-specified Cybertruck front rotor
• Front pad wear sensor (if equipped and damaged on removal) × 1 — OEM wear sensor
• Caliper bracket bolts (single-use if specified by manufacturer) × 4 — Verify reuse policy in Tesla Service Manual

Fluids

• DOT 3 Brake Fluid (top-off only if needed) — 0.25 qt

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. Disconnect the 48V low-voltage battery per Tesla Service Manual procedure (Cybertruck uses 48V LV — not 12V). Use only 48V-rated tools and follow the documented disconnect order.
4. DO NOT touch, cut, or pierce ANY orange cable — these are 800V 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. Engage Jack Mode through the touchscreen (Controls → Service → Jack Mode) to disable air suspension self-leveling before lifting.
7. Chock the rear wheels.
8. Loosen front lug nuts while the wheels are still on the ground.
9. Lift the front of the vehicle at the manufacturer-specified jack points using approved puck adapters. Support on rated jack stands.
10. Remove front wheels and set aside on a clean surface (do not stack on stainless body).

Procedure

1. 1

   Inspect and document
   Photograph the caliper, brake hose routing, pad wear sensor wiring (if present), and any shims or anti-rattle clips. Note pad thickness and rotor condition for your records before disassembly.
2. 2

   Disconnect pad wear sensor (if equipped)
   Trace the wear sensor lead from the inboard pad to its connector on the strut or knuckle harness. Release the locking tab and unplug. Free the lead from any retaining clips so it can move with the caliper.
   ⚠Cybertruck low-voltage connectors are 48V — do not probe or short with metal tools.
3. 3

   Retract caliper pistons
   Open the brake fluid reservoir cap briefly to relieve pressure, then re-cover loosely with a lint-free cloth. Using a piston spreader tool, gently retract the caliper pistons to create clearance for the new (thicker) pads. Watch the reservoir level — siphon fluid out if it rises near the MAX line.
   ⚠Brake fluid damages paint and the stainless finish's protective layer. Wipe spills immediately with water.
4. 4

   Remove caliper
   Remove the caliper slide/guide bolts (or caliper-to-bracket bolts, depending on caliper design) and lift the caliper off the bracket. Support the caliper with wire or a bungee from a suspension component — do NOT let it hang by the brake hose.
   ⚠️Never let the caliper hang by the flexible brake hose — internal damage can cause hose failure under pressure.
   Torque spec

   Caliper Slide Pin Bolts35 Nm (26 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Remove old pads
   Slide the inner and outer pads out of the bracket. Note the orientation of any anti-rattle clips, shims, and the wear sensor pad (typically inner). Inspect the abutment clips — replace if corroded or distorted.
6. 6

   Remove caliper bracket
   Remove the two front caliper bracket bolts securing the bracket to the steering knuckle. These are high-torque fasteners — use a breaker bar. Inspect bolts for thread damage; replace if specified as single-use by the Tesla Service Manual.
   ⚠Bracket bolts are torqued to 120 Nm — they may require significant breakaway force. Brace yourself and the vehicle.
   Torque spec

   Bracket Bolts102 Nm (75 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Remove rotor
   If a retaining screw is present, remove it. Slide the rotor off the hub. If seized, apply penetrating oil to the hub-rotor interface and use the threaded jacking holes (if equipped) — do NOT strike the rotor against the hub face with a steel hammer (risk of wheel bearing damage and hub face deformation). A dead-blow mallet on the rotor hat is acceptable.
   ⚠Avoid striking suspension or knuckle components — Cybertruck uses lightweight forged components that can be damaged by impact.
8. 8

   Clean hub face
   Wire-brush the hub mating face to bare, clean metal. Any rust or debris will cause rotor runout and brake pulsation. Apply a very thin film of anti-seize to the hub face only (NOT the wheel studs or rotor friction surface).
9. 9

   Install new rotor
   Wipe the rotor friction surfaces with brake cleaner to remove shipping oil. Mount the rotor onto the hub. If a retaining screw was used, reinstall it. Spin the rotor — it should rotate freely without wobble.
10. 10

    Reinstall caliper bracket
    Apply medium-strength threadlocker to the caliper bracket bolts (unless they are pre-coated single-use bolts). Install the bracket and torque per spec. Verify torque wrench is calibrated for this high value.
    Torque spec

    Bracket Bolts102 Nm (75 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Install new pads and hardware
    Install fresh anti-rattle clips if included with the pad kit. Apply a thin film of silicone brake grease to pad ear contact points and the back of the pad backing plates (NEVER on the friction surface or rotor). Slide pads into the bracket. Position the pad with the wear sensor on the inboard side (or as specified by the pad kit instructions).
    ⚠Any grease on the rotor or pad friction surface will cause permanent contamination — the pads must be discarded.
12. 12

    Reinstall caliper
    Verify pistons are fully retracted. Lubricate slide pins with silicone brake grease and inspect boots for tears (replace if damaged). Seat the caliper over the new pads and install the slide/guide bolts with threadlocker if specified. Torque to spec.
    Torque spec

    Caliper Slide Pin Bolts35 Nm (26 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Reconnect pad wear sensor
    Plug the wear sensor lead back into the chassis harness connector and re-secure to all retaining clips, ensuring the lead is clear of suspension travel and the rotor.
14. 14

    Repeat for opposite side
    Perform steps 1–13 on the other front wheel. Always replace pads and rotors as axle pairs to maintain even braking.
15. 15

    Top off brake fluid
    Check the brake fluid reservoir and top off to the MAX line with fresh DOT 3 brake fluid only. Re-secure the cap. If the existing fluid is dark or older than 2 years, perform a full flush — Tesla recommends brake fluid service every 2 years.
    ⚠Use ONLY DOT 3 fluid as specified by Tesla for this vehicle. Mixing fluid types degrades seals and ABS components.

Reassembly

1. Reinstall front wheels. Hand-thread all lug nuts before lowering.
2. Lower the vehicle to the ground.
3. Torque lug nuts in a star pattern to specification.
4. Reconnect the 48V low-voltage battery per Tesla procedure.
5. Exit Jack Mode via the touchscreen and allow the air suspension to re-level.
6. Before driving: with the vehicle powered on and in P, press the brake pedal firmly 5–10 times until pedal feel is firm and consistent. New pads will have excessive pedal travel on the first press until pistons seat against the pads.
7. Verify no brake warning indicators are present on the driver display.

Verification

• Pedal must be firm within 3–5 pumps before any test drive — a soft pedal indicates air or a hydraulic issue. Do NOT drive until pedal is firm.
• Drive at low speed (under 15 mph) in a safe area and perform several gentle stops. Confirm no pulling, grinding, or pulsation.
• Perform a proper bed-in procedure per the pad manufacturer (typically 8–10 moderate stops from ~35 mph to ~5 mph without coming to a complete stop, then allow rotors to cool). This is especially important on Cybertruck because regenerative braking does most of the work — friction brakes won't self-bed during normal driving.
• Check the touchscreen for any brake-related fault codes or pad wear sensor alerts (Service tab).
• After 50–100 miles, re-torque lug nuts and re-inspect for fluid leaks at the caliper and around the reservoir.
• Note in service records: brake fluid is due for replacement every 2 years per Tesla — log next service date.

Related trouble codes on this vehicle

Codes that commonly send this job to the bay — tap one for symptoms, causes, and diagnostic steps.

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