Control Arm Bushing - Front Lower

Replacement of the front lower control arm bushing on a 2024 Tesla Cybertruck Dual Motor AWD. On the Cybertruck's air-suspension front end, the bushings are typically not serviced separately from the arm — most shops replace the entire forged lower control arm assembly, which is reflected in this procedure.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front lower control arm assembly (or OEM service bushing kit if separately available) × 1 — Manufacturer-specified Cybertruck front lower control arm / bushing — confirm against VIN
• Ball joint cotter pin × 1 — OEM-specified cotter pin (always replace)
• Control arm pivot bolts (if specified as single-use) × 2 — Refer to Tesla Service Manual — replace if torque-to-yield

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's service procedure (Cybertruck uses a 48V LV system, not 12V — connectors and fusing differ from other 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. Before lifting: enter Service Mode / Jack Mode on the touchscreen to disable air suspension auto-leveling and lock ride height.
7. Loosen front wheel lug nuts while the truck is still on the ground.
8. Raise the vehicle on Tesla-designated lift points and support with rated jack stands.
9. Remove the front wheel on the affected side.
10. Inspect the area for any orange HV cabling, 48V harnesses, or sensor wiring routed near the lower control arm. Note routing for reinstallation.

Procedure

1. 1

   Document and photograph
   Photograph the lower control arm, ball joint, sway bar link, and any harness/sensor clips attached to the arm. The Cybertruck routes ride-height sensor links and brake wear/ABS wiring near the front suspension — reference photos prevent misrouting on reassembly.
2. 2

   Disconnect sway bar end link from lower control arm
   Hold the sway bar link stud with an Allen key and remove the nut. Swing the link out of the way. Inspect the link bushings/ball sockets for play; replace if worn.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link61 Nm (45 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Support the lower control arm
   Place a transmission jack or suspension jack under the lower control arm spring seat / ball joint area. Apply light upward pressure to support arm weight. The Cybertruck uses air struts — do NOT compress the air strut by lifting the arm aggressively, and do not rely on the strut to support the arm.
4. 4

   Separate the ball joint from the steering knuckle
   Straighten and remove the cotter pin, then loosen the ball joint nut several turns but do not remove. Use a ball joint separator to break the taper. Once free, fully remove the nut and lower the knuckle off the ball joint stud. Discard the cotter pin — always use a new one on reassembly.
   ⚠Do not let the knuckle hang by the brake hose, ABS wiring, or any 48V sensor harness. Support the knuckle with a bungee or stand.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut88 Nm (65 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Mark and remove the control arm pivot bolts
   If the vehicle has cam-style alignment bolts at the inboard pivots, mark the cam position relative to the subframe before loosening so initial alignment can be approximated on reinstall. Support the arm, then remove both inboard pivot bolts/nuts. Lower the arm and remove it from the vehicle.
   ℹ️A four-wheel alignment will be required after this job regardless of marking accuracy.
6. 6

   Bushing service decision
   Inspect the removed arm. If Tesla supplies the bushing as a separate service part for the Cybertruck, press out the old bushing and press in the new one using the manufacturer-specified bushing tool and orientation marks. If the bushing is not separately serviced, install a complete replacement lower control arm assembly. Do not heat or torch the bushing — adjacent aluminum/forged components can be damaged.
7. 7

   Install the control arm
   Position the arm in the subframe pockets and install the inboard pivot bolts hand-tight. If alignment cams were marked, return them to their original index. Do NOT final-torque pivot bolts yet — they must be torqued at ride height.
8. 8

   Reconnect the ball joint to the knuckle
   Seat the ball joint stud into the knuckle. Install the ball joint nut and torque to spec, then continue tightening only as needed to align the cotter pin slot — never back off. Install a NEW cotter pin and bend the legs per OEM pattern.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut88 Nm (65 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Reconnect sway bar end link
   Reattach the end link to the lower control arm. Hold the stud with an Allen key while torquing the nut.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link61 Nm (45 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Reinstall wheel and lower vehicle
    Mount the front wheel and start lug nuts by hand. Lower the vehicle until the tires contact the ground and the suspension carries full vehicle weight. Torque lug nuts in a star pattern.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts136 Nm (100 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Final-torque control arm pivot bolts at ride height
    With the vehicle's full weight on the wheels and the suspension settled at normal ride height, torque both inboard control arm pivot bolts to spec. This prevents pre-loading the new bushing in a deflected position, which would cause premature failure.
    ⚠Skipping ride-height torque is the #1 cause of repeat bushing failure. Do not torque these on a lift with wheels hanging.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Verify all harnesses, ABS lines, and ride-height sensor linkages are reseated in their factory clips and not contacting the arm or steering components.
2. Reconnect the 48V low-voltage battery per Tesla's procedure.
3. Exit Service/Jack Mode on the touchscreen and allow the air suspension to re-level. Confirm no fault messages.
4. Cycle the steering lock-to-lock with the vehicle stationary (steer-by-wire system will self-center) and listen for any contact or binding.
5. Test drive at low speed in a safe area before highway use.

Verification

• Confirm no suspension, ABS, ride-height, or steer-by-wire fault codes are displayed on the touchscreen.
• Verify the air suspension reaches and holds standard ride height; check for leaks or compressor over-cycling.
• Have a four-wheel alignment performed — Cybertruck alignment requires manufacturer-specified targets and should be done on equipment that supports its weight and air-suspension calibration.
• Recheck control arm pivot bolt torque after the first 100–500 miles of driving.
• Visually inspect the new bushing for centered, undeflected appearance at ride height — if the bushing looks twisted, the pivot bolts were torqued off ride height and must be redone.
• Note: While in for suspension work, this is a good opportunity to verify Tesla's other recommended intervals — 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).

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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