Wheel Bearing Hub - Front

Replacement of a front wheel bearing hub assembly on a 2024 Tesla Cybertruck Dual Motor AWD. The Cybertruck uses a unitized hub-bearing bolted to the steering knuckle; the front half-shaft must be released from the hub to access the bearing fasteners.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front wheel bearing hub assembly (Cybertruck front-specific) × 1 — Manufacturer-specified Cybertruck front hub assembly — do not substitute Model S/X/3/Y hub
• Axle nut (single-use) and/or new cotter pin / stake nut as applicable × 1 — OEM specification — replace any single-use fastener
• Hub mounting bolts (if specified single-use by OEM) × 4 — OEM specification
• Medium-strength threadlocker × 1 — Loctite 243 or equivalent

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 (Cybertruck-specific — NOT a 12V system). Refer to Tesla service documentation for battery location and disconnect sequence.
4. DO NOT touch, cut, or pierce ANY orange cable — these are high-voltage and lethal at 800V.
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 / Service Mode on the touchscreen BEFORE disconnecting the LV battery so the air suspension does not attempt to self-level during the lift.
7. Loosen front wheel lug nuts while the vehicle is on the ground.
8. Raise the front of the vehicle and support on jack stands rated for Cybertruck weight at the manufacturer-specified lift points.
9. Remove the front wheel.
10. Inspect the area for any orange HV cabling routed near the front subframe before proceeding.

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove brake caliper and caliper bracket
   Remove the caliper guide pins/bolts and lift the caliper off the rotor. Support the caliper with a hanger — do NOT let it dangle from the brake hose. Then remove the caliper bracket bolts from the knuckle. Set the bracket aside on a clean surface.
   ⚠Do not pry against the steering knuckle in a way that loads the inner tie rod — steer-by-wire actuator components can be damaged by side loads.
2. 2

   Remove brake rotor
   If retained by a small Phillips/Torx rotor screw, remove it. Slide the rotor off the hub flange. If seized, apply penetrant at the hub-rotor interface. Do NOT strike the hub face directly.
3. 3

   Disconnect ABS / wheel-speed sensor
   Locate the wheel-speed sensor on the knuckle, release its harness clip(s), and remove the retaining bolt. Carefully pull the sensor straight out — do not pry on the sensor body. Inspect for corrosion and replace if damaged.
   ℹ️On Cybertruck, wheel-speed data also feeds the steer-by-wire and air suspension controllers — a damaged sensor will cause multiple system faults.
   Torque spec

   ABS Sensor Bolt10 Nm (7 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Remove the axle nut
   Remove the cotter pin or break the stake on the axle nut as applicable. With an assistant holding the brake pedal (or with the wheel temporarily reinstalled and lowered to the ground), break the axle nut loose. Discard the axle nut — it is single-use.
   ⚠Never reuse the axle nut or cotter pin. Loss of axle preload can destroy the new bearing within miles.
   Torque spec

   Axle Nut250 Nm (184 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Free the half-shaft from the hub
   Push the outer CV stub inward through the hub splines. If seized, use a hub puller — do NOT hammer the axle threads. If the inboard CV must be released to gain clearance, remove the inner CV joint bolts and support the shaft; do not allow the CV to hang by its boot.
   ⚠Do not over-articulate the CV joints — Cybertruck front shafts have specific articulation limits and tearing a boot will require shaft replacement.
6. 6

   Remove the wheel bearing hub assembly
   From the back side of the steering knuckle, remove the hub mounting bolts (typically 4). Pull the hub assembly forward off the knuckle. If corrosion-bonded, apply penetrant and use a puller plate; do not hammer the hub flange. Clean the knuckle bore thoroughly with a wire brush.
   ⚠Inspect the knuckle bore for cracks or scoring. Cybertruck front knuckles carry high steer-by-wire actuator loads — a damaged knuckle must be replaced.
   Torque spec

   Wheel Bearing Hub Bolts110 Nm (81 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Install the new wheel bearing hub
   Verify the new hub matches the original (front-specific, correct ABS encoder orientation). Seat the hub squarely into the knuckle bore. Install the mounting bolts; if the OEM specifies threadlocker, apply medium-strength threadlocker to clean, dry threads. Tighten in a cross pattern.
   Torque spec

   Wheel Bearing Hub Bolts110 Nm (81 lb-ft)
8. 8

   Reinstall the half-shaft
   Slide the outer CV stub through the hub splines. If the inner CV was disconnected, reattach it now using new bolts if specified, applying threadlocker per OEM, and tightening in a star pattern.
9. 9

   Install new axle nut
   Thread on a NEW axle nut. Final torque must be set with the wheel on the ground or with the brake firmly applied to prevent hub rotation. After torquing, install a new cotter pin or stake the nut into the axle groove per OEM design.
   ⚠️Under-torqued axle nuts will destroy the new bearing and can cause wheel separation. Verify final torque with a calibrated wrench.
   Torque spec

   Axle Nut250 Nm (184 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Reinstall ABS sensor, rotor, and caliper
    Clean the sensor seat, lightly lubricate the sensor O-ring with a non-petroleum lubricant if present, and install the sensor with its retaining bolt. Reinstall the rotor. Reinstall the caliper bracket using threadlocker on the bolts, then reinstall the caliper.
    Torque spec

    ABS Sensor Bolt10 Nm (7 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Reinstall the front wheel and hand-tighten lug nuts.
2. Lower the vehicle until the tire contacts the ground, then final-torque the lug nuts in a star pattern.
3. Reconnect the 48V low-voltage battery per Tesla service procedure.
4. Pump the brake pedal until firm before moving the vehicle — this seats the caliper pistons against the new rotor surface.
5. Exit Jack/Service Mode via the touchscreen and allow the air suspension to self-level.
6. If a scan tool is available, clear any ABS, traction control, or steer-by-wire fault codes that set during the repair.

Verification

• Confirm no warning messages on the touchscreen related to ABS, traction control, stability control, or steer-by-wire.
• At low speed in a safe area, verify the ABS/wheel-speed sensor is reading correctly — a bad sensor install will trip a fault within the first few feet of motion.
• Listen for bearing noise (hum, growl) during a road test at 25–45 mph; perform gentle left/right sweeps to load each side of the bearing.
• After the road test, recheck the wheel for unusual heat at the hub (slight warmth is normal; hot indicates a dragging caliper or over-preloaded bearing).
• Re-torque the lug nuts after approximately 50–100 miles per Tesla's published recommendation.
• Note: This job does not affect Tesla's recommended service intervals (brake fluid every 2 years, cabin filter every 2 years, drive unit fluid per Tesla's revised 12,500 mi / 25,000–50,000 mi schedule). If the brake fluid is older than 2 years, consider servicing it while the caliper is accessible.

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