suspension

Air Spring/Air Bag

for 2024 Tesla Model 3 Performance Dual Motor AWD · AWD

Editorial review:Chris Hackleman — Master Technician · 20+ years · Jeff Moore — Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years

Difficulty

Moderate

Time

1.5 h

Tools

Steps

✓Expert-verified. Personally reviewed and approved by OLP's master technicians (Chris Hackleman & Jeff Moore — 20+ years each). Always follow the vehicle's factory service information and torque specs.

This procedure addresses an air spring/air bag replacement request on a 2024 Tesla Model 3 Performance. The Model 3 platform — including the Performance variant — is NOT equipped with air suspension from the factory; it uses coil-over struts only.

Warnings

⚠️The 2024 Model 3 Performance does NOT have air suspension. Do not attempt to 'service an air bag' on this vehicle — there is no air spring, compressor, air line, or height sensor system installed. Any apparent ride height issue is a coil-spring/strut concern, not an air system concern.

⚠If a customer or work order requests 'air spring replacement' on a Model 3, verify the VIN and visually inspect the suspension before ordering parts. Confusion with Model S/X (which DO offer air suspension) is the most common cause of this misrouted job.

ℹ️Per architecture notes: Model 3 suspension is coil spring only (no air option). If the actual complaint is ride height, sag, knocking, or harsh ride, the correct repair is strut/coil spring assembly replacement — see the Strut/Coil-Over Assembly procedure instead.

Tools required

Service information / VIN verification accessEssential

Preparation

Park on level ground, place in P, engage parking brake.
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.
Disconnect the 12V low-voltage battery. On 2024 Model 3, the 12V (lithium) is typically located under the rear seat or under the floor — refer to architecture notes and the Tesla Service Manual for the exact location on this VIN.
DO NOT touch, cut, or pierce ANY orange cable — these are high-voltage and lethal.
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.
Verify the VIN and trim against Tesla service documentation to confirm suspension type before proceeding. The 2024 Model 3 Performance is delivered with coil-over struts only.
Visually inspect the front and rear suspension corners for any air spring, air line, compressor, or ride-height sensor. None should be present on this vehicle.
If the actual complaint is a suspension issue (sag, noise, ride quality, ride height), close this job and open the appropriate coil-over strut assembly procedure.

Procedure

1
Confirm vehicle suspension configuration
Decode the VIN and confirm the build is a 2024 Model 3 Performance Dual Motor AWD. Cross-reference the Tesla Service Manual suspension section for this VIN. The Model 3 platform across all trims (RWD, Long Range, Performance) uses coil-over MacPherson-style struts at the front and a multi-link coil-spring rear. There is no factory or Tesla-supported air suspension option for Model 3.
⚠Do not rely on customer description alone — physically verify suspension type before ordering or attempting any 'air spring' parts.
2
Stop work and reroute the job
Because no air spring exists on this vehicle, this repair procedure cannot be executed. Document the finding on the work order, notify the service writer/customer, and re-diagnose the underlying complaint. If the symptom is ride height loss, knocking, leaking damper, or harsh ride, open the correct procedure: front strut assembly replacement or rear shock/coil spring replacement for the 2024 Model 3 Performance.

Reassembly

No disassembly was performed. Reconnect the 12V low-voltage battery if it was disconnected for diagnosis.
Close out the work order with a note that the 2024 Model 3 Performance is not equipped with air suspension and the requested repair is not applicable to this platform.

Verification

Confirm via VIN lookup and visual inspection that no air suspension components are present.
If a coil-over strut or related suspension component was ultimately serviced under a corrected procedure, perform a post-repair alignment and torque the wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern. All safety-critical suspension fasteners must be torqued to OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual.
Note for the owner: while this job is not applicable, brake fluid service is recommended every 2 years and cabin air filter replacement every 2 years on Model 3 — confirm those interval items are not also overdue while the vehicle is in the shop.