Replacement of a rear wheel bearing/hub assembly on a 2024 Tesla Model S Plaid AWD. The rear hub is integrated with the half-shaft; the axle nut must be loosened with the wheel on the ground or while a helper holds the brake, and the assembly is pressed/bolted to the rear knuckle.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear wheel bearing/hub assembly (manufacturer-specified for 2024 Model S Plaid) × 1 — Tesla OEM rear hub assembly — verify by VIN
• Axle nut (single-use, replace any time it is loosened) × 1 — OEM single-use stake/prevailing-torque nut
• Hub mounting bolts (replace if specified by manufacturer) × 4 — OEM bolts — reuse only if Service Manual permits

Preparation

1. Park on level ground, place in P, engage the 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. Open the frunk and disconnect the low-voltage battery (12V AGM under the nose cowl, or 16V Li-ion under the rear seat on applicable 2021+ Plaid builds — verify by VIN/architecture).
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. Place the vehicle in Transport Mode / Jack Mode via the touchscreen if the LV battery is reconnected for any portion of the job (this disables auto-leveling on the air suspension and prevents the car from trying to raise/lower itself).
7. Note: Plaid is air-suspension equipped. Setting Jack Mode prevents compressor activity while lifted.
8. Loosen the rear wheel lug nuts ~1/2 turn with the wheel still on the ground.
9. With a helper firmly on the brake pedal (or wheel grounded), break the axle nut loose. Do not fully remove yet.
10. Lift the rear of the vehicle at the manufacturer-specified lift points using approved pucks and support on jack stands.
11. Remove the rear wheel.

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove brake caliper and bracket
   Remove the two rear caliper bracket bolts and lift the caliper-and-bracket assembly off the rotor. Support it with wire or a bungee from the upper control arm — do not let it hang by the flexible brake hose. Inspect the hose and electronic parking brake (EPB) wiring for the rear caliper; the EPB motor cable must not be stretched or pinched.
   ⚠The rear caliper has an integrated electronic parking brake motor. Do not unplug or yank its harness.
2. 2

   Remove brake rotor
   Remove the rotor retaining screw (if present) and slide the rotor off the hub. If corroded, tap evenly around the rotor hat with a dead-blow — do not strike the hub face or the aluminum knuckle.
3. 3

   Disconnect ABS / wheel speed sensor
   Remove the ABS wheel speed sensor bolt from the knuckle and carefully withdraw the sensor. Unclip the sensor harness from any retainers on the knuckle and trailing arm so it is free of the hub area. Inspect the sensor tip for damage; replace if scored.
   ⚠Do not pry the sensor out with metal tools — Tesla ABS sensors are easily broken at the tip.
4. 4

   Remove axle nut and free hub from half-shaft
   Fully remove the (already-broken-loose) axle nut and discard it — it is single-use. Push the half-shaft splined stub inward through the hub. If it is seized, use a hub puller; do NOT hammer the end of the half-shaft, as this can damage the inner CV or the rear drive unit output bearing.
   ⚠️Never strike the half-shaft end with a steel hammer. Shock loading can damage the rear drive unit internals.
   Torque spec

   Axle Nut200 Nm (148 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Support and separate inner CV (if required for clearance)
   On many Model S rear setups, removing the hub bolts allows the hub to come off the half-shaft splines without disturbing the inner CV. If additional clearance is required, unbolt the inner CV joint flange from the rear drive unit output flange. Support the half-shaft so it does not hang. Mark orientation before disassembly.
   ⚠Do not let the half-shaft hang by the outer CV — it can over-articulate and damage the boot/cage.
6. 6

   Remove the wheel bearing/hub assembly from the knuckle
   Remove the four hub-to-knuckle mounting bolts from the rear (inboard) side of the knuckle. Withdraw the hub assembly forward through the knuckle. If the hub is corroded into the knuckle bore, tap evenly with a brass drift or use a hub puller — do not strike the aluminum knuckle directly with steel.
   ⚠The knuckle is aluminum on this chassis. Damage to the hub bore is not repairable — the knuckle would need replacement.
   Torque spec

   Wheel Bearing Hub Bolts100 Nm (74 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Clean knuckle hub bore and mating surfaces
   Wire-brush and clean the hub mounting flange of the knuckle. Remove all old threadlocker from bolt holes (chase threads with a thread chaser, NOT a cutting tap). A light film of anti-seize on the hub-to-knuckle pilot diameter (NOT on the bolt threads) helps future removal.
8. 8

   Install new wheel bearing/hub assembly
   Position the new hub assembly into the knuckle and install the four mounting bolts. Apply medium-strength threadlocker to the bolt threads if specified by the Service Manual. Tighten in a cross pattern in two stages to final spec.
   Torque spec

   Wheel Bearing Hub Bolts100 Nm (74 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Reinstall half-shaft / inner CV (if disconnected)
   If the inner CV was unbolted, align the orientation marks and reinstall the CV bolts in a star pattern. Apply threadlocker per OEM specification. Tighten evenly in two stages to final torque.
10. 10

    Install new axle nut
    Slide the half-shaft splined stub through the new hub. Install a NEW axle nut (single-use). Final-torque the axle nut with the wheel either back on the ground or with a helper firmly holding the brake pedal — never with the wheel hanging free, as you can damage the new bearing.
    ⚠Axle nut torque is critical (200 Nm). Always use a calibrated torque wrench, not an impact.
    Torque spec

    Axle Nut200 Nm (148 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Reinstall ABS sensor
    Reseat the ABS wheel speed sensor in the knuckle and torque the retaining bolt. Re-clip the harness into all original retainers — a loose harness against a rotating CV will be cut within minutes.
12. 12

    Reinstall rotor and caliper bracket
    Slide the rotor onto the new hub. Apply threadlocker to the caliper bracket bolts and torque to spec. Confirm the caliper slides freely on its guide pins and the EPB harness is routed without strain.

Reassembly

1. Reinstall the rear wheel. Snug lug nuts in a star pattern by hand.
2. Lower the vehicle to the ground.
3. Final-torque the wheel lug nuts in a star pattern.
4. Reconnect the low-voltage (12V/16V) battery in the frunk or under rear seat as applicable.
5. Close the frunk; sit in the driver's seat with the key fob present and wake the vehicle.
6. Exit Jack Mode via the touchscreen and allow the air suspension (Plaid) to re-level.
7. Press the brake pedal several times before driving to confirm firm pedal — the EPB will self-test on first wake.

Verification

• With the wheel off the ground, spin the hub by hand: it should rotate smoothly with no roughness, grinding, or play. Rock at 12/6 and 3/9 — there should be zero perceptible play.
• On a short, slow test drive, listen for the original wheel-bearing hum/growl — it should be gone. The noise typically changes with vehicle speed (not engine/motor RPM) and may shift when changing lanes (loading/unloading the bearing).
• Check the touchscreen for any new ABS, traction control, or vehicle dynamics alerts. The ABS system should self-calibrate within the first few wheel rotations; if a fault persists, re-inspect the speed sensor seating and connector.
• After the test drive, recheck wheel lug nut torque to 136 Nm (100 lb-ft).
• Tesla recommends rear tire rotation every 6,250 mi — note this in the service log so the customer is reminded at the next interval.
• If the vehicle is approaching the 2-year mark, advise the owner that brake fluid service (DOT 3 or DOT 4 — verify by VIN) is on Tesla's published 2-year interval, since the brake system was opened-adjacent during this job.

More procedures for this vehicle