Replacement of a front lower control arm on a 2024 Model X Long Range with standard air suspension. The job requires supporting the suspension, separating the ball joint, and final torquing of pivot bolts at ride height.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front Lower Control Arm Assembly (Model X 2024, LH or RH as applicable) × 1 — Tesla OEM front LCA — verify side and revision against VIN
• Ball joint nut (single-use if specified by Tesla) × 1 — Manufacturer-specified prevailing-torque nut
• Control arm pivot bolts/nuts (replace if specified as single-use) × 1 — Per Tesla Service Manual

Preparation

1. Park on level ground, place in P, engage parking brake.
2. 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.
3. Disconnect the 12V low-voltage battery, located in the frunk (similar position to Model S). Refer to the frunk service access procedure.
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 disconnecting 12V: enable Jack Mode on the touchscreen (Controls > Service > Jack Mode) to disable air suspension self-leveling. Confirm the suspension does not adjust.
7. Confirm Falcon doors are fully closed; keep the key fob at least 10 feet from the vehicle so the doors do not attempt to actuate during the lift.
8. Loosen wheel lug nuts on the affected side while the wheel is on the ground.
9. Lift the vehicle at the manufacturer-specified jacking points (puck pads required to protect the battery pack and rocker). Support with rated jack stands.
10. Remove the front wheel on the affected side.

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove underbody aero panels
   Remove the front underbody aero shield fasteners to access the lower control arm pivot bolts and ball joint. Note clip locations — Model X uses a mix of plastic push pins and T-handle bolts. Set fasteners aside organized; reuse only undamaged clips.
2. 2

   Disconnect sway bar end link from lower control arm
   Hold the end link stud with an Allen key and loosen the nut. Separate the link from the control arm and swing it out of the way. Inspect the link bushings/boots while accessible.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Support the steering knuckle
   Place a jack stand or transmission jack under the steering knuckle to support it once the ball joint is released. This prevents the knuckle from hanging on the upper control arms, half-shaft, and brake hose.
   ⚠Do not let the knuckle hang on the half-shaft or brake hose — both can be damaged.
4. 4

   Separate the lower ball joint from the knuckle
   Remove the lower ball joint nut. Using a press-style ball joint separator (preferred over a pickle fork to preserve the boot if the joint is being reused on a new arm shipped without a joint), break the taper. If the new control arm comes with an integrated ball joint, a pickle fork is acceptable.
   ⚠Do NOT strike the aluminum knuckle with a steel hammer to free the taper. Use a press tool.
   Torque spec

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

   Loosen control arm pivot bolts at the subframe
   Locate the inboard pivot bolts securing the lower control arm to the front subframe. Note bolt orientation and any cam/eccentric washers (record alignment marks if present). Loosen but do not fully remove until the arm is supported.
6. 6

   Remove the lower control arm
   Support the arm, then fully remove the pivot bolts and lower the arm out of the subframe. Inspect the subframe pivot bores for corrosion, ovaling, or damage. Inspect surrounding components — confirm no orange HV cabling or thermal lines were disturbed.
   ⚠️If you see orange cabling near the subframe, STOP. Do not proceed without Tesla-certified guidance.
7. 7

   Install the new lower control arm
   Position the new arm into the subframe. Hand-thread the pivot bolts in their original orientation. Do NOT final-torque yet — bushings must be torqued at ride height to avoid preload damage.
8. 8

   Reconnect the ball joint to the knuckle
   Insert the ball joint stud into the knuckle taper. Install a new ball joint nut (if specified single-use) and torque to spec. Verify the boot is seated and undamaged.
   Torque spec

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

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

   Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Snug pivot bolts and reinstall wheel
    Snug the control arm pivot bolts (do not final-torque). Reinstall the front wheel and hand-tighten lug nuts.
11. 11

    Lower vehicle to ride height and final-torque pivot bolts
    Lower the vehicle so the suspension is fully loaded at normal ride height. The cleanest method on an air-suspension Model X is to use a rolling/drive-on setup or place the vehicle on the ground and use an alignment-rack-style lift. Exit Jack Mode on the touchscreen and allow the air suspension to self-level. Final-torque the front lower control arm pivot bolts to spec with suspension loaded.
    ⚠Skipping the loaded-torque step will cause bushing failure within months.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Final-torque wheel lug nuts
    Torque the wheel lug nuts in a star pattern to spec. Reinstall any center cap.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts136 Nm (100 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Reinstall underbody aero panels
    Reinstall the underbody aero shield using new clips where any were broken. Aero integrity affects range — ensure full coverage and that no panel is sagging.

Reassembly

1. Reconnect the 12V low-voltage battery in the frunk.
2. Close frunk and verify it latches correctly.
3. With key fob present, power up the vehicle. Allow the air suspension to fully self-level (exit Jack Mode if still active).
4. Clear any chassis or suspension alerts on the touchscreen.
5. Check for tire/fender clearance and that the vehicle sits level side-to-side at the same ride-height setting.

Verification

• Perform a four-wheel alignment — mandatory after any front control arm replacement on Model X. Verify air suspension is at the alignment-spec ride height before measuring.
• Test drive at low speed first: listen for clunks over bumps (indicates loose pivot bolt or unseated ball joint) and verify steering centers correctly.
• Re-inspect ball joint nut and pivot bolt torque after the first 100 miles or after the first hard suspension cycle.
• Confirm no suspension fault codes are present on the touchscreen and that ride height adjustment (Low / Standard / High) functions on all four corners.
• Note: this job does not affect Tesla's published service intervals. While underbody, opportunistically inspect brake fluid age (2-year interval), cabin air filter age (2 or 3 years depending on HEPA), and battery coolant condition (Tesla's current recommendation is inspection at 4 years / 50,000 mi).

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