suspension

Lower Control Arm

for 2024 Tesla Model X Long Range Dual Motor AWD · AWD

Difficulty

Advanced

Time

2.0 h

Tools

Steps

Replacement of a front lower control arm on a 2024 Tesla Model X Long Range. Air suspension and aluminum suspension components require specific handling; final torque on the control arm pivot bolts must be done at ride height.

Warnings

⚠️DO NOT touch, cut, or pierce any orange cable. Although the LCA job is non-HV, the HV pack is floor-mounted directly above the lift area on Model X — improper jack/lift placement can damage the pack.

⚠️Air suspension is standard on Model X. Before lifting, place the vehicle in Jack Mode via the touchscreen (Controls → Service → Jack Mode) to disable self-leveling. Failure to do this can cause the suspension to attempt to compensate while lifted.

⚠Model X uses extensive aluminum suspension and body components. Do not strike aluminum parts with a steel hammer — use a dead-blow or rubber mallet only. Do not pry on the air spring or its lines.

⚠Only lift at Tesla-approved lift points using puck adapters. Lifting on the battery pack, pinch welds, or sub-frame edges will deform the aluminum structure.

⚠Final torque on the control arm pivot bolts MUST be performed with the vehicle's full weight on the wheels (suspension at ride height). Torquing while unloaded will pre-load the bushings and cause premature failure.

ℹ️An alignment is required after any control arm replacement. Schedule this before returning the vehicle to service.

Tools required

Two-post or four-post lift (or jack with jack stands rated for vehicle weight)Essential

Tesla-approved lift pad adapters (puck-style)Essential

Metric socket set (10mm–24mm)Essential

Metric combination wrench setEssential

Allen/hex key set (for sway bar end link shaft)Essential

Calibrated torque wrench (20–150 Nm range)Essential

Calibrated torque wrench (extended range to 200 Nm)Essential

Ball joint separator / pickle fork or tie-rod end pullerEssential

Pry bar

Dead-blow or rubber mallet (no steel hammer on aluminum)Essential

Wheel chocksEssential

Drive-on ramps or wheel cribs (for final torque at ride height)

Parts

Front lower control arm assembly (manufacturer-specified for 2024 Model X) × 1 — Tesla OEM front LCA — confirm left/right and air-suspension variant via VIN
Ball joint nut (single-use if specified by manufacturer) × 1 — OEM specification — replace if prevailing-torque/locking type
Control arm pivot bolts/nuts (if specified single-use) × 1 — OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual

Preparation

Park on level ground, place in P, engage parking brake.
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.
Disconnect the 12V low-voltage battery, located in the frunk (similar position to Model S). Refer to the Tesla Service Manual for the correct disconnect sequence and frunk-release backup procedure, as disconnecting 12V power will disable the powered frunk and falcon doors.
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.
Before lifting: with 12V still connected, enable Jack Mode on the touchscreen (Controls → Service → Jack Mode) to disable air suspension self-leveling. Then power down and disconnect the 12V battery as above.
Chock the rear wheels. Loosen the front wheel lug nuts on the affected side while the wheel is still on the ground.
Identify Tesla-approved front lift points and place puck-style pad adapters before raising the vehicle. Do not lift on the HV battery pack or air spring components.
Raise the vehicle and support it on jack stands rated for the Model X curb weight (~5,400 lb).
Have the replacement control arm and any single-use fasteners on hand before disassembly.

Procedure

1
Remove front wheel
Fully remove the lug nuts and take off the front wheel on the affected side. Set the wheel face-down on a soft surface to protect the finish.
2
Inspect and document
Photograph the LCA, ball joint, sway bar end link, and any harness/line routing clipped to the arm before disassembly. Note the orientation of any cam bolts or alignment marks.
3
Disconnect sway bar end link from LCA
Remove the sway bar end link nut at the lower control arm. Hold the end link's internal shaft with an Allen key to prevent it from spinning while loosening the nut. Swing the end link clear.
Torque spec
Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
4
Release any clipped harnesses or lines from the LCA
Carefully unclip any wheel-speed sensor harness, brake hose retainer, or other routing fastened to the control arm. Do not stretch or kink any line. Do not disturb the air suspension line or air spring.
⚠Do not disconnect or pinch the air suspension line. If the line is in the way, consult the service manual — the air system must be depressurized properly before disconnection.
5
Separate ball joint from steering knuckle
Remove the ball joint nut securing the LCA ball joint to the knuckle. Use a proper ball joint separator or tie-rod-style puller to break the taper. Do not strike the aluminum knuckle with a steel hammer. Support the knuckle/hub assembly so it does not hang on the half-shaft or brake hose once released.
⚠Aluminum knuckle — use only a separator tool or dead-blow mallet. Steel hammer strikes will gouge or crack the casting.
Torque spec
Ball Joint Nut88 Nm (65 lb-ft)
6
Support LCA and remove pivot bolts
Support the lower control arm with a transmission jack or a floor jack with a wide pad. Remove the control arm pivot bolts/nuts at the subframe. Note bolt orientation and any alignment cam positions before final removal. Lower the LCA out of the vehicle.
ℹ️If single-use fasteners are specified by Tesla for the pivot bolts, replace them with new OEM hardware.
Torque spec
Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
7
Compare old and new arms
Verify the replacement control arm is the correct side and matches the original in geometry, ball joint taper, bushing layout, and any sensor mounting bosses. A mismatched arm will cause alignment or fitment problems.
8
Install new control arm to subframe
Position the new LCA into the subframe mounts. Insert the pivot bolts in the original orientation. Hand-thread the nuts (or torque the bolts) to snug only at this stage — do NOT final-torque yet. The pivot bolts must be torqued at ride height.
9
Reconnect ball joint to knuckle
Seat the LCA ball joint stud into the knuckle taper. Install the ball joint nut and torque to specification. If the nut is a prevailing-torque/locking type, use new hardware as specified.
Torque spec
Ball Joint Nut88 Nm (65 lb-ft)
10
Reconnect sway bar end link
Reattach the sway bar end link to the LCA. Hold the end link shaft with an Allen key while torquing the nut to specification.
Torque spec
Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
11
Re-secure harnesses and lines
Reinstall any wheel-speed sensor harness clips, brake hose retainers, or routing clips to the new control arm in the original positions.
12
Reinstall wheel
Mount the front wheel and hand-snug the lug nuts in a star pattern. Final torque will be set after the vehicle is on the ground.
13
Lower vehicle to ride height and final-torque pivot bolts
Lower the vehicle so its full weight is on the wheels at normal ride height. Drive-on ramps or wheel cribs work well to retain access. With suspension loaded, torque the control arm pivot bolts to specification. This prevents the bushings from being pre-stressed.
⚠Skipping ride-height torquing will cause bushing wear within a few thousand miles.
Torque spec
Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
14
Final-torque lug nuts
With the vehicle on the ground, torque the wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern.
Torque spec
Wheel Lug Nuts136 Nm (100 lb-ft)

Reassembly

Reconnect the 12V low-voltage battery in the frunk per the Tesla Service Manual sequence.
Power on the vehicle. The touchscreen may show suspension or ABS faults until the vehicle is driven a short distance — this is normal after 12V disconnection.
Exit Jack Mode (it typically clears automatically after a short drive, or via Controls → Service).
Allow the air suspension to self-level. Verify no error messages related to suspension, ABS, traction control, or steering.
Cycle the falcon doors fully open and closed once to confirm normal operation after 12V reconnection.

Verification

Confirm no suspension, ABS, traction control, or stability messages on the instrument cluster after a short test drive.
Inspect the new ball joint and pivot bolts for proper seating and confirm no contact between the LCA and any harness, brake hose, or air line.
Listen for clunks or knocks over bumps and during low-speed turns — any noise indicates an under-torqued fastener or mis-seated ball joint.
Schedule and perform a 4-wheel alignment immediately. Replacing an LCA changes camber and caster, and Model X is sensitive to alignment for tire wear and steering feel.
While the vehicle is on the alignment rack, this is a good opportunity to check brake fluid age (Tesla recommends replacement every 2 years) and tire rotation interval (every 6,250 mi).
Re-check control arm pivot bolt torque after the first 100–500 miles is good practice on aluminum suspension components.