suspension
Sway Bar Bushing - Rear
for 2024 Tesla Model X Long Range Dual Motor AWD · AWD
Difficulty
Moderate
Time
30 min
Tools
8
Steps
11
Replace the rear sway bar (anti-roll bar) bushings on a 2024 Model X Long Range. The bushings are retained by two brackets clamping the bar to the rear subframe; this is a straightforward suspension job but requires safe lifting of an air-suspension-equipped vehicle.
Warnings
⚠️Model X has a floor-mounted HV battery pack. Never lift the vehicle on the battery case or on any point not designated by Tesla — use only the factory pinch-weld lift pads.
⚠️Do not touch, pinch, or pry against any orange high-voltage cabling routed along the underbody. If you encounter damaged orange insulation, STOP.
⚠Air suspension: before lifting, place the vehicle in Jack Mode via the touchscreen (Controls > Service > Jack Mode) to prevent the system from trying to self-level while raised.
⚠Falcon doors: keep them closed during this job. Do not press the rear door release while the vehicle is raised — unexpected falcon door movement can shift balance and damage adjacent shop equipment.
⚠Aluminum/composite underbody panels — do not strike with a hammer. Remove fasteners cleanly; replace any damaged plastic clips.
ℹ️Sway bar bushings should be replaced as a pair (left and right) to maintain balanced roll stiffness.
Tools required
Mid-rise or two-post lift (or floor jack with rated jack stands)Essential
Metric socket set (with deep sockets)Essential
Torque wrench (covering ~20–80 Nm range)Essential
Hex/Allen key set (for sway bar end link shafts if disturbed)
Pry bar
Silicone-safe rubber lubricant (for new bushing install)
Wheel chocksEssential
Jack pad pucks rated for Tesla lift pointsEssential
Parts
- Rear sway bar bushing (manufacturer-specified, sized to the installed bar diameter) × 2 — OEM Tesla rear stabilizer bar bushing — verify by VIN
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). Follow the access panel removal procedure for the frunk 12V tray.
- 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 disconnecting 12V, enable Jack Mode on the touchscreen so the air suspension does not attempt to adjust ride height while raised.
- Chock the front wheels.
- Raise the rear of the vehicle on factory-designated lift points and support securely on rated jack stands or a lift.
- Inspect the work area for routing of orange HV cables, coolant lines, and wiring harnesses before beginning.
Procedure
- 1Remove rear underbody aero shieldingRemove the rear underbody aero panel(s) covering the rear subframe area to gain access to the sway bar bushing brackets. Note locations of plastic push clips and Torx fasteners; bag hardware to keep it organized. Inspect panels for damage and order replacement clips if any are broken.⚠Do not pry against HV battery enclosure or coolant lines. Composite panels are brittle in cold weather.
- 2Locate and inspect the rear sway barIdentify the rear stabilizer bar mounted transversely across the rear subframe. The bushings are clamped by two brackets, one on each side of the subframe. Inspect end links, bushings, and the bar itself for damage, cracking, or oil contamination. Note the orientation and clocking of the bar before any disassembly — mark with paint pen if helpful.
- 3Support the sway barPlace a transmission jack or sturdy support under the center of the sway bar so it cannot drop once the brackets are released. The bar is heavy enough to bind end-link threads if it falls.
- 4(Optional) Disconnect sway bar end links if needed for clearanceIf bushing bracket access requires it, disconnect the sway bar end-link nuts at the bar. Hold the link shaft with an Allen key on the integrated hex while loosening the nut to prevent the ball stud from spinning. In many cases the brackets can be removed without disturbing the end links — skip this step if not required.ℹ️If end-link boots are torn or the studs spin freely, replace the end links while you have access.Torque specSway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
- 5Remove sway bar bracket boltsUnbolt the two bushing brackets from the rear subframe. Support the bar's weight as the second bracket is freed. Set bolts aside; inspect threads — replace any bolts with damaged threads or stretched shanks per OEM specification.Torque specSway Bar Bracket Bolts47 Nm (35 lb-ft)
- 6Slide off old bushingsWith the brackets removed, slide the old bushings off the bar (or open them at their split if they are split-design). Note bushing orientation — many have a slot that must face a specific direction (typically toward the front or rear of the vehicle, matching the bracket profile). Mark the orientation before removal.
- 7Clean bar and bracketsClean the bushing seating area on the sway bar and the inside of the brackets with a shop towel. Do not use harsh solvents on rubber-contact surfaces. Inspect the bar for wear grooves where the old bushings rode — light polish marks are normal; deep grooves indicate the bar should be evaluated for replacement.
- 8Install new bushingsApply a thin film of silicone-safe rubber lubricant (never petroleum grease on rubber bushings) to the bar contact surface of each new bushing. Install the bushings in the same orientation as the originals, with any locating slot/tab indexed correctly. If the bushings are split-style, ensure the split faces the direction specified by the manufacturer.
- 9Reinstall bushing bracketsPosition the brackets over the new bushings and start both bolts on each bracket by hand to avoid cross-threading. Snug both brackets evenly before final torque so the bushings seat squarely.Torque specSway Bar Bracket Bolts47 Nm (35 lb-ft)
- 10Final torque on bracket boltsTorque the sway bar bracket bolts to 47 Nm (35 lb-ft) in a cross pattern across the two brackets to evenly load the bushings.Torque specSway Bar Bracket Bolts47 Nm (35 lb-ft)
- 11Reconnect end links (if disconnected)If end links were disconnected in Step 4, reinstall the nuts. Hold the link shaft with an Allen key on its integrated hex and torque the nuts to 55 Nm (41 lb-ft).Torque specSway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
Reassembly
- Reinstall rear underbody aero panels with new clips wherever old ones were damaged. Torque any threaded fasteners to OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual.
- Remove the sway bar support jack.
- Lower the vehicle to the ground.
- Reconnect the 12V battery in the frunk and reinstall its access cover.
- Power the vehicle on. Exit Jack Mode (the touchscreen will typically prompt to disable it once motion is detected, but verify manually under Controls > Service).
- Allow the air suspension to self-level to its normal ride height before driving.
Verification
- With the vehicle at normal ride height on level ground, visually confirm both bushing brackets are flush to the subframe with no gap and no bushing extrusion past the bracket edges.
- Bounce-test each rear corner; listen for clunks. A correctly bushed sway bar produces no clunking on suspension articulation.
- Test drive over a known bumpy surface and through a gentle slalom — body roll should feel symmetric left-to-right, with no creak or knock from the rear.
- Recheck bracket bolts for proper torque after the first 100 miles — bushings can compress and slightly loosen the clamp load during initial seating.
- Note: Tesla does not publish a sway bar bushing replacement interval, but while the vehicle is on the lift, take advantage of access to inspect related items on Tesla's actual (not marketing) service intervals — brake fluid (every 2 years), cabin air filter (every 2 years; 3 years for HEPA-equipped X), rear drive unit gear oil (Tesla now recommends inspection/service rather than 'lifetime'), and tire rotation (every 6,250 mi).