Replacement of a front lower control arm on a 2024 Model X Plaid. The Model X uses a multi-link aluminum front suspension with standard air suspension; care must be taken with aluminum components and air suspension calibration after the job.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front lower control arm assembly (LH or RH as required) × 1 — Manufacturer-specified Model X front lower control arm
• Ball joint nut (single-use if specified by OEM) × 1 — OEM specification
• Control arm pivot bolts (replace if specified by OEM) × 2 — OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park on level ground, place in P, engage 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 12V low-voltage battery (frunk-mounted, similar to Model S). Insulate the negative terminal so it cannot contact the post.
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, enter Jack Mode on the touchscreen (Controls > Service > Jack Mode) to disable air suspension self-leveling. Once 12V is disconnected the system will hold its current state.
7. Chock the rear wheels.
8. Loosen the front wheel lug nuts while the vehicle is on the ground.
9. Lift the vehicle only at Tesla-approved jacking points using puck adapters to avoid damage to the battery enclosure and rocker panels. Support on jack stands rated for the vehicle's weight (Model X Plaid is approximately 5400 lb).
10. Remove the front wheel on the affected side.

Procedure

1. 1

   Inspect and photograph
   Photograph the existing control arm orientation, bushing alignment, and all fastener positions before disassembly. Note any shims or alignment marks. Inspect adjacent components (ball joint boot, sway bar end link, strut, knuckle) for additional damage.
2. 2

   Disconnect sway bar end link (if it interferes)
   If the sway bar end link blocks control arm removal, separate it at the lower mount. Hold the stud with an Allen key while loosening the nut to prevent the ball stud from spinning.
   Torque spec

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

   Support the knuckle
   Place a jack stand or transmission jack under the steering knuckle/hub assembly to support it once the ball joint is released. The knuckle is heavy and will fall when the ball joint is freed, potentially damaging the half-shaft, brake hose, or wheel speed sensor wiring.
   ⚠Do not allow the knuckle to hang on the brake hose or ABS sensor harness.
4. 4

   Separate the lower ball joint
   Remove the ball joint nut securing the lower control arm to the steering knuckle. Use a press-style ball joint separator to release the taper. Avoid pickle forks if the ball joint boot is to be reused — they will tear the boot. Once free, swing the knuckle outward carefully.
   ⚠Do not hammer the aluminum knuckle to free the taper. Use a separator tool only.
   Torque spec

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

   Remove the inboard control arm pivot bolts
   Mark the position of any cam/eccentric bolts (if present on this design) before removal so initial alignment can be approximated on reassembly. Remove the inboard control arm bolts at the subframe. Support the arm — it is heavy.
   Torque spec

   Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
6. 6

   Remove the control arm
   Lower and withdraw the lower control arm from the vehicle. Inspect the subframe mounting points and bushing pockets for any cracking, corrosion, or elongation before installing the replacement.
7. 7

   Compare new arm to old
   Lay the new control arm next to the old one and verify ball joint orientation, bushing type, and overall geometry match. Confirm left/right handedness — Model X front lower arms are side-specific.
8. 8

   Install the new control arm — inboard first
   Position the new control arm into the subframe and install the pivot bolts hand-tight. If cam bolts are used, align to the marks made during removal. Do NOT final-torque yet — bushings must be torqued at ride height.
9. 9

   Reconnect the ball joint to the knuckle
   Raise the knuckle back into position and seat the ball joint stud into the knuckle taper. Install the ball joint nut and torque to spec. Use a new nut if the OEM specifies single-use.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut88 Nm (65 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Reconnect sway bar end link
    If disconnected, reattach the sway bar end link. Hold the ball stud with an Allen key while torquing the nut to prevent stud rotation.
    Torque spec

    Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Reinstall the wheel
    Mount the wheel and snug the lug nuts in a star pattern. Final torque will be applied after the vehicle is on the ground.
12. 12

    Lower vehicle to ride height and final-torque pivot bolts
    Lower the vehicle so the suspension is loaded at normal ride height (use drive-on ramps or set the wheels on the ground with weight on them). Now final-torque the inboard control arm pivot bolts to spec. This is critical to prevent bushing pre-load failure.
    ⚠Torquing these bolts in the air is the single most common cause of premature bushing failure on this platform.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Final wheel torque
    With the vehicle fully on the ground, torque the lug nuts in a star pattern to spec.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts136 Nm (100 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Reconnect the 12V battery in the frunk (negative last). Close the frunk.
2. Wake the vehicle and exit Jack Mode. Allow the air suspension to self-level — observe that all four corners equalize and no fault is logged.
3. Drive the vehicle slowly forward and backward in a straight line a few feet to settle the suspension geometry.
4. Schedule and perform a four-wheel alignment immediately. Do not return the vehicle to service without alignment.
5. Clear any chassis or suspension fault codes that may have set during the 12V disconnect/reconnect cycle.

Verification

• Confirm no air suspension fault is displayed on the touchscreen and that the vehicle holds ride height overnight.
• Visually verify the new control arm is seated correctly, ball joint boot is intact, and all fasteners are torqued to spec with paint marks applied.
• Test drive: confirm no clunks over bumps, no pull, and steering is centered. A pull or off-center steering wheel indicates the alignment has not yet been performed.
• Verify no ABS, traction control, or suspension warnings appear after a 10–15 minute drive cycle.
• Recheck pivot bolt torque after the first 100 miles — bushings can settle on aluminum subframes.
• Note: while the vehicle is in the air, this is also an opportune time to inspect cabin air filter age (Tesla recommends every 3 years for HEPA-equipped Model X) and brake fluid condition (Tesla recommends every 2 years regardless of mileage).

More procedures for this vehicle