Replacement of the front strut upper bearing (mount) on a 2024 Model Y Long Range AWD. Requires strut removal and disassembly with a spring compressor — the strut bearing is integrated with the upper mount assembly.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front strut upper bearing / mount assembly × 1 — Manufacturer-specified Model Y front strut upper mount with integrated bearing
• Strut upper dust boot / bump stop kit (recommended replacement during disassembly) × 1 — OEM-equivalent for Model Y front strut
• Strut shaft top nut (single-use if specified by OEM) × 1 — OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park on level ground, place in P, and 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. Disconnect the 12V low-voltage battery (located behind/under the rear seat area on Model Y). Follow Tesla's documented LV disconnect sequence.
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 Model Y in Jack Mode via the touchscreen (Controls > Service > Jack Mode) before raising — this disables auto-leveling on coil cars but also prevents drivetrain wake events.
7. Loosen front wheel lug nuts while the vehicle is on the ground.
8. Raise the front of the vehicle at the manufacturer-specified front lift points using puck adapters, and support on jack stands.
9. Remove the front wheel on the side being serviced.
10. Open the frunk and remove the frunk liner / cowl trim as needed to access the upper strut tower nuts.

Procedure

1. 1

   Mark camber alignment position
   Using a paint pen, mark the position of both strut-to-knuckle bolts relative to the knuckle and the strut bracket. These bolts are the camber adjusters; preserving their position avoids forcing a full alignment, though an alignment check is still recommended after the job.
2. 2

   Disconnect sway bar end link from strut
   Locate the sway bar end link attachment on the strut. Hold the link's internal shaft with an Allen/hex key and remove the nut. Swing the link clear of the strut.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link61 Nm (45 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Disconnect ABS / wheel speed sensor wiring and brake hose bracket
   Release any wiring harness clips and the brake hose bracket from the strut body so the strut can be removed without straining flexible lines. Do not disconnect the hydraulic brake line itself.
   ⚠Do not let the caliper hang by the flex hose — support it with a hook or strap if it becomes loose.
4. 4

   Remove strut-to-knuckle bolts
   Support the lower control arm with a jack to relieve spring preload on the knuckle. Remove the two strut-to-knuckle through-bolts. Note that the bolts/nuts may be single-use — refer to OEM specification.
   ⚠Once the strut-to-knuckle bolts are removed, the knuckle will swing outward under the weight of the hub and brake. Control its movement to avoid stretching the brake hose or CV axle.
   Torque spec

   Strut-to-Knuckle Bolts122 Nm (90 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Remove upper strut tower nuts and lower the strut assembly
   From inside the frunk area, supporting the strut from below, remove the upper strut tower nuts. Carefully lower the complete strut/spring/mount assembly out from the wheel well.
   ⚠Have a helper or a transmission jack support the strut before removing the final tower nut — the assembly is heavy and will fall.
   Torque spec

   Strut Tower Nuts50 Nm (37 lb-ft)
6. 6

   Compress the coil spring
   Mount the strut securely (do not clamp the strut tube directly — use a strut vise fixture). Install an external coil spring compressor on opposing coils per the tool manufacturer's instructions. Compress the spring evenly until tension is fully relieved from the upper mount.
   ⚠️Verify the compressor is fully seated on the coils before tensioning. A slipped compressor under load will launch the spring with lethal force.
7. 7

   Remove the strut shaft top nut and disassemble the strut
   Hold the strut shaft (typically with locking pliers on the flat or a hex feature on the shaft tip — refer to OEM specification) and remove the top center nut. Lift off the upper mount/bearing assembly, upper spring seat, dust boot, and bump stop. Inspect each component.
   ⚠Do not loosen the spring compressor before the top nut is fully removed and the upper mount is free.
8. 8

   Install the new strut bearing / upper mount
   Transfer the compressed spring (still compressed) onto the strut, ensuring the lower spring seat indexing tab/notch aligns with the spring end. Install the dust boot, bump stop, upper spring seat, and the new upper mount with integrated bearing. Verify orientation marks on the upper mount face the correct direction (typically toward the front of the vehicle — refer to OEM specification).
9. 9

   Torque the strut shaft top nut
   Hold the strut shaft and tighten the new top nut to OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual. With the top nut torqued, slowly and evenly release the spring compressor, ensuring the spring seats fully into both upper and lower seats.
10. 10

    Reinstall the strut assembly into the vehicle
    Raise the strut into the strut tower and start the upper tower nuts by hand. Align the strut bracket with the knuckle, install the strut-to-knuckle bolts, and align them to the marks made earlier. Torque the upper tower nuts and the strut-to-knuckle bolts.
    Torque spec

    Strut Tower Nuts50 Nm (37 lb-ft)

    Strut-to-Knuckle Bolts122 Nm (90 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Reconnect sway bar end link, ABS harness, and brake hose bracket
    Reattach the sway bar end link to the strut, holding the shaft with an Allen key. Reseat the ABS/wheel speed sensor harness clips and the brake hose bracket into their retainers on the strut.
    Torque spec

    Sway Bar Link61 Nm (45 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Reinstall wheel and lower vehicle
    Mount the wheel and snug the lug nuts. Lower the vehicle until the tires bear full weight before final torque.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts136 Nm (100 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. With the vehicle's full weight on the wheels, final-torque the wheel lug nuts in a star pattern to specification.
2. Reinstall the frunk liner / cowl trim removed for upper strut access.
3. Reconnect the 12V low-voltage battery.
4. Exit Jack Mode on the touchscreen and allow the vehicle to wake fully.
5. If the procedure included disturbing any rubber-bushed control arm hardware, ensure those fasteners are torqued at ride height — refer to OEM specification.

Verification

• Turn the steering wheel lock-to-lock with the vehicle stationary and listen for any popping, clicking, or binding from the strut tower — a properly seated bearing should rotate silently.
• Check that the front ride height matches side-to-side within Tesla's specification.
• Test drive at low speed over varied surfaces and listen for clunks from the upper strut area.
• Confirm no ABS, traction control, or steering fault messages appear on the touchscreen after the test drive.
• Have a 4-wheel alignment performed — Model Y front camber is set by the strut-to-knuckle bolts, and any disturbance there should be verified with measurement.
• Inspect for any leaks, loose fasteners, or harness chafing at the strut after the test drive.
• Note unrelated Tesla service intervals while the vehicle is in the air: rotate tires every 6,250 mi, inspect brake fluid (replace every 2 years), and check cabin air filter age (replace every 2 years).

More procedures for this vehicle