Replacement of the front strut upper mount (top hat) assembly on a 2024 Model Y Long Range AWD. This requires removing the complete strut assembly from the vehicle and compressing the coil spring to safely access the upper mount.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front strut upper mount assembly (top hat with bearing) × 1 — OEM Tesla Model Y front strut mount — replace in pairs recommended
• Strut tower nuts × 3 — OEM-spec self-locking nuts (replace if removed)

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 under the front trunk/frunk liner area on 2024 Model Y — refer to service manual for exact access).
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 vehicle in Jack/Transport Mode via the touchscreen BEFORE disconnecting the 12V battery (Service > Jack Mode) to prevent the air-... — note: Model Y is coil-sprung, but Jack Mode still disables driveline self-leveling logic and is recommended.
7. Loosen front wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on the ground.
8. Raise the front of the vehicle at the manufacturer-specified jack pads (puck adapters required to protect the battery pack edge) and support on jack stands.
9. Mark the strut-to-knuckle bolt position and any camber adjustment points with a paint marker for reassembly reference.

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove front wheel
   Remove the lug nuts and pull the wheel. Set aside on its face to protect the finish.
2. 2

   Disconnect sway bar end link from strut
   Locate the sway bar end link mounting point on the strut body. Hold the link's internal shaft with an Allen key and remove the nut. Swing the link clear of the strut.
   ⚠If the ball stud spins, do not use an impact gun aggressively — the boot can tear. Hold the hex with an Allen key as designed.
3. 3

   Disconnect any wiring/brake line clips on the strut
   Detach the ABS/wheel speed sensor harness clip and any brake line retainer clipped to the strut body. Do NOT disconnect the brake hose itself — leave the hydraulic system sealed.
4. 4

   Mark and remove strut-to-knuckle bolts
   Paint-mark the strut-to-knuckle interface for camber alignment reference. Support the lower control arm/knuckle with a jack. Remove the two strut-to-knuckle through bolts. Tap them out with a brass drift if needed — do not pry on aluminum surfaces.
   ⚠Once these bolts are out, the knuckle will swing outward under the weight of the brake/hub assembly. Support it to avoid stressing the brake hose or CV axle.
   Torque spec

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

   Support strut and remove upper strut tower nuts
   From inside the front trunk (frunk), remove the manufacturer-specified access cover/cowl panels to reveal the strut tower. Have an assistant support the strut from below. Remove the three upper strut tower nuts (do NOT remove the center shaft nut yet — the spring is still loaded).
   ⚠️DO NOT remove the center strut rod nut while the spring is installed and uncompressed. The spring is under load and can launch the upper mount.
   Torque spec

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

   Remove strut assembly from vehicle
   Lower the strut down and out through the wheel well. Move it to a workbench for disassembly.
7. 7

   Compress coil spring
   Mount the strut in a proper coil spring compressor (wall-mount or equivalent rated unit). Compress the spring evenly until all tension is removed from the upper mount and the spring can be wiggled freely.
   ⚠️Use only a properly rated compressor. Hardware-store clamshell-style compressors have killed people on Tesla-weight springs. If you are not equipped, take the strut to a shop for this step.
8. 8

   Remove center strut rod nut and old upper mount
   With the spring fully compressed, hold the strut shaft (typically with a hex socket on the shaft tip) and remove the center nut. Lift off the old upper mount assembly. Note the orientation of the spring isolator and any indexing marks.
9. 9

   Install new upper mount
   Transfer any reusable components (dust boot, bump stop, spring isolator) per their original orientation. Install the new upper mount assembly onto the strut shaft. Install the center nut and torque to OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual.
   ⚠Verify the upper mount stud pattern is clocked correctly relative to the lower strut bracket so it will index into the strut tower without forcing.
10. 10

    Decompress spring and verify seating
    Slowly and evenly release the spring compressor. Confirm the spring ends are seated in their isolator pockets at both top and bottom before fully releasing tension.

Reassembly

1. Lift the strut assembly back into position, guiding the upper studs through the strut tower holes.
2. Install the three upper strut tower nuts hand-tight, then torque to spec.
3. Align the lower strut bracket to the knuckle using your paint reference marks. Install the strut-to-knuckle bolts and torque to spec.
4. Reattach the sway bar end link to the strut, holding the shaft with an Allen key while torquing the nut.
5. Reattach the ABS sensor harness clip and any brake line retainers to the strut body.
6. Reinstall the frunk cowl/access panels.
7. Reinstall the wheel and snug the lug nuts.
8. Lower the vehicle to the ground.
9. With full vehicle weight on the wheels, perform final torque on any control arm pivot bolts that were disturbed (torque-with-load specification).
10. Final-torque the wheel lug nuts in a star pattern.
11. Reconnect the 12V battery.
12. Exit Jack Mode if it was engaged.

Verification

• Confirm no creaking, clunking, or popping over bumps during a slow test drive — a misseated spring or upper bearing will be audible immediately.
• Steering wheel should return to center smoothly; binding indicates the upper bearing is not seated properly.
• Inspect the strut tower area for any contact between the spring/mount and surrounding sheet metal.
• REQUIRED: Take the vehicle for a four-wheel alignment. Model Y is sensitive to camber/toe and uneven settings will accelerate the already-aggressive front tire wear.
• After alignment, recheck strut-to-knuckle bolt torque if camber was adjusted at that joint.
• Reminder: While suspension is off, this is a good time to verify tire rotation interval (Tesla recommends every 6,250 mi on Model Y due to high tire wear) and inspect inner edge wear on both front tires.

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