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2024 TESLA MODEL Y

Long Range Dual Motor AWDAWDAUTOMATICev
5 active safety recalls on this vehicle — view recalls
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suspension

Sway Bar - Front

for 2024 Tesla Model Y Long Range Dual Motor AWD · AWD
Difficulty
Moderate
Time
1.0 h
Tools
9
Steps
10

Replace or service the front sway bar (stabilizer bar) on a 2024 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD. The job requires removing both end links and bracket bolts, then maneuvering the bar out from under the front subframe.

Warnings

⚠️Do NOT touch, cut, or pierce any orange cable. The HV battery pack is floor-mounted directly beneath the vehicle — keep all jack points on the manufacturer-specified lift pads only.
Tesla Model Y uses an aluminum-intensive front structure. Do not strike suspension components with steel hammers; use a soft-faced mallet if persuasion is required.
The front subframe and battery tray sit very close to the sway bar. Do not pry against the HV battery enclosure or its cooling lines when maneuvering the bar.
ℹ️Sway bar link nuts are typically a torque-prevailing design; the inner shaft must be held with an Allen key while the nut is turned to avoid shaft spin and inaccurate torque.

Tools required

Vehicle lift or jack with 4x jack standsEssential
Tesla-approved jack pad pucks (to protect battery pack/pinch welds)Essential
Torque wrench (20-150 Nm range)Essential
Metric socket set (incl. deep sockets)Essential
Metric Allen/hex key set (for holding sway bar link shafts)Essential
Metric combination wrench setEssential
Breaker bar
Penetrating oil
Plastic trim removal tools (for any aero shielding clips)

Parts

  • Front sway bar (stabilizer bar) × 1 — OEM Tesla Model Y front stabilizer bar — confirm part by VIN
  • Sway bar bushings × 2 — OEM-spec polyurethane or rubber bushings sized to bar diameter
  • Sway bar end links (recommended replacement if removed) × 2 — OEM Tesla Model Y front stabilizer link
  • Aero shield retaining clips/fasteners (as needed) × 1 — OEM plastic push-pin clips

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. Disconnect the 12V low-voltage battery (located behind/under the rear seat area on Model Y). Follow the on-screen 'Power Off' procedure first if available.
  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. Loosen front wheel lug nuts while the vehicle is on the ground.
  7. Raise the front of the vehicle using the manufacturer-specified jack points (use Tesla-approved pucks to avoid damaging the battery pack or pinch welds). Support securely on jack stands.
  8. Remove both front wheels.
  9. Remove the front aero underbody panel/belly pan to access the sway bar, brackets, and end links. Retain all clips and fasteners.

Procedure

  1. 1
    Inspect and pre-treat fasteners
    Inspect the sway bar end links, bushings, and bracket bolts for corrosion or damage. Apply penetrating oil to all fasteners and let soak before attempting removal. Note the orientation of the sway bar (bend direction, bushing position) so it can be reinstalled correctly.
  2. 2
    Disconnect driver-side end link from sway bar
    Hold the end link's inner stud with the appropriate Allen/hex key to prevent it from spinning, then remove the upper nut securing the end link to the sway bar. Swing the link clear. If the link will be reused, inspect ball joints for play; replacement is recommended any time it is disturbed.
    Do not use an impact gun on the end link nut without holding the shaft — you will destroy the internal ball joint.
    Torque spec
    Sway Bar Link61 Nm (45 lb-ft)
  3. 3
    Disconnect passenger-side end link from sway bar
    Repeat the previous step on the passenger side. Allow the sway bar to hang free at the ends.
    Torque spec
    Sway Bar Link61 Nm (45 lb-ft)
  4. 4
    Support the sway bar
    Place a transmission jack or a helper's hand under the sway bar to support its weight before removing the brackets. The bar is heavier than it looks once unsupported.
  5. 5
    Remove sway bar bracket bolts
    Remove the bolts securing each sway bar bracket (one bracket per side) to the front subframe. Keep track of left/right brackets and any shims/spacers. Lower the brackets and bushings away from the bar.
    The bracket bolts thread into the subframe directly above the HV battery enclosure. Do not allow tools to drop onto the battery pack.
    Torque spec
    Sway Bar Bracket Bolts47 Nm (35 lb-ft)
  6. 6
    Maneuver the sway bar out
    Carefully rotate and slide the sway bar out from between the subframe, steering linkage, and HV battery pack. The bar typically exits to one side. Avoid scraping the battery enclosure or cooling lines.
    ⚠️Do not pry against, drop tools on, or scrape the orange-tagged HV battery enclosure underneath. Damage to the pack can cause thermal runaway.
  7. 7
    Inspect and transfer bushings
    Inspect the sway bar bushings for cracking, deformation, or oil contamination. Replace as needed. Transfer the bushings (or fit new ones) onto the new or cleaned sway bar in the same orientation/position as removed. Lightly lubricate with the bushing manufacturer's recommended silicone-based grease only — do NOT use petroleum grease on rubber bushings.
  8. 8
    Install sway bar into position
    Maneuver the sway bar back into the vehicle in the correct orientation. Position the bushings against the subframe mounting surfaces and start the bracket bolts by hand on both sides to ensure no cross-threading.
  9. 9
    Torque sway bar brackets
    With the bar centered and the bushings seated, torque both bracket bolts to specification.
    Torque spec
    Sway Bar Bracket Bolts47 Nm (35 lb-ft)
  10. 10
    Reconnect end links
    Reconnect both sway bar end links to the bar. Hold the link's inner shaft with an Allen/hex key while torquing the nut to specification. If the end links themselves were unbolted at the strut/control arm side during access, torque those fasteners to the sway bar link spec.
    Final torque on suspension fasteners that load bushings is best done with the suspension at ride height. If end-link bushings preload, lower the vehicle onto its wheels before final torque where possible.
    Torque spec
    Sway Bar Link61 Nm (45 lb-ft)

Reassembly

  1. Reinstall the front aero underbody panel using all original clips and fasteners — missing aero panels reduce range and can cause panel flutter at highway speed.
  2. Reinstall both front wheels and snug the lug nuts.
  3. Lower the vehicle to the ground.
  4. Torque the wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern.
  5. Reconnect the 12V low-voltage battery.
  6. Power the vehicle on and verify no warning messages appear on the touchscreen.

Verification

  • Confirm wheel lug nuts torqued to 136 Nm (100 lb-ft) in a star pattern.
  • Visually inspect that the sway bar is centered side-to-side, both bushings are seated in their brackets, and both end links are fully threaded with the correct nut torque.
  • Bounce-test the front of the vehicle and listen for any clunks, which would indicate loose end links or bracket bolts.
  • Test drive at low speed over uneven pavement and through a slow turn — listen for clunking, knocking, or rattling from the front end.
  • Confirm no suspension or chassis fault messages on the Tesla touchscreen after the drive.
  • Recommended: perform a front-end alignment check if any other suspension fasteners (control arm, strut) were disturbed during access. Tesla Model Y is highly alignment-sensitive; misalignment will rapidly accelerate the already-high tire wear (Tesla recommends tire rotation every ~6,250 mi on this platform).

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