Replacement of a front lower control arm on a 2024 Tesla Model Y Performance AWD. The aluminum front suspension shares architecture with the Model 3; final torque on control arm bolts must be done at ride height to preserve bushing life.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front lower control arm assembly (Model Y, side-specific) × 1 — Manufacturer-specified Model Y front LCA — confirm left/right and Performance trim fitment
• Ball joint nut (single-use if specified by OEM) × 1 — OEM-spec self-locking nut — replace if removed
• Control arm pivot bolts/nuts (replace if specified single-use) × 1 — OEM-spec — refer to Tesla Service Manual

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. On 2024 Model Y, the 12V (Li-ion) is located under the rear passenger area / front trunk depending on build — refer to vehicle documentation; disconnect negative first.
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 vehicle in Jack Mode via the touchscreen (Service > Jack Mode) before lifting to disable self-leveling logic and active suspension calibration routines.
7. Chock the rear wheels.
8. Loosen front wheel lug nuts while tires are still on the ground.
9. Lift the front of the vehicle at the manufacturer-designated puck points and support on EV-rated jack stands.
10. Remove the front wheel on the side being serviced.
11. Inspect the new control arm against the old one for correct side and orientation before installation.

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove front underbody aero shield
   Remove the plastic fasteners and bolts securing the front aero/belly shield to access the lower control arm pivot bolts and ball joint. Set hardware aside in order.
2. 2

   Disconnect sway bar end link from the lower control arm
   Remove the sway bar link nut at the LCA. Hold the link's internal shaft with an Allen key to prevent it from spinning while loosening the nut. Swing the link out of the way.
   Torque spec

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

   Support the knuckle/hub assembly
   Place a jack with a wood block under the steering knuckle to support its weight. This prevents the CV axle and brake hose from being stressed when the ball joint is separated.
   ⚠Do not let the knuckle hang on the brake hose or CV joint — damage to the hose or axle boot will result.
4. 4

   Separate the ball joint from the knuckle
   Remove the ball joint pinch bolt or castellated nut (configuration per OEM). Use a ball joint separator to release the LCA ball joint stud from the knuckle. Avoid striking the aluminum knuckle directly.
   ⚠Aluminum knuckle — use a separator tool, not a pickle fork hammered with steel, to avoid cracking the casting.
5. 5

   Remove the LCA pivot bolts from the subframe
   Support the control arm. Remove the front and rear pivot bolts/nuts that secure the LCA to the front subframe. Note bolt orientation and any alignment cams or washers — reinstall in the same orientation.
   ℹ️Some Tesla pivot fasteners are torque-to-yield or single-use. Replace if specified by the Tesla Service Manual.
6. 6

   Remove the lower control arm
   Maneuver the LCA down and out of the subframe. Compare old and new arms side-by-side to confirm correct part, ball joint orientation, and bushing alignment.
7. 7

   Install the new lower control arm into the subframe
   Position the new LCA into the subframe pockets. Hand-thread the pivot bolts/nuts in their original orientation. Do NOT final-torque yet — leave snug only.
8. 8

   Reattach the ball joint to the knuckle
   Insert the ball joint stud into the knuckle. Install the pinch bolt or castellated nut per OEM configuration and torque the ball joint nut to spec.
   Torque spec

   Ball Joint Nut88 Nm (65 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Reconnect the sway bar end link
   Reinstall the sway bar link to the LCA. Hold the link's shaft with an Allen key while torquing the nut to spec.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Reinstall aero shield and wheel
    Reinstall the front belly/aero shield with all original fasteners. Mount the front wheel and hand-tighten the lug nuts.
11. 11

    Lower vehicle to ride height and final-torque pivot bolts
    Lower the vehicle so full curb weight rests on the wheels (use drive-on ramps or alignment blocks if needed for tool access). With the suspension at ride height, final-torque the LCA pivot bolts to the verified spec. This is critical — torquing at droop will damage the bushings.
    ⚠Final torque MUST be applied with the vehicle's weight on the wheels.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
12. 12

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

    Wheel Lug Nuts136 Nm (100 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Confirm all fasteners are torqued (ball joint, sway bar link, LCA pivots at ride height, lug nuts).
2. Reconnect the 12V low-voltage battery (negative last).
3. Exit Jack Mode via the touchscreen once the vehicle is on the ground.
4. Cycle the steering lock-to-lock with the vehicle off, then with the vehicle on, to allow the EPS to recalibrate end stops.
5. Drive the vehicle directly to an alignment rack — do not put significant miles on it before alignment.

Verification

• Perform a four-wheel alignment. Front camber, caster, and toe must be reset to Tesla Model Y Performance specifications — the Performance trim has unique specs vs. Long Range.
• Check the touchscreen for any suspension, ABS, or stability control faults. Clear any DTCs that resulted from disconnecting the 12V if they don't self-clear.
• Test drive: verify no clunking over bumps, no pull, and centered steering wheel. A clunk on first drive often indicates a pivot bolt that was torqued at full droop — recheck if present.
• Re-inspect ball joint and pivot torque after the first 100 miles as a safety check on a critical suspension fastener.
• Note: while the vehicle is up, this is a good opportunity to inspect tire wear (Model Y wears tires aggressively — Tesla recommends rotation every 6,250 mi) and check brake fluid age (Tesla recommends replacement every 2 years).

More procedures for this vehicle