Replacement of a rear trailing arm (fore link) bushing on a 2024 Model Y Performance AWD. The trailing arm connects the rear knuckle to the body and its bushing is a common wear item due to the vehicle's curb weight and instant torque.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Trailing arm bushing (rear suspension) × 1 — Manufacturer-specified Model Y rear trailing arm bushing
• Trailing arm-to-body mounting bolt (replace if single-use / TTY) × 1 — Refer to Tesla Service Manual — replace if specified as single-use

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, this is accessed under the front trunk (frunk) trim panel — refer to the in-vehicle service mode disconnect procedure 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. Enable Service Mode / Jack Mode via the touchscreen before disconnecting 12V — this disables the air-suspension-style ride compensation logic and Sentry Mode (note: this car has coil suspension, but Jack Mode still disables alarms and self-leveling logic).
7. Chock the front wheels.
8. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts while the vehicle is on the ground.
9. Raise the rear of the vehicle using only the manufacturer-designated lift points with proper puck adapters; support on jack stands rated for EV curb weight.
10. Remove the rear wheel on the affected side.

Procedure

1. 1

   Inspect and document
   Photograph the trailing arm, surrounding suspension links, and all fastener orientations before disassembly. Note the position of any alignment cams or eccentric washers — these MUST be returned to the same index for the rear alignment to remain in spec. Inspect the bushing visually and confirm it is the failed component before proceeding.
   ⚠If eccentric/cam bolts are present at the trailing arm body mount, mark their rotational position with paint before loosening.
2. 2

   Support the rear knuckle
   Place a transmission jack or floor jack with a wood block under the rear lower control arm/knuckle assembly to prevent it from dropping when the trailing arm is disconnected. Do not place the jack under the HV battery floor.
3. 3

   Disconnect interfering components
   If access requires it, detach the rear sway bar end link from the lower control arm by holding the link shaft with an Allen key and removing the nut. Set the link aside without stressing brake hoses, ABS wiring, or parking brake cabling. Do not disconnect any orange HV cabling routed along the floor.
   ⚠️Stay clear of any orange-jacketed cable. If a cable obstructs access, STOP.
   Torque spec

   Sway Bar Link Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Remove the trailing arm-to-knuckle fastener
   Remove the bolt securing the trailing arm to the rear knuckle. Support the knuckle so it does not fall outboard once free.
5. 5

   Remove the trailing arm-to-body fastener
   Remove the through-bolt securing the trailing arm bushing to the body bracket. If an eccentric/cam alignment bolt is present, retain the cam washers and note their orientation. The bolt may be long; ensure clearance for full extraction.
   ⚠This bolt carries the longitudinal load of the rear suspension and may be tight. Use a breaker bar; do not use an impact at full power on aluminum brackets.
6. 6

   Remove the trailing arm
   Maneuver the trailing arm out of the vehicle. Inspect the body-side bracket for damage, ovalization, or corrosion. Inspect the knuckle bore similarly.
7. 7

   Press out the old bushing
   Using a hydraulic press with appropriately sized adapters, press the old bushing out of the trailing arm. Support the arm squarely so the bore is not distorted. Clean the bore thoroughly and inspect for cracks — aluminum trailing arms can crack at the bushing eye if previously over-pressed.
   ⚠Do not heat aluminum components with an open flame. Heat alters the temper and weakens the part.
8. 8

   Press in the new bushing
   Lubricate the bushing's outer shell with the manufacturer-specified lubricant (typically a non-petroleum rubber-safe assembly lube — do NOT use grease on rubber-bonded bushings). Press the new bushing in squarely, observing any orientation arrow or void indexing on the bushing — incorrect indexing will change rear toe/camber compliance.
   ⚠Many rear suspension bushings have a directional void. Verify orientation against the OEM service diagram before pressing.
9. 9

   Reinstall the trailing arm to the vehicle
   Position the trailing arm into the body bracket and start the through-bolt by hand. Reattach the knuckle end and start that bolt by hand. Do not torque yet.
10. 10

    Reattach sway bar end link
    Reconnect the sway bar end link to the lower control arm, holding the link shaft with an Allen key, and torque the nut.
    Torque spec

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

    Snug fasteners — DO NOT final torque yet
    Snug all trailing arm fasteners enough to hold position but leave loose enough that the bushing can rotate to its neutral position once the suspension is loaded. Final torque happens at ride height.
    ⚠Torquing rubber-bonded bushings while the suspension hangs unloaded will pre-twist the rubber and destroy the new bushing within months.

Reassembly

1. Reinstall the rear wheel and hand-tighten the lug nuts.
2. Lower the vehicle to the ground so full curb weight is on the wheels.
3. Bounce the rear suspension to settle the bushings.
4. With the vehicle at ride height, final-torque the trailing arm-to-body bolt and the trailing arm-to-knuckle bolt to OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual for these specific fasteners (they are not in the verified torque list provided).
5. Final-torque the wheel lug nuts in a star pattern.
6. If eccentric alignment cams were disturbed, the vehicle MUST receive a four-wheel alignment before road use.
7. Reconnect the 12V low-voltage battery.
8. Allow the vehicle to wake fully; clear any chassis or stability-control faults from the touchscreen service menu.

Verification

• With the vehicle on the ground, visually confirm the new bushing is seated, undamaged, and not pre-twisted.
• Confirm all removed fasteners are accounted for and torqued — Mounting Bolts to 27 Nm where applicable, Sway Bar Link Nut to 55 Nm, Wheel Lug Nuts to 136 Nm.
• Test drive at low speed in a parking lot: listen for clunks over bumps and during gentle acceleration/braking — a clunk on torque reversal often indicates an under-torqued or misaligned trailing arm bolt.
• Test drive at highway speed: confirm no tracking pull, no rear-end wander, and no vibration.
• Recheck rear tire wear pattern after 500 miles. Note that Model Y Performance is known for accelerated rear tire wear — Tesla recommends rotation every 6,250 miles. Schedule the next rotation accordingly.
• If alignment cams were disturbed or if the vehicle pulls/dog-tracks, perform a four-wheel alignment before further use.
• Re-verify torque on the trailing arm fasteners after the first 100 miles.

More procedures for this vehicle