Wheel Bearing Hub - Rear

Replace the rear wheel bearing hub assembly on a 2012 Tesla Roadster. Note that the Roadster uses Lotus Elise-derived rear suspension components, so many parts and procedures follow Lotus service practice rather than typical Tesla service info.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear wheel bearing hub assembly (Lotus Elise-pattern, Roadster-specific application) × 1 — Manufacturer-specified rear hub assembly — verify fitment via Tesla Roadster parts catalog
• Axle / hub nut (single-use if specified by manufacturer) × 1 — OEM replacement axle nut

Preparation

1. Park on level ground, place transmission in 1st gear (manual) or 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. On the 2012 Roadster, the 12V auxiliary battery is located in the front trunk area — refer to the owner documentation for exact location and disconnect procedure.
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 the rear wheel lug nuts while the vehicle is still on the ground.
7. Loosen (do not remove) the axle nut on the affected side while the wheel is on the ground — this nut is torqued to 200 Nm and is easier to break loose with the wheel weighted.
8. Raise the rear of the vehicle using the manufacturer-specified jacking points (Roadster has specific reinforced jack pads — do NOT lift on the aluminum chassis tub) and support on jack stands.
9. Remove the rear wheel.

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove brake caliper
   Unbolt the rear brake caliper bracket from the upright. Support the caliper with a wire or zip tie to the suspension — do NOT let it hang by the brake hose. Inspect the brake hose and pads while access is open.
2. 2

   Remove brake rotor
   Slide the rear brake rotor off the hub. If corroded in place, apply penetrating oil and tap gently around the hat with a soft-faced mallet. Do not strike the upright.
3. 3

   Disconnect ABS sensor
   Locate the rear ABS wheel speed sensor on the upright/hub. Remove the retaining bolt and carefully withdraw the sensor. Set it aside where it will not be damaged. Unclip any harness retainers as needed.
   ⚠ABS sensor tips are fragile. Do not pry against the tone ring.
4. 4

   Remove axle nut
   Fully remove the axle/hub nut that was loosened during preparation. Discard if it is a single-use locking nut per OEM specification.
   Torque spec

   Axle Nut200 Nm (148 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Separate CV / driveshaft from hub
   Push the outer CV stub axle inward through the hub splines. If seized, use a manufacturer-specified hub puller. Support the outer CV joint — do not allow it to hang on the inner joint. If the inner CV is bolted to the differential flange, you may leave it attached and swing the shaft aside.
   ⚠Do not hammer the axle stub through — damage to threads or the CV joint will result. Use a puller if needed.
6. 6

   Remove wheel bearing hub assembly
   From the rear of the upright, remove the hub mounting bolts securing the bearing hub assembly to the upright. Support the hub as the final bolt is removed. Withdraw the hub assembly from the upright.
   Torque spec

   Wheel Bearing Hub Bolts100 Nm (74 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Clean and inspect mating surfaces
   Thoroughly clean the upright bore and mating face. Inspect for cracks, corrosion, or elongation of bolt holes. Inspect the CV stub splines for wear. Replace any damaged hardware to OEM specification.
8. 8

   Install new wheel bearing hub assembly
   Position the new hub assembly to the upright. Apply medium-strength threadlocker to the hub bolts if specified by the manufacturer. Install bolts hand-tight, then torque in a star pattern to specification.
   Torque spec

   Wheel Bearing Hub Bolts100 Nm (74 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Reinstall CV stub axle
   Slide the outer CV stub through the new hub splines. Install a new axle nut (or the original if reuse is permitted) finger-tight at this stage; final torque is applied with the wheel on the ground.
10. 10

    Reinstall ABS sensor
    Clean the sensor tip and bore. Reinstall the ABS wheel speed sensor and torque the retaining bolt to specification. Reroute and clip the harness in its original path.
11. 11

    Reinstall brake rotor and caliper
    Place the brake rotor on the hub. Install the caliper/caliper bracket. Apply medium-strength threadlocker to the caliper bracket bolts and torque to specification. Verify the caliper moves freely and the pads sit correctly on the rotor.
12. 12

    Final axle nut torque
    Reinstall the wheel and lug nuts hand-tight. Lower the vehicle so the tire is loaded, then torque the axle nut to specification. Stake or peen the nut if the OEM design requires it.
    ⚠Under-torquing the axle nut can allow the bearing to fail catastrophically at speed. Verify with a calibrated torque wrench.
    Torque spec

    Axle Nut200 Nm (148 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Torque the wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern with the vehicle lowered.
2. Reconnect the 12V low-voltage battery.
3. Pump the brake pedal multiple times until firm before moving the vehicle — the caliper pistons may have retracted slightly.
4. Confirm the parking brake operates correctly (Roadster uses a cable-operated rear parking brake).

Verification

• With the vehicle safely supported, spin the rear wheel by hand — listen for grinding, roughness, or notchiness.
• Test drive at low speed and verify no humming, vibration, or ABS warning. The Roadster does not display modern Tesla-style alerts; watch the dash cluster for any ABS/traction warning lamp.
• After 80–160 km (50–100 mi), re-check the axle nut torque and lug nut torque.
• While the rear is apart, this is a good opportunity to verify the rear differential / gearbox oil condition. Tesla's modern guidance is that drive unit / gearbox oil is NOT lifetime — inspect and service per Tesla's current Roadster recommendations.
• If brake fluid was last changed more than 2 years ago, schedule a brake fluid flush — Tesla recommends every 2 years regardless of mileage.

Related trouble codes on this vehicle

Codes that commonly send this job to the bay — tap one for symptoms, causes, and diagnostic steps.

Chasing one of these codes and not sure which part is guilty? Ask a master mechanic about YOUR car →

More procedures for this vehicle