Time to replace upper-control arm ball joints

[MentalNomad]

I have an August 2018 build. Passenger side front developed the creak; it only creaked when going over bumps while the wheel was turned right or if it's straight after having turned right. Turning left, it was silent, and after turning left, it would remain silent until another right turn was made.

It was at about 20k miles and I'd never done a tire rotation, so I asked for a rotation and diagnosis/repair of the creak.

Appointment was made to check it and do a rotation, shop ordered control arms for both sides ahead of time. The estimate:

Work was done last week; I dropped off the car Sunday night for a 10am Monday appointment; was told the car work was complete at about 2:45 pm on Monday, but that it was charging and to come for it any time.

It was not noted as a recall item, but they replaced both sides and I was only charged for the tire rotation. Invoice:

I don't know what part number / revision was in the car before the work, but you can see what part numbers were ordered at the end of July 2020 and installed Aug 2020.

Also... another flawless service experience, unless someone want to bitch about the time I waited for an appointment (booked next avail on July 20, service date August 10.) I had no problem with it, since it was not a serious problem.

 

[MentalNomad]

Was asked in PM - the noise I had was similar to what you see/hear near the beginning of this video:

In my case, it was the right wheel, not the left, and you wouldn't hear the creak while turning the wheel or driving in a turn on level ground - but you'd hear the same creak clearly on every little bump and hill, even if going straight, as long as the wheel had previously been turned right. (If it had previously been turned left, you'd hear no creaking, even while going straight, until the wheel is turned right again.)

In fact, after turning right, you'd even hear a little creak every time you accelerated from or came to a stop - that little bit of dip or rise could cause the creak.

 

[suwaneedad]

Paid $478 for one side (Tesla covered the other side out of embarrassment)

Good to know thank you. I am headed in tomorrow. March 2018 build. No issues for 55k miles. In the past week they went from no issue to waking the dead anytime the vehicle moves at all (both sides). I am exceptionally disappointed that Tesla will not honor what's clearly a fleetwide part failure issue for the early-adopter Model 3s. Should make for an interesting conversation at the service center tomorrow.

 

[gaswalla]

Good luck tomorrow- pretty awful how they all seem to need replacement just after warranty expires.

 

[mattack4000]

I hate how they charge that diag fee of $195!

 

[mattack4000]

Mine was built in March 2020, I have revision g

 

[android04]

Good luck tomorrow- pretty awful how they all seem to need replacement just after warranty expires.

Most of the failures I've read about on two forums and on two Facebook groups are within the warranty period. Only a small amount have been out of warranty.

 

[PNWLeccy]

Mine was built in March 2020, I have revision g

What's the best way to check your part # on the car? I have a 6/18 and am interested to see which part revision I have

 

[G26okie]

What's the best way to check your part # on the car? I have a 6/18 and am interested to see which part revision I have

The sticker is on the top side on the end, get your phone up there

 

[mattack4000]

What's the best way to check your part # on the car? I have a 6/18 and am interested to see which part revision I have

it wAs off the cAr

 

[JT_M3P]

^are you saying the fuca on 3/20 build date failed?

 

[mattack4000]

nope, i just happened to have the control arm in the garage and wanted to show the picture

 

[argon2018]

I have an August 2018 build. Passenger side front developed the creak; it only creaked when going over bumps while the wheel was turned right or if it's straight after having turned right. Turning left, it was silent, and after turning left, it would remain silent until another right turn was made.

It was at about 20k miles and I'd never done a tire rotation, so I asked for a rotation and diagnosis/repair of the creak.

Appointment was made to check it and do a rotation, shop ordered control arms for both sides ahead of time. The estimate:

View attachment 576683

Work was done last week; I dropped off the car Sunday night for a 10am Monday appointment; was told the car work was complete at about 2:45 pm on Monday, but that it was charging and to come for it any time.

It was not noted as a recall item, but they replaced both sides and I was only charged for the tire rotation. Invoice:

View attachment 576680

I don't know what part number / revision was in the car before the work, but you can see what part numbers were ordered at the end of July 2020 and installed Aug 2020.

Also... another flawless service experience, unless someone want to bitch about the time I waited for an appointment (booked next avail on July 20, service date August 10.) I had no problem with it, since it was not a serious problem.

I don’t understand why they charged you any fees for this? Shouldn’t this fall under warranty? I have 14k miles on the car and it appears to come from front suspension going slow on a straight line or bumpers, not so much from turning the wheel..

I had the upper control arm before but they oiled it up so it’s fine now..

 

[argon2018]

Tesla is great until
Your car runs into problems like this and the service center is a disaster to get an appointment and no more loaners in LA

 

[akidesir]

Got my two upper control arms replaced this morning. May 2018 LR RWD. Received the rework/remanufactured control arms.

here’s my driver side view from the top, after removing the frunk tub and rubber covering. Can clearly scene the part sticker is over a old one.

Also no alignment provided, looks like they marked the ring of the original bolts with a sharpie and then realigned the bolt afterwards when they installed the new.

 

[Dolemite]

Got my two upper control arms replaced this morning. May 2018 LR RWD. Received the rework/remanufactured control arms.

here’s my driver side view from the top, after removing the frunk tub and rubber covering. Can clearly scene the part sticker is over a old one.

Also no alignment provided, looks like they marked the ring of the original bolts with a sharpie and then realigned the bolt afterwards when they installed the new.

No expense spared

 

[CertLive]

There goes you fuel savings....

 

[mattack4000]

I am guessing the newer arms have different bushings?

 

[akidesir]

I am guessing the newer arms have different bushings?

One would assume this, yes.

 

[android04]

I don’t understand why they charged you any fees for this? Shouldn’t this fall under warranty? I have 14k miles on the car and it appears to come from front suspension going slow on a straight line or bumpers, not so much from turning the wheel..

I had the upper control arm before but they oiled it up so it’s fine now..

They only charged him $39 for the tire rotation and everything else was covered. The 1st document is the estimate if it were not covered by warranty, and could include a "diagnostic fee". The 2nd document is what it turned out to be, and everything covered by warranty was free and any "diagnostic fee" was waived.