Vol16
Member
This is insane....two cars in the forum with this issue, how many are out driving around with no nut?
Be aware! Missing Control Arm Nut: Potential Safety Issue
- Thread starter RoyalDoveMY
- Start date
rking0122
Member
So for someone like me who is not well versed in these parts of a car, can someone let us know the easiest way to check for this issue? I assume you don’t need a lift to do it? Can I simply turn the front wheels one way or the other and see this, or is it more involved? Tire need to come off?
Apologize in advance for the question...but my two-year-old and I thank you.
Apologize in advance for the question...but my two-year-old and I thank you.
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I don't understand why some are surprised by issues such as this one. Did people really expect that Tesla magically solved/improved their shoddy QA with the Model Y? What I find a bit surprising is that more parts didn't start falling off. I guess there's still time 
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Does anyone know the torques specs on these nuts? Am ordering a Y tomorrow. I will ask for these nuts be torque checked before pick up but it would be nice to know the specs so I could do the occasional check myself down the road (no pun intended). Not sure why they don't use cotter pins as a safety precaution.
mtndrew1
Active Member
This should be a recall, immediately. This is the kind of defect that results in serious crashes.
steve841
Active Member
Just poke your head under the front and look behind the wheel. It would be the bottom bolts attached to "A" arms (they look like an A .. not as obvious on the Y)
If you're not sure, compare to the other side, they should both have a nut attached to any large threaded screw like thing poking thru.
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Well actually they do. Here are a couple examples from a quick search.
2014 CHEVROLET Impala Recall NHTSA 14V409000
Chevrolet Recall 15V031000: Rear Suspension Ball Joint Link Separates
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2018/RCONL-18V324-3227.pdf
But by no means does that mean we should give Tesla a pass. This shouldn't happen on any car, of an cost. And I recall that Tesla had said that they had the torque of every bolt recorded in a database, and I thought they even said it took a picture of it.
I don't think immediately is necessary. Tesla needs to have some time to research the issue to see if they can determine the conditions and which vehicles are impacted first. (Some recalls include as few as 1 vehicle.)
1965Falcon
Supporting Member
My guess is the nut was never installed. Either a machine or operator fault, likely affecting cars that were being manufactured for a certain period on a line. They will figure out when and recall all cars in a certain period to have those nuts checked. If you don't know how to check them yourself, any automotive shop can quickly take a look and I'm sure wouldn't charge you. "Hi, can you see if my ball joints are actually bolted on"... yikes.
Look closely at the photo. There are little dimple marks in a nearly complete circle around the hole. Looks to me like the nut was installed but fell off. Wouldn't be the first time a lock nut did that, even properly torqued.
So I'm like you... But this is what I did...
I started by putting a light under the car right behind the front tire. I took my cell phone out and went selfie mode, put my phone under it and I could see it on the screen- but I took a picture so I can see both nuts. If you're worried its getting loose, if you can color one of the sides of the nut with a sharpie and take a picture... then take a picture later and see if the shaded side moved.
Not sure if that's perfect, but that's what I'm doing...
That said, My SN is mid 10ks and they looked fine. Tires look fine at 2k miles too.
1965Falcon
Supporting Member
I’ve seen old cars/trucks with components like this where if they cam loose could cause a serious crash were tightened and secured with a cotter pin so that they could never loosen and fall off accidentally.
Cotter pins and castle nuts are expensive tho. :shrug: either way you’d think a good QC department would save money in the long run.
Cotter pins and castle nuts are expensive tho. :shrug: either way you’d think a good QC department would save money in the long run.
Not the first time I have herd of a critical fastener not secured properly on units built in the tent or any of the MDL3 off line processes that are not interlocked to the assembly line.
NOT to excuse Tesla, but it seems that lots of car companies have issues--airbags w/ shrapnel, and so many other issues. When our RDX was very new, the electronic power steering went out all of sudden. Glad I was driving and not my wife who would have been scared to death. Took several trips to each of our two local dealers before someone finally found the loose wire. I called Acura and they were worthless--go back to the dealers who like I said took forever.
This is real.
My rear toe links on my Model 3 were not tightened properly and caused the car to feel squirrely on hard acceleration. They throw these things together, so you really need to "finish the assembly" when you get the car.
My rear toe links on my Model 3 were not tightened properly and caused the car to feel squirrely on hard acceleration. They throw these things together, so you really need to "finish the assembly" when you get the car.
thanks for this, My MY is in the shop now for typical body alignment issues, and I’ve called and told them to please check this too. We got it last Monday and it went back to shop on Wednesday and has been there ever since. It was pulling slightly on delivery day, and I didn’t give it any thought, but now I’m double checking this issue for sure. Thank you.
What kind of 2 bit operation is Elon running?
This is very serious.
Whilst recalls for things such as airbags are bad, they are for the unlikely event of a crash.
This will cause them!
This is very serious.
Whilst recalls for things such as airbags are bad, they are for the unlikely event of a crash.
This will cause them!
CyberGus
Not Just a Member
Looking at those pictures is interesting. Tesla has elected to use Nord Lock washers, which I've never seen an automaker use. They're an interesting lock washer design, but they're fussy and need to be torqued correctly or they will fail. Other auto makers use a castle nut and cotter pin, which is likely a cheaper solution than those expensive Nord washers.
You can see from the witness marks on the failed joints that the nuts were torqued, but never correctly/sufficiently. This is a serious manufacturing deficiency and there should be an immediate investigation and possible recall. Don't hold your breath though.
You can see from the witness marks on the failed joints that the nuts were torqued, but never correctly/sufficiently. This is a serious manufacturing deficiency and there should be an immediate investigation and possible recall. Don't hold your breath though.
Hawkstrike
Member
Thank you so much for sharing these photos and identifying this issue. We have taken delivery of two Model Y’s in the last 60 days, but I will certainly check for these nuts asap. While both of our Model Y’s have performed great, one of the two was missing fasteners on the inside wheel well (which this forum alerted me to look for).
I believe Tesla has done a great job developing this new breed of technology, but certainly needs to shore up quality control. This is a problem which can be solved, and through posts like your’s they will know where to look. Thanks!
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