I just had this fixed at the SC. It came on suddenly - no squeak, and then one day squeaking like crazy. The total cost was $390 - was covered by my extended warranty (except for $100 deductible). It's so depressing (and embarrassing) to drive when it's squeaking like that! Once I picked it up and it was silent I enjoyed driving it again.
-
Want to remove ads? Register an account and login to see fewer ads, and become a Supporting Member to remove almost all ads.
Creaking/Squeaking control arm ball joint fix
- Thread starter Jillmark99
- Start date
I took my model 3 in for creaking and they are quoting me 1100 to replace all four links. They are saying the ball joints are not the problem. Below is what tesla is telling me. I raised the car myself and just moved around the ball joint to try and get the grease to move around in the ball joint. It worked for. Awhile but creaking came back. I never added any grease to the ball joints. Do you think what tesla is telling me is true?
Attachments
You're in the Model X forum. You'll get much more reasonable input in the Model 3 area.
brainhouston
Active Member
Noticed the squeak one day all of a sudden when turning steering.
First thought it was steering rack but it was noisy on bumps too
It was coming from left side.
Pulled the rubber boot to find this:
somehow water got in there too.
cleaned, re-greased n gave it good wiggle in all directions, all quiet now
good for short term fix but will have to replace later
This looks to be why many suspensions fail at this location n ball just pops out.
First thought it was steering rack but it was noisy on bumps too
It was coming from left side.
Pulled the rubber boot to find this:
somehow water got in there too.
cleaned, re-greased n gave it good wiggle in all directions, all quiet now
good for short term fix but will have to replace later
This looks to be why many suspensions fail at this location n ball just pops out.
Thanks!! Squeak is gone. Worked greatUpper control arm squeaking? $8 fix and 15 minutes of your time.
Watch this video, get $8 RedNTacky Grease from HomeDepot (or similar grease, read somewhere marine grease good too).
I modified the approach using an 18Gauge needle and a 10 mL syringe.
I was able to put air suspension in high and there was wide open easy access.
Injected 8 mL (seemed like the max) and it instantly fixed the problem. See the picture. I have a 2018 Model X.
Good luck!
(I donated to his PayPal, cuz this fix is just awesome!)
Lucas Oil 14 oz. Red 'N' Tacky Grease 10005 - The Home Depot
The water-resistant Lucas Oil 14 oz. Red 'N' Tacky Grease, fortified with rust and oxidation inhibitors. It makes a great choice for use in many agricultural, automotive, industrial and marine applications.www.homedepot.com
islandbayy
Active Member
islandbayy
Active Member
Yes and No. It's a shame the forum is split into each vehicle style, when so many problems these vehicles have, are clear across the board. It's a shame as useful information or help might be in one vehicle section, however since the vehicle owner doesn't have that vehicle style, might never visit that forum. I'm guilty of that myself. I have S and X, so I rarely venture to the 3 and Y sections.
islandbayy
Active Member
Too bad :-( In the future, also request to keep all old parts. You may keep just about everything if it's a out of pocket repair. They will tell you if there is a core fee.
If for no other reason than to open things up and see what failed
They actually did the work without my approval. When I went to check they couldn't find the actual part. They were buckets of the same parts that were replaced from other vehicles. So my parts could not be found.Too bad :-( In the future, also request to keep all old parts. You may keep just about everything if it's a out of pocket repair. They will tell you if there is a core fee.
If for no other reason than to open things up and see what failed
Did you get the recall applied to your vehicle. The seal the ball joints recall? If you did complain that the recall was to prevent from this happining and it didn't.
The recall was done a couple of years ago. I believe they stopped doing the recall cause it didn't not fix the issue. If your vehicle is under warranty they will fix for free. If not they will try to charge you 200 plus. You can argue your point it that this was part of an existing recall and should of been addressed than.
So I took it in to SC, I did lube the foots up and it did actually help quite a lot. Was shocked to get this quote though! They said the lower arms are worn and may fall off. Seems excessive, no? The creaking was definitely improved once I greaced the rubber feet up above the tire.
Attachments
That's exactly what they told me. Same quote. I argued with them and they still changed the links not the control arms. Charged me 1100 dollars. A couple of weeks later the creak came back real bad. I had a different Tesla garage change the control arms for 50 bucks. I argued I paid for links for 1100 that was not the real issue. Here is my pic of the text message.
Yep the creaking is the control arms. They need to show you the bad links before replacing. They replaced all four links and charged me 1100. I stated would you replace for free if the control arms are the issue. They said no. That is why I went to a different location. After they changed the links a couple of weeks later the creaking came back worse. The control arms were changed for 50 bucks. No more creaking.
Similar threads
