Not much. The OEM Tesla part is 23nm. Too much and they will snap off. Let us know how you get on with the parts!
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Model 3 front suspension clunking
- Thread starter SiEV75
- Start date
The Original one is 23nm. Thats for the 3x bolts that go into the upper control arm mount.
I installed the KW Part and the noise is gone.
i cut the Tesla Part open and i think the plastic cap is too weak causing the ruber, to knock inside, the KW part is made of aluminium instead of plastic.
greetings from Austria
i cut the Tesla Part open and i think the plastic cap is too weak causing the ruber, to knock inside, the KW part is made of aluminium instead of plastic.
greetings from Austria
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Someone should try using ptfe instead of polyurethane just because they are naturally slippery so no lubricant is needed. Just my observation. Maye I will explore this idea further when I am all caught up with my control arms mod.
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Which part from the pictures that fail? I could make something out of aluminum or poly to replace the oem part?
We stock these KW tophats but they aren't cheap! You can email us if you'd like a pair and we can make a custom order for you. We tested them against the OEM tophats and the durometer is indeed different. I did not notice a difference in sound, but it seems like European cobblestone roads are more likely to bring out noises than what we drive here.
nothing realy fails, the rubber pice can move under load, so it knocks.
the plastic top cap ist too weak for enough preload.
Lindenwood
Active Member
I’d been fighting an audible front-end clunk for a while. It mostly happened when “floating” over the top / backside of bumps, when load on the wheels was low-to-zero.
I replaced my top mounts and saw no change.
I replaced both lower control arms and compression rods, which fixed the problem. I need to go back and swap one at a time, but I believe my ball joints were going bad. I do not know if it was the A-arm ball joints or the CR ball joints.
I suspect daily driving with spherical bearings in this arms, plus a lot of racing, just put a lot of focused stress on those ball joints. I will consider them wear items going forward.
I replaced my top mounts and saw no change.
I replaced both lower control arms and compression rods, which fixed the problem. I need to go back and swap one at a time, but I believe my ball joints were going bad. I do not know if it was the A-arm ball joints or the CR ball joints.
I suspect daily driving with spherical bearings in this arms, plus a lot of racing, just put a lot of focused stress on those ball joints. I will consider them wear items going forward.
I've had some front end creaking/clunking for a while. Front upper control arms had been replaced so that narrowed it down to the lowers in my mind. Changed to winter tyres today and spotted this torn bush on the lower compression link, so pretty sure this is causing it. Already bought a pair of Powerflex replacements so just need to find the time to fit them and hopefully I can listen to the radio at normal volume again. 
Sad to say, the top hat$ from KW did not solve my clunk.
I do have what seems like loose half shafts or excess gear lash…can someone confirm you have a similar sound with one wheel in the air…
That sound is similar to what I hear over small bumps and slower / slow speeds.
I do have what seems like loose half shafts or excess gear lash…can someone confirm you have a similar sound with one wheel in the air…
That sound is similar to what I hear over small bumps and slower / slow speeds.
I’ve replaced lower arms and drive shafts and noise is still there. Don’t think it’s the top mounts either. I have that play in my diff too. Maybe someone here without the sound can check for us if their diff is the same?
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superflyrolla
Member
I bought a set of powerflex on black friday too. We might be the first Tesla customers? I haven't seen any reviews. I'm hoping they hold up. Lifetime warranty sold me on them. I think I've replaced 6 sets of arms now in some shape or form (2 torn bushings, 2 clunking ball joints, 1 installing sphericals, 1 removing sphericals).I've had some front end creaking/clunking for a while. Front upper control arms had been replaced so that narrowed it down to the lowers in my mind. Changed to winter tyres today and spotted this torn bush on the lower compression link, so pretty sure this is causing it. Already bought a pair of Powerflex replacements so just need to find the time to fit them and hopefully I can listen to the radio at normal volume again.
I checked the parts catalog and Highland has a new part number. I wonder if these are interchangeable? They must know this isn't a durable part.
Tesla must be revising the material used in these bushings as even in my circle of friends who own Model 3s we've all had to replace them at least once and these aren't high mileage cars. Assuming NVH isn't affected noticeably, I think I'd still prefer to fit the Powerflex versions now they're available. Poly bushes will always outlast rubber ones and the bonus is a slight improvement in handling and braking stability.
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