All,
I've been looking on here for sometime now but this would be my first contribution. Thank you all for providing such useful content. I hope this helps others.
Anywho.... I've had the rear clicking since I purchased my used Model 3 (sleeper performance model). With the windows open, it is extremely noticeable on acceleration and regen and was getting on my nerves. So, I wanted to put my warranty to use and get service to look at it but in the Denver metro area that meant waiting a month and a half for a service appointment and then dropping the car off for 4 days without a loaner.
So, I stumbled around looking for articles on what other were told by the dealer as a fix and it was a mixed bag. However, it seemed to be a mix between loosening axle nuts and corrosion/issues with the splines on the axle itself. I have repeatedly retorqued the axle nuts and the sound returned. So, to take the overkill approach this is what I did.
Tools Needed:
Hope this helps someone that is in my previous situation. If anyone has good torque values for the rear suspension, I will update the post.
I've been looking on here for sometime now but this would be my first contribution. Thank you all for providing such useful content. I hope this helps others.
Anywho.... I've had the rear clicking since I purchased my used Model 3 (sleeper performance model). With the windows open, it is extremely noticeable on acceleration and regen and was getting on my nerves. So, I wanted to put my warranty to use and get service to look at it but in the Denver metro area that meant waiting a month and a half for a service appointment and then dropping the car off for 4 days without a loaner.
So, I stumbled around looking for articles on what other were told by the dealer as a fix and it was a mixed bag. However, it seemed to be a mix between loosening axle nuts and corrosion/issues with the splines on the axle itself. I have repeatedly retorqued the axle nuts and the sound returned. So, to take the overkill approach this is what I did.
Tools Needed:
- Breaker bar
- Torque Wrench capable of 185 ft/lbs
- 10mm 17mm 18mm sockets and wrenches
- WD-40
- Soft wire brush
- Loctite LB8012 (or other metal free low friction lubricant) as suggested by the following link
- Red Loctite
- Set parking break, loosen rear wheels, and jack the rear of the car up. (I did one side at a time)
- Remove wheel
- Remove the Axle Nut (32mm). Parking break was able to hold enough for me to loosen with a breaker bar
- Remove the abs sensor with a 10mm socket.
- Remove the upper control arm, trailing arm, and lower front control arm (mix of 17 and 18mm bolts/nuts). Make sure to mark the orientation of the upper control arm bolt as this sets the rear camber.
- This allowed enough movement for the axle to be pulled from the hub. It wouldn't come all the way out but I was able to wedge the axle against the backside of the hub to hold it to work on the axle splines.
- Clean axle splines and inner hub with WD-40 and soft wire brush. I spent a good amount of time doing this to ensure there was no debris or old grease left on either the splines or inside the hub mating surfaces. You can spin the axle to allow ease of cleaning around all splines.
- Spread a liberal amount of the low friction lubricant on the axle splines and rear mating surface. This will squeeze out but also create a barrier to prevent moisture or debris from making it into the surfaces if this was the cause of the noise.
- Reinstall axle back into hub and reconnect suspension in reverse. I found it helpful to put a jack stand under the lower control arm and lower the car (or raise this with a jack) to counter the spring and allow everything to be put together easier. I did apply some antiseize to the bolts as a few had some corrosion. Good preventative measure should anything need to come apart again later in the car's life.
- Torque bolts to spec? Unless someone has a good reference, I searched and came up with good guesses on torque at 90ish ft/lb for the upper control arm bolt (camber bolt, and remember to orient it back correctly to avoid an alignment) and 65ish ft/lb for the (2) other bolts.
- Reinstall abs sensor.
- Reinstall axle nut with red Loctite. Torque to 185 ft/lbs.
- Reinstall wheel, lower car, and torque wheels to 135 ft/lbs
- Enjoy your click free car.
Hope this helps someone that is in my previous situation. If anyone has good torque values for the rear suspension, I will update the post.
