Tesla recommends cleaning and lubricating all brake calipers every 12 months or 20,000 km

[GarthG]

I did the job myself a couple weekends ago. If you take it to a third party, make sure they disconnect the electric parking brake in the rear, if they use service mode to release the parking brake it will time out in about 20 minutes and activate the e-brake and drive the piston.

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Thanks for the tip. Very useful. I've done brake cleanup/lube on all my cars but never thought about this for my M3

 

[Muskol]

I did the job myself a couple weekends ago. If you take it to a third party, make sure they disconnect the electric parking brake in the rear, if they use service mode to release the parking brake it will time out in about 20 minutes and activate the e-brake and drive the piston.

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Some additional pics of my brake service job. This is after 42,000km and one winter in Southern Ontario.

About 0.6mm of pad wear in rear, 0.5mm up front. Service life per the manual is 7mm...


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[Funkmobile]

Some additional pics of my brake service job. This is after 42,000km and one winter in Southern Ontario.

About 0.6mm of pad wear in rear, 0.5mm up front. Service life per the manual is 7mm...

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What punch would you recommend to get the pins out?

Also what lube are you using?

 

[Tony_YYZ]

I had this done on my Model 3 today. Came up to just shy of $200 after tax. I'm at around 23,000kms.

 

[Muskol]

What punch would you recommend to get the pins out?

Also what lube are you using?

I used a 1/8” pin punch but would recommend something larger like 4mm or 3/16”. I ended up buying a longer 3/16” punch afterwards for next time, link below, haven’t tried it yet though.

https://www.amazon.ca/Starrett-248B-Extended-Overall-Diameter/dp/B0006J4QQO

Used 3M silicon paste for the rear caliper pins, and Permatex Silicon Ceramic for pads.

 

[thesteve]

I was quoted $175 plus tax “
Brake Caliper Pad Slides - Cleaning and Lubrication (With Wheels Removed)“
for mobile service to Toronto

 

[mahagala]

I had this done on my Model 3 today. Came up to just shy of $200 after tax. I'm at around 23,000kms.

Where? SC?

 

[03DSG]

I used a 1/8” pin punch but would recommend something larger like 4mm or 3/16”. I ended up buying a longer 3/16” punch afterwards for next time, link below, haven’t tried it yet though.

https://www.amazon.ca/Starrett-248B-Extended-Overall-Diameter/dp/B0006J4QQO

Used 3M silicon paste for the rear caliper pins, and Permatex Silicon Ceramic for pads.

Amazing what one winters corrosion will do especially since they started OVER spraying liquid brine on the 400 series. I parked mine from mid-Dec to mid-Mar and my brake ‘parts’ are mint.

 

[Tony_YYZ]

Where? SC?

Yeah at the service center.

 

[Tony_YYZ]

Amazing what one winters corrosion will do especially since they started OVER spraying liquid brine on the 400 series. I parked mine from mid-Dec to mid-Mar and my brake ‘parts’ are mint.

Living that Snowbird life?

 

[03DSG]

Living that Snowbird life?

Nope, just retired and living the dream. Share the AWD Escape during the worst of the winter. Come mid-March the 3’s mine, all mine.......

 

[Tony_YYZ]

Nope, just retired and living the dream. Share the AWD Escape during the worst of the winter. Come mid-March the 3’s mine, all mine.......

ah, gotcha! Keep on enjoying!

 

[jc22zhao]

Some additional pics of my brake service job. This is after 42,000km and one winter in Southern Ontario.

About 0.6mm of pad wear in rear, 0.5mm up front. Service life per the manual is 7mm...

View attachment 468866 View attachment 468871
View attachment 468877 View attachment 468884 View attachment 468876
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Hey, just wondering what method you used to jack the car? Did you use the special jackstands that teslarati sells (I'm hesitant on going with that one one jackstand is already as expensive as a set of jack + 2 stands). I'm also wondering if it would be safe to place the jackstand under the control arms, which I know some mechanics do for other cars.

 

[Muskol]

Hey, just wondering what method you used to jack the car? Did you use the special jackstands that teslarati sells (I'm hesitant on going with that one one jackstand is already as expensive as a set of jack + 2 stands). I'm also wondering if it would be safe to place the jackstand under the control arms, which I know some mechanics do for other cars.

Not an ideal setup, but I raised the car high enough to place a wheel under the rockers for security. The Rennstand Safety Jack is on my wish list though.

 

[Birdman325]

I have a service appointment at Lawrence on Wed for them to look at the "axle click" (they fixed it once but it is back) - I emailed about the brake /caliper service and whether it could (should?) be done at the same time. They can do it and they are quoting $192 + HST

 

[SilverGS]

Kal Tire is about $55 + HST for the brake cleaning service, done when I switch over to my winters.

Just curious to know why its so much less than what Tesla charges to do the exact same thing? They take off the wheels and do the exact same work that Tesla does? TIA

 

[noicepls]

I was quoted $175 plus tax “
Brake Caliper Pad Slides - Cleaning and Lubrication (With Wheels Removed)“
for mobile service to Toronto

Just curious to know why its so much less than what Tesla charges to do the exact same thing? They take off the wheels and do the exact same work that Tesla does? TIA

Tesla hourly labour rate = $175,
Kal Tire hourly labour rate = $55.

 

[noicepls]

Has anyone done this brake caliper cleaning and lubrication service at a local Tesla Service Centre, or at KalTire, as part of their tire rotation? Cost?
Apparently, this is pretty well the only annual service that Tesla wants us to do because of our cold weather driving conditions.

Tesla Mobile Service tech just did this service on the Model 3 at my workplace. As he had to take all the wheels off, he offered to rotate them too. Great job, no issues, charge $175+tax.

 

[thesteve]

Tesla Mobile Service tech just did this service on the Model 3 at my workplace. As he had to take all the wheels off, he offered to rotate them too. Great job, no issues, charge $175+tax.

same price here and done. He found some of the rear clips were older style that causes noise they ordered new ones under warranty so they’ll be back for that too. The brakes feel a little stronger (could be my imagination lol)

 

[Niterider]

My Tesla is one year old and has about 23,000 km. If this is a "winter maintenance" thing wouldn't it make more sense to wait till after the winter now to get this done?