Time to replace upper-control arm ball joints

[roperld]

How long does it take a Tesla shop to replace the upper-control-arm ball joints? I am getting my TM3LR's replaced on Thursday 3 August.

 

[android04]

How long does it take a Tesla shop to replace the upper-control-arm ball joints? I am getting my TM3LR's replaced on Thursday 3 August.

It probably depends on a lot of things, but I'd say minimum of 2 hours. It took them 7 hours to do mine. Keep in mind that they also do a four wheel alignment after replacing it.

 

[gaswalla]

2ish hours to take off and install, 45 day wait for a service appointment, and 2 weeks to get parts

 

[bpjod]

I had a bad squeak coming from my suspension, front passenger side. I dropped the car off at 10:30 am and they called to inform me it was ready by 1 pm. They had to diagnose the squeak (upper control arm), replace it, and they also upgraded my FSD computer in that time.

 

[roperld]

2ish hours to take off and install, 45 day wait for a service appointment, and 2 weeks to get parts

I had our Tesla remote tech come by to verify the problem, he contacted the Tesla shop to install both ball joints. 2 days later I got a message from the Tesla store that they wanted be to bring the TM3LR to them the next week.

 

[kwest2]

Mobile tech did my drivers side arm in about 1.5 hours. Sad it failed after ~15,000 miles. Tech said it was a poor quality part on early Model 3s and they now use a new vendor. Planning to get the passenger side replaced before warranty expires.

 

[PNWLeccy]

With 6/18 car, I am just waiting for the day when the squeak comes. This sounds like such a prevalent issue that it is inevitable

 

[JT_M3P]

Have any owners post build 12/2019 have front upper control arms replaced yet?

 

[G26okie]

Have any owners post build 12/2019 have front upper control arms replaced yet?

Did they update them at that time or something?

 

[Phlier]

@roperld How many miles did you have on the clock when the ball joints needed to be replaced? Asking for a friend...

 

[Dolemite]

Yeah guys with issues - post your build dates pls.

 

[android04]

Did they update them at that time or something?

Tesla has made multiple revisions to upper control arms since the beginning of Model 3 production. He's trying to narrow down a date range since that's the easiest way. A more accurate way would be to use the revision in the part number for the control arms. The part number that I got for my driver side in July was FR UPR CTRL ARM ASSY, LH(1044321-00-G). That letter G is the revision, and Tesla would have started on revision A. So you can see they have made multiple changes along the way. Headlights have also had many revisions.

By the way, my Model 3 was made in March 2018 and my driver side upper control arm started creaking at around 40,000 miles.

 

[gaswalla]

Jan 2018 Model 3 - had both replaced between 55k -60k. Tesla threw me a bone and covered one of them out of warranty

 

[Sandiegodoug]

Wow, I have a 1/18 model 3 also, 25,000.
Tesla never told me those need replacement

 

[PNWLeccy]

Wow, I have a 1/18 model 3 also, 25,000.
Tesla never told me those need replacement

They only need replacement if they start creaking. Although it seems likely that this will occur so just keep monitoring while under your warranty so that when it does occur you can have them replaced. This isn’t a recall

 

[Adam3]

9/2019 build, needed new wheel hub. It always made noise since new, only had it replaced recently. Only made noise sometimes, when turning nearly full lock.

 

[camthehombre]

Tesla has made multiple revisions to upper control arms since the beginning of Model 3 production. He's trying to narrow down a date range since that's the easiest way. A more accurate way would be to use the revision in the part number for the control arms. The part number that I got for my driver side in July was FR UPR CTRL ARM ASSY, LH(1044321-00-G). That letter G is the revision, and Tesla would have started on revision A. So you can see they have made multiple changes along the way. Headlights have also had many revisions.

By the way, my Model 3 was made in March 2018 and my driver side upper control arm started creaking at around 40,000 miles.

This is super helpful. My build is April 2018 and I'm at 37k miles and sometimes I feel like I hear a squeak, but not always, so I thought my mind was playing tricks on me.

 

[CapnLoki]

Mine were replaced last month - 18K miles on Oct 2018 build - bad squeak on bumps and steering wheel movement. I got a loaner and it was ready at the end of day. The worst part is I forgot how to turn on AP on a Model S and had to drive 20 highway miles manually! It was surprisingly disorienting.

 

[Muscovite]

6/19 Build LR RWD. Creaking on the passenger side started at 5000 miles and got really loud before I had it replaced in 2/20. Took 3 days and I was given a model S loaner. I hope the driver side upper control arm can get replaced with the updated part while still under warranty.

 

[Dolemite]

Surprised at the times people are mentioning. This should be a <1 hour affair.