* OUT OF WARRANTY * Tesla Model 3 Upper control arm squeak DIY..

OUT OF WARRANTY 2018 Model 3 LRRWD 47k Miles-- I finally got the dreaded squeak on the passenger upper arm control joint. After watching a bunch of videos on YT how to fix it I decided to do it myself.
DON"T DO THIS if your car is still under warranty, call Tesla to have it replaced.
#tesla #teslamodel3

[@cameraone1]

Thanks for the tip of using the ratchet strap. It helped removing the bolt much easier.

[@chibogabog9554]

welcome !

[@MWS1960]

I did this yesterday but did not need to disconnect the control arm. No more noise 👍👍

[@chibogabog9554]

I disconnected the UCA bec I wanted the grease to cover all the joints.

[@chibogabog9554]

Update: August 27, 2023 ---- no leak, no squeak !

[@chibogabog9554]

Nov 14 2023.no leak/squeak

[@chibogabog9554]

Jan 4 2024 All good !

[@chibogabog9554]

March 13, 2024 no leak/squeak !

[@chibogabog9554]

Aug 17 2024 no leak !

[@sirdodgep]

My Y is so noisy it's embarrassing. Lower control arm bushing are shot, so I'll be replacing them tomorrow and I will also have the mechanic inject some grease into the upper because although the lower rubbers are all flattened out, I don't think that's where the noise is coming from.

[@chibogabog9554]

What year is your Model Y ?

[@ericcoppin4799]

Hey guys, it's great to have options like this. I had this going on with my 2020 M3 several months ago. I took it to a Tesla service center, and they took care of it - UNDER THE WARRANTY. Just saying: check with Tesla first, before doing your own work.

[@Jahloveipraise]

Do you know which warranty it fell under? I still have the drive unit warranty and battery warranty. Not sure if this would classify as drive unit or not

[@stkyrce]

@@Jahloveipraisein case anyone is reading this, it's under the basic warranty which if you are having this issue, it probably has passed for most people.

[@duaneulman9915]

Thank you

[@atemiq]

Thank you very much!!!

[@skywalk_7]

Thanks for video. Thumbs up! Still curious why didn't you take rubber boot off to avoid puncturing it? I am still researching the topic :)

[@chibogabog9554]

I saw another video that did that, I guess I could have done that but was too scared that it will do more harm to the rubber boot trying to remove the clamp and put it back together ..imo this is easier as I can easilly seal a small hole

[@skywalk_7]

@@chibogabog9554 I was able to remove rubber boot today, clean it up and fill with the new grease. I've also warmed the ball bearing with the heat gun to make grease thinner for better penetration. Thanks to your video I was well prepared and fixed the problem in very short time. Tie down strap worked like a charm.

[@chibogabog9554]

@@skywalk_7 Glad my video helped you! now tell me, was the boot filled with water like mine? Did you do both sides or just the side that was making the noise ? What year is your Model 3 ?

[@skywalk_7]

@@chibogabog9554 Good question. No, boot was not filled with water, and ball looked pretty dry, it was barely moving. I was expecting some water, because we just came through very intensive rain season here, in CA. My other side was fixed 2 years ago at 40k miles under warranty. Tesla installed part number 1044326-H - I think latest one is J. My Tesla M3 LR RWD has 66k miles and I got it early in 2018. I've ordered new set of control arms made by Meyle just in case.

[@joshsinykin5230]

I tried to fix my 2018 m3 today the boot and nub did not rotate like yours. It was extremely stiff.

[@MichaelM69]

My car is having likely this same issue and they’re trying to charge me $270. Problem is I’m only at 22k miles. They’re refusing to cover it under warranty and idk what to do or who to talk to. A shame that this is what happens after buying a $56k car

[@chibogabog9554]

What year is your Tesla ? I know that they have to give you an actual estimate even if you are still under warranty ? I would go to the service center and talk to a supervisor.

[@MrDucky105]

I got a 2020 M3 SR+ it started having that same issue recently at 40k miles, it's out of warranty. I took it to the service center and they charged me $223 to fix it.

[@MichaelM69]

@@chibogabog9554 2021, I'll try again, but the thing I don't like is how you have to pay up front before even going in

[@treborg777]

Did the grease come out of the ball joint behind the ball joint and underneath the control arm? Dorman (parts manufacturer) claims the reason these ball joints fail is that they aren’t sealed where the ball joint body connects to the plastic control arm, and water gets in, especially underneath

[@chibogabog9554]

Tesla sealed the top of the plastic control arm where the ball joint body connects a year ago when I went in for another warranty repair. Unfortunately, it was too late as the water was already inside the boot wreaking havoc on the ball joint. No grease leaking whatsoever, before and after. No squeak and no leaking ( July 22, 2023)

[@cameraone1]

@@chibogabog9554 Same here. Tesla Mobile guy sealed them about a year and half after I got the car. Mine had very little water inside. However, dirt got in and mixed with the white grease. When I flipped the boot down after removing the ring, inside was a nasty and smelly stuff. I took a couple pictures and probably will post on Tesla Motors Club forum.

[@danielwilson9131]

Did you say "plastic" control arm? Surely not.

[@DrDsIT]

@@danielwilson9131 Yes, Tesla made their upper control arms out of Fiber Reinforced Plastic and left gaps which allow water to leak into the ball joint and rust it causing premature wear. To keep from replacing them under warranty they sent out a message to owners in warranty to come in and get the black polyurethane you see in the video on the sides of the control arm. This allowed you to drive past your warranty so that when you started having the loud squeak they would have the customer pay for the control arm replacement and say its normal wear and tear. Tesla is in several suspension class action lawsuits against them and have already paid customers in China. They are trying their best to not have to pay for replacement parts in the U.S. I replaced mine Model X with steel control arms that don't have any gaps around the ball joint. There are several more suspension issues with the Model S and Model X than with the M3 and MY.

[@RB-jv6un]

My M3 has 15k miles on it and this started in early March as a loud groaning, creaking noise. I injected grease and now it is squeaking. Tesla mobile service is not coming to town until mid-June so I ordered a new control arm and will do it myself. Tesla customer service has been lousy since even before we picked the car up in 2019. Has never been good and almost 3 months waiting is the last straw. I might just sell the car after this one. Elon can shove it as far as I am concerned. And, I hear the same lousy customer service is happening with Starlink.

[@chibogabog9554]

sorry to hear that you're squeaking came back, did you remove the upper control arm and moved the ball joint in a circular motion ? A friend of mine had that problem when didn't disconnect the ball joint and moving it around and effectively loosening , he just injected the boot and not disconnecting it ..ball joint needed a better grease penetration.

[@RB-jv6un]

@@chibogabog9554 Replaced the upper control arm with a Dorman piece because Tesla Mobile Service for my area has made me wait almost two months for repair and will not come for another month. They said a week ago they would check to see if they can sell me a part but have not responded. Warranty runs out n December. Might have to sell the car because I do not want to deal with such garbage service.

[@Player_Mick]

what's the torque specs on that? 12:27

[@chibogabog9554]

according to this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2nHZGV5rbeemq8 41ft/lb and so far it's still good ( I marked it make sure it doesn't move)

[@Player_Mick]

@@chibogabog9554 thank you. i did it without removing that bolt/arm and so far no more squeaks. thanks again. update; the squeak came back.. ended up removing the arm thing and it's finally fixed.

[@GKAllen]

What did you Touque the bolt to?

[@chibogabog9554]

I got the torque spec from this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2nHZGV5rbeemq8

[@tperi001]

What is the ratchet strap attached to at the bottom?

[@chibogabog9554]

to the Lower arm control

[@kevinhai2747]

What grease did you use? Thanks. @rmtfamily

[@chibogabog9554]

www.amazon.com/Lucas-Oil-Tacky-Grease-3x3oz/dp/B08YJ3J221/ref=sr_1_1_pp?crid=2573BWH2T59WI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gDW07G7WdtexgI_nKyXQwnbaEiQcuRlAdPcrknbXGI8OZUNhHrrie7Mgdzcb5RXj29IQbT4pBCN-RO6xP5-sBQYWkPqOBGeZOtFgkOwTxwVZMFZC9XtnBFD5ya8W52PBIBgMFU-cdkehpLFlE2A8b7eRAsbYl8dCzgWV8tSYi0DHA7wxfgpvl7E6ysBEfH90xDfy7GyQFsaZQpOPAOgR4EYQmuJAJWT4ke-PFCGPwNgAsYDCTurH91auoltSJkfGeEId6vlXMGvKvdgUEnnt6itjtzGJjHWb_UG549QsrXk.XbgvpGwHG0FYqlLblrQ3R0rTKge7PQLTNBX5bP9HCRM&dib_tag=se&keywords=red+and+tacky+grease&qid=1710380446&sprefix=red+and%2Caps%2C503&sr=8-1

[@tulley7440]

"Promo SM" 🌹