Tesla Model X rear air strut refurbishment and suspension health check: replacing the bush, not the arm
A Model X came in for a rear air strut refurbishment and a full suspension check, which found torn bushes and worn drop links. Here is why we replace just the failed bush instead of the complete arm.
personBy Gabor, MegaEV calendar_today 2 min read
We started the week with a Model X in for a rear air strut refurbishment and a full suspension inspection.
The air strut work follows the same approach as our Model X front air strut reconditioning: where the shock absorber is sound, we renew the failed seals rather than replacing the whole strut. The health check, though, turned up more.
What the health check found
- two torn front suspension bushes
- four worn, knocking anti-roll bar drop links
These bushes are very common wear items on both the Model S and the Model X. A suspension bush is the rubber mounting that lets an arm pivot while soaking up vibration. Once it cracks or tears, the arm can move more than it should, which shows up as knocks, vague handling and uneven tyre wear.
Tesla's route, and ours
When these bushes crack or tear, Tesla's official route is to replace the complete arm, even though the ball joints on these arms rarely fail.
As with our air strut refurbishments, we offer a more sensible solution: we replace only the failed bush. The arm itself, and its healthy ball joint, stay on the car.
This keeps costs down without compromising safety or longevity.
The difference afterwards
Once the new bushes are pressed in and the wheel alignment is corrected, the difference is noticeable:
- improved stability
- more precise handling
- reduced tyre wear
- no more knocking
Correcting the alignment afterwards is an important part of the job. New bushes change the suspension geometry slightly, and without an alignment the tyres would not wear evenly. We use a Hunter HawkEye system and set every car to Tesla's own specifications, as described on our four-wheel alignment service.
Why a suspension health check matters on an EV
A proper suspension health check is just as important on an electric car as on any performance vehicle, especially given the weight they carry. A heavy battery puts extra load on bushes, links and ball joints, so they deserve a regular look.
If your Tesla is knocking over bumps, feels less precise than it used to or is wearing its tyres unevenly, send us a message. Our brakes and suspension repair service explains more.