Tesla Model S: Gearbox Fluid - Small Rear Drive Unit (Remove and Replace)
Warning: If the vehicle has air suspension, activate "Jack"
mode on the touchscreen before raising and supporting the vehicle.
Drain & Refill
- Position the vehicle in preparation for raising it, but do not
raise it at this time.
- Air suspension vehicles only: Depressurize the
rear LH air spring (refer to procedure).
- Engage "Tow" mode.
- Remove the LH rear wheel (refer to procedure).
- Remove the mid aero shield (refer to procedure).
- Prepare a drain pan to catch the gearbox fluid.
- On the LH side of the gearbox, release the drain plug. Allow the
fluid to completely drain, then reinstall the drain plug (torque 28
Nm).
Caution: Do not attempt to fill the drive unit through the
upper plug.
- Remove the LH parking brake caliper (refer to procedure).
- Release the bolts that secure the following 3 fasteners to the
knuckle:
- Upper link
- Toe link
- Shock absorber
- Use a driveshaft extractor to release the axle from the drive
unit.
- Release the axle seal from the drive unit.
- Slowly fill the gearbox through the axle opening.
Caution: If the gearbox is filled too quickly, fluid
will spill out onto the drive unit casing.
Note: Use the fluid specified in General
Information > Fluids and Capacities > Fluids .
Note: Use the amount specified in General
Information > Fluids and Capacities > Fluid
Capacities .
Caution: Use exactly the specified amount of
transmission fluid. Do not fill to the top of the axle
opening.
- Inspect the axle seal for damage and replace if necessary.
- When installing the driveshaft into the drive unit:
- Ensure that the opening of the snap ring is facing towards
the bottom of the drive unit.
- Do not damage or displace the drive unit seal.
- Verify that the driveshaft is fully seated by carefully
pushing it into the drive unit until there is an audible "click"
from the snap ring.
- Reinstall the 3 fasteners to the knuckle.
Caution: Do not fully torque the fasteners at this
time; they must be torqued when the vehicle is at ride
height.
- Reinstall the parking brake caliper.
- Reinstall the rear LH wheel.
- Disengage "Tow" mode.
- Air suspension vehicles only: Repressurize the
rear LH air spring (refer to procedure).
- With the vehicle at ride height, fully torque the 3 fasteners to
the knuckle:
- Upper link (140 Nm)
- Toe link (130 Nm)
- Shock absorber (torque 140 Nm)
- Reinstall the mid aero shield.
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Special tools required for this procedure:
Supplier
Part Number
Description
Tesla
1051509-
Warning: If the vehicle has air suspension, activate "Jack"
mode on the touchscreen before raising and supporting the vehicle.
Special tool(s) required for this procedure:
Suppl
SEE MORE:
Installation
Installation procedure is the reverse of removal, except
for the following:
Caution: Replace all nylon-insert locknuts.
Caution: Replace all Patchbolt(s).
Note: The LH and RH subframe braces are not
interchangeable.
To adjust Model S based on a
driver's
profile, touch the driver profile icon at the
top of the Controls screen. Then choose
the driver, and Model S is adjusted based
on the settings that have been saved to the
chosen driver profile. See Using Tesla
Profiles to learn more about
saving profil