Upper control arm, lessons learned

Our cars have ordinary parts that age and wear. After 130,000 miles, the upper control arm, ball joints needed maintenance. Rejecting short term, kludges, I did the job right:
May the 4th be with you | Tesla Owners Online Forum

BTW, my offer to help with owner 'sweat equity' applies to other EVs in the North Alabama area. It make take longer for anything not a Tesla Model 3 but retired, 'what is time to me?'

Bob Wilson

 

Improved replacement of the driver side, control arm:
https://www.teslaownersonline.com/threads/lazy-man-replaces-front-overhead-link.32882/?post_id=408987#post-408987

Bob Wilson

 

Rough order of costs:

• ~$800 - Powerflex, .5 kg lighter
  • $5 - tie wraps, plastic push fasteners
  • $10 - bolts and bluing chemicals
• ~$400 - tools which are used for, from, and future projects
• $0 - labor a retired engineer who found it entertaining (they pay for what I do for fun?)

I never asked Tesla. Their part has the same design problem that failed it after four years. The new, performance part protects the rubber boot from the runoff water that led to its failure. I want parts lasting longer than the battery.

Bob Wilson