LEMON Manuals: Even more car manuals for everyone: 1960-2025
Home >> Tesla >> 2021 >> Model X Long Range Plus >> Repair and Diagnosis >> Hybrid/Electric Powertrain >> Electric Converters and Controllers >> Front Drive Unit -- Model X >> Front Drive Unit Assembly >> Drive Unit - Front - Remove And Replace >> Remove
April 5, 2026: LEMON Manuals is launched! Read the announcement.

Drive Unit - Front - Remove And Replace: Remove

  1. Move the vehicle to a 2 post lift. See Raise Vehicle - 2 Post Lift .
  2. Perform a cooling system thermal fill drain. See Thermal Fluid - Cooling System (Fill/Drain) .
  3. Remove the LH and RH rocker panel moldings. See Molding - Rocker Panel - LH (Remove And Replace) .
  4. Position the 2 post lift pads for HV battery removal.
    G15411420Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
    G15411421Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
    G15411422Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  5. Set the steering wheel straight ahead, place a protector sheet onto the driver seat, and then install the steering wheel lock.
    G15411423Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  6. Remove the rear underhood apron. See Underhood Apron - Rear (Remove and Replace) .
  7. Remove the underhood storage unit. See Underhood Storage Unit (Remove and Install) .
  8. Remove the LH and RH sill panel trims. See Trim - Sill Panel - Rear - LH (Remove and Replace) .
  9. Remove the 2nd row mid floor panel. See:
  10. Remove the LH and RH mid C-pillar trim. See Trim - C-Pillar - Mid - LH (Remove and Replace) .
  11. Remove the LH and RH lower C-pillar trim. See Trim - C-Pillar - Lower - LH (Remove and Replace) .
  12. Remove the 2nd row rear floor panel. See:
  13. Remove the bolts (x2) that attach the busbar duct to the body, and then remove the busbar duct from the vehicle.
    G15411424Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  14. Remove the LH upper C-pillar trim. See Trim - C-Pillar - Upper - LH (Remove and Replace) .
  15. Remove the trunk sill trim. See Trim - Sill - Trunk (Remove and Replace) .
  16. Remove the trunk side trim bracket. See:
  17. Disconnect LV power. See LV Power (Disconnect and Connect) .
  18. Set the high voltage multimeter to DC voltage, lightly touch the probes to the auxiliary battery connector contacts, and verify that the multimeter displays a voltage.
    NOTE: Battery voltage is typically 14.5 to 15.5 volts.
    G15411425Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
    G15411426Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  19. Remove the cowl screen panel. See Panel - Cowl Screen (Remove and Replace) .
  20. Remove the wiper module. See Wiper Module (Remove and Replace) .
  21. Remove the bolt that attaches the ground strap to the front drive unit.
    NOTE: The bolt is captive to the ground strap.
    G00645933Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  22. Pull the red tab, and then pull the tab again to disconnect the frunk harness from the front drive unit harness connector.
    G00645935Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  23. Release the clip that attaches the frunk harness to the front drive unit.
    G00645934Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  24. Remove the 3rd row seat cushion, if installed. See Cushion - Seat - 3rd Row (Remove and Replace) .
  25. Remove the LH inner reinforcement. See Reinforcement - Inner - LH (Remove and Replace) .
  26. Loosen the LH and RH front axle nuts.
    G15411427Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  27. Remove the LH and RH front wheels. See Wheel (Remove and Install) .
  28. Remove the mid aero shield panel. See Panel - Aero Shield - Mid (Remove and Replace) .
  29. Perform the vehicle electrical isolation procedure. See Vehicle Electrical Isolation Procedure .
  30. Remove the leather glove protectors and the HV insulating gloves.
    G15411428Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  31. Remove the bolt that secures the charge port busbar connector access door.
    G15411429Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  32. Remove the bolts (x2) that attach the charge port busbar connector to the DC input HV header.

    9 N.m (6.6 ft-lbs) 

    G15411430Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  33. Lift the charge port busbar connector to remove the connector from the DC input HV header.
    G15411431Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  34. Remove the LH and RH shear plates. See Shear Plate - Rear Subframe - LH (Remove and Replace) .
  35. Remove the front aero shield panel. See Panel - Aero Shield - Front (Remove and Replace) .
  36. Remove the front skid plate. See Skidplate - Front (Remove and Replace) .
  37. Remove the HV battery. See HV Battery (AWD) (Remove and Install) .
  38. Remove the front fascia valance. See Valance - Front Fascia (Remove And Replace) .
  39. Remove the front subframe. See Subframe Assembly - Front (Remove and Install) .
  40. Remove the LH and RH front halfshafts. See HALFSHAFT - FRONT DRIVE UNIT - LH (REMOVE AND REPLACE)  and HALFSHAFT - FRONT DRIVE UNIT - RH (REMOVE AND REPLACE) .
  41. Remove the front drive unit. See DRIVE UNIT - FRONT (REMOVE AND INSTALL) .
  42. Release the clip, disconnect the front drive unit inverter hose from the front drive unit inverter, release the clips (x3) that attach the hose to the drive unit, and then remove the hose.
    G15411432Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  43. Release the clips (x2), disconnect the front drive unit inverter to front drive unit heat exchanger hose from the inverter and heat exchanger, release the clips (x5) that attach the hose to the drive unit, and then remove the hose.
    G15411433Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  44. Slide the red connector locking tab, open the black release lever, and then disconnect the front drive unit HV harness from the front drive unit inverter.
  45. Remove the bolt that attaches the front drive unit HV harness to the front drive unit, and then remove the harness from the drive unit.
    G15411434Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  46. Release the clip that attaches the breather shroud to the front drive unit, and then remove the shroud from the drive unit.
    NOTE: If there is no breather shroud installed, order a new shroud for the replacement front drive unit.
    G15411435Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  47. Use the hooks (x3) to attach the drive unit sling tool to the front drive unit.
    NOTE: Follow the attachment locations for the Model 3 rear drive unit.
    G15411436Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  48. Position the transmission jack fixture underneath the gantry.
    G15411437Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  49. Attach the drive unit sling tool to the gantry.
    G15411438Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  50. Use the gantry to raise the drive unit sling tool and lift the front drive unit off of the transmission jack fixture.
    G15411439Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  51. Position the empty front drive unit crate underneath the front drive unit.
    NOTE: Use a pallet if no empty crate is available.
    G15411440Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  52. Lower the front drive unit into the front drive unit crate.
    G15411441Courtesy of TESLA, INC.
  53. Remove the drive unit sling tool from the front drive unit.