TESLA Model 3 Performance Brake job

Changing the Tesla Model 3 Performance Brakes and Rotors on the Front of the car.

[rik]

From the Service Manual for my Model Y:
E18 Caliper Bolt (Tesla says to replace, not reuse)
Caliper Bolt Torque: 94 N-m (69.3 lb-ft)
Use Silaramic Grease on sides of pads (Do not use any on the back)

[cgauer]

Letting the caliper bleed, while pressing the pistons in, is a good prevention to avoid any dirt reaching the ABS pump valves or the master/iBooster unit... Besides that, amazing job! Resurfacing the rotors is also an environment friendly act! ;) Congrats!

[SkDude]

Nice video, thanks for posting. I am getting a pedal shake on my 2019 M3P, I decided to just turn the rotors, the pads are nearly new since I don't brake much, car has 40k mostly highway miles. Haven't tracked the Tesla, but used to track my S2000 all the time. I pulled my rotors off and went to O'reily's by me but one said their brake lathe was down, the other asked what car the rotors were from and when I said a Tesla, they said they didn't want to chance turning the rotors since they don't have a very good machine. Ended up going to Firestone, but they charge $35 to turn a rotor, a little pricey but cheaper than new rotors. Tesla quoted me $165 each, so I'm still saving a lot of money. Nobody wants to turn rotors anymore, they just want to replace, since we live in a disposable world. I have a cheap $10 tool I use to push the pistons back, makes the job really easy, worth every bit of $10. For my rotors, since I haven't tracked the car, I'm wondering a bit why I'm getting a shake in the pedal. I know it could be uneven pad transfer but being I only use the brakes periodically, it just seems strange that I would have any issues. I live in a warm climate so no snow or ice, I did have the wheels powder coated so maybe there is some unevenness in the coating at the hub, I now have a set of wheels where the powder coating was masked off, so I'm not sure what might be the issue. I rotate the tires myself and always evenly torque the lug nuts. For the rear rotors, not sure if you mentioned that you need to put the car in Tow Mode for changing the rears. The socket you need is a E18 torx (external torx). I didn't have one, so I bought a set as well. I was told the torque on the caliper bolts is 94 Nm.

[jip]

I'm not gonna do this myself since I don't have any of the tools needed but it was very helpful to understand what gets done when u need brake service and what not.

I've got a Model 3 Performance, and have quite some rust on the rotors, since I rarely use the brakes since I drove mostly with only regen braking. Now I went to Tesla and they saw my rotors and said 'ooooh its no problem its only optical' but I was worried since the pads only seemed to touch half of the rotor or less. (smalls tripes on the rotor looked clean/shiny the rest looked rusty).

After me pushing them a bit, they did something with the brake pads, but not the rotors. It seems that this rotor turning on a lathe would've solved my issue, but they did not come up with that as a possible solution.

They did something with my pads and said I have to brake hard a few times going from 120 km/h (75 mph) down to 40 km/h (25 mph) or so. I have done this repeatedly now, and my front rotors are nearly fully clean and shiny, but my rear rotors don't seem to clean up very well, especially the right rear rotor.

Since you seemingly know a lot more than me about cars, and I have the feeling Tesla just doesn't want to help me since the vehicle is still under warranty and they are afraid to do 'free work' I'm wondering, do you think this is normal, that rotors stay rusty even after repeated brake 'burnishing'?

[QuintonDolan]

If you are replacing the pads, just push the pistons back in before you take the old ones out.. it doesn't matter if you ruin the face of the old pads.

[JonNewell]

Thanks for the info. In the Tesla manual, it says to discard the caliper bolts and fit new ones? Have you had any issues? Also what hot tyre pressures do you run on track?

[Inoil]

Good video, however! Would be nice to get the torque setting on the caliber hex bolts. Further, prior to installing the brake pads, i would have used some silicon grease to facilitate the movement of the pads on the caliers. This way, when the brakes are not applied the pads roll away from the rotor, hence reduces rubbing, more efficient. I would have used gloves too. Ty for taking the time to show your work! What is the mileage on your car to explain how the brake pad got so worn out.

[MikeSweeneyMedia]

Late to the game here but you can buy a kit for the front with the pins and new clips for 25 USD. If you drive really hard and heat up things often or if you live where they use salt, it's cheap insurance.

[PaulPandelidis]

It looks like the Model 3 Performance Brakes are the same as the Model Y-LR -so thanks for the video - wanted to confirm why I could not see just simple pins removal to service the brakes. (if you update the title you may get more hits from the MY community). Good job

[davidlewallenable]

After finding your video I decided to get my rotors turned as Im getting ever so slight vibration under braking - tires have been balanced to no avail. I took my rotors to Oreillys but they ran into difficulty with their machine cutting groves into the rotor due to it vibrating. Happen to know anything about that?

[jtjeremy]

Does anyone know if the brake pads are different size vs non-performance?

[carpenter]

Use a torque wrench to take off lug nuts???

[eubikedude]

Landscape format would have been nicer to watch.

[aaronhuang]

Do u have the phone # for the O’Reilly that resurface your rotors? I have try O’Reilly in my local area and they said don’t have the turning spec. Pls help.

[geekandi]

You said 88lbf for the rear male torx but isn't it supposed 90nm or 66.38lbf?

And the lugs are 129lbf/174.9nm

I'm pretty sure that's the case as just did this ~10 days ago and reading the service manuals.

Be careful out there!

[HitmanAtM]

I think your Torx socket issue, is that you have a Torx PLUS socket, whereas i think a regular Torx socket is needed. Theres a slight difference in shape.

[saiyamang]

I have a Tesla model 3 long range and just bought the big brake calipers for the performance model, could anyone tell me if I need to change out the rotors or are they the same between the regular long-range and performance? Also would anyone know if I'm missing any other parts? The people at Tesla won't tell me anything!

[edwincasanova]

I believe it depends supposed to go through their eclipse

[petersort]

Roters are made out of true so as to push the pads away out of contact if you turn the roter on a lathe your loose that leaving the pads laying in contact

[edwincasanova]

Well I enjoy watching the videos Walmart has stopped tripod for $15 you can use put your camera on it and then you wouldn't have to hold it