Tesla Model 3 and Model Y Front Upper Control Arm Ball Joint Replacement

It is the replacement pill, or ball joint, for the Unplugged Performance Model 3 and Model Y Front Upper Control Arm (FUCA) Set, Ultimate Edition. Ball joints are a wear item, and hard cornering or rough roads eventually wear them. This part restores your existing FUCA set to full performance without replacing the whole arm. It is sold per side, so a full axle needs two.

You select Model 3 (2017-2023 pre-refresh), Model 3 (late 2023 refresh), or Model Y at checkout, so all three are covered. It is designed exclusively for the UP FUCA Ultimate Edition arm, not for the factory control arm or another brand’s arm. If you do not already run our FUCA set, this piece will not do anything for you on its own; it is a service part for that specific arm.

The price is per side. A car has a front upper control arm on each side, so replacing both means ordering two. It is worth checking both joints when one shows wear, since they typically see similar use. If you are not sure how many you need, our team can help you figure it out based on what you are seeing on the car.

Ball joints wear naturally over time from rough road conditions and the stresses of high-speed, high-grip cornering on both street and track. Play, noise, or a change in how the front end holds alignment are the usual signs. If you frequently move between street and track alignment settings, the joint sees more cycling. Replacing it keeps the arm delivering the strong, precise response it was built for.

If you run track days and swap between street and track alignment often, having a replacement joint ready means no downtime when one wears. The page calls this out directly: frequent alignment changes make a spare highly beneficial. Instead of waiting on a part when a joint finally goes, you keep the car available. It is cheap insurance for anyone who uses the FUCA adjustment regularly.

If you are comfortable working on suspension, replacing the pill in the FUCA is a manageable job with the right tools, since it is a designed service item for that arm. If you would rather have it done, and you are local to Los Angeles, our Hawthorne team can handle it and check your alignment afterward. Either way, plan to realign the car once the joint is replaced.

Just this joint. The point of the design is that the ball joint is serviceable, so a worn pill does not mean buying a new arm. You keep the FUCA body and swap the wear item. That is more economical and less labor than replacing the complete arm, and it is exactly how a well-designed adjustable control arm should handle a consumable part.

This joint only serves the UP Front Upper Control Arm Ultimate Edition, so on its own it is not useful to you. If you want that level of front-end adjustment and precision, start with the complete FUCA set, then keep one of these on the shelf as a spare. To dial the rear to match, our billet rear traction and trailing arm set is a common companion on a fully sorted car.

Front adjustment from the FUCA works best alongside rear adjustability, since alignment is a whole-car job. Many owners running the front arm also fit the billet height-adjustable rear spring arms to set rear ride height and geometry precisely. Keeping a spare of this ball joint on the shelf then means your dialed-in front setup is never sidelined waiting on a wear part.

Servicing an aftermarket control arm with its own replacement joint does not automatically void your Tesla coverage. Under Magnuson-Moss, Tesla must show a part caused a specific failure to deny that claim, rather than citing the modification itself. Since this is a maintenance item for a part you already run, it changes nothing about that framework; keep your factory arms if you want a path back to stock.

Unplugged Performance offers a comprehensive warranty on all parts and installations performed by our certified technicians. Warranty coverage applies to defects in materials and workmanship on items including lowering springs, coilovers, big brake kits, brake pads, stainless steel brake lines, shocks, and more. Should any covered part fail under normal use or display premature wear, we will repair or replace it at no additional cost—assuming the component was installed by us or at one of our authorized partners.

This warranty is valid for 2 years or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first, excluding consumable products like brake pads, rotors, and tires, starting from the installation date. Coverage extends to labor for warranty repairs when performed by Unplugged Performance or an authorized installer. It does not cover damage resulting from misuse, accidents, off‑road use, improper installation not done by us, or modifications that aren’t factory-approved.

To file a warranty claim, simply contact our service team. We’ll guide you through inspection, shipping (if needed), and repair or replacement logistics. transparencia and top-tier support are what you can expect from Unplugged.

Installing aftermarket parts does not automatically void your Tesla warranty. Under the Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act (www.sema.org/sema-enews/2011/01/ftc-validates-right-to-install-aftermarket-parts), a manufacturer cannot void your warranty simply because you installed aftermarket parts. Tesla must prove that the aftermarket part caused the specific failure in question to deny a warranty claim. UP recommends retaining all factory parts to allow reverting to stock if needed. 

Unplugged Performance processes orders quickly, typically within 1–2 business days after placement. For U.S. customers, orders under $50 usually ship via FedEx SmartPost with an estimated delivery time of 2–7 business days. Larger items like body kits or bumpers may ship via freight carriers with curbside delivery; customers will be contacted to schedule a delivery window. International shipping is available to most countries, with shipping costs calculated at checkout. Delivery times abroad vary, generally ranging from 5 to 16 business days depending on destination. Import duties or taxes are the customer’s responsibility. To ensure a smooth shipping experience, provide accurate contact information during checkout. For specific questions or shipping quotes, Unplugged Performance’s support team is available to assist.