Tesla model S lowering links - rear

thingiverse

These are adjustable links of various lengths that replace the stock links on your air suspension system. You'll find a link at each corner of the vehicle. Select a new link length to adjust the ride height of the car at that corner. The links in this project are for the rear of the vehicle. See another project for the front links, which are 20mm shorter and have a different design needed to fit up front. Print the links out on ABS plastic using Cura or your favorite slicer, I found thicker layers (0.3mm) make a stronger product. You will need to print 2 links, one per side of the vehicle (rear). Typically, you select 2 links the same length for both sides of the rear. Unless you find your vehicle was poorly calibrated, you can select different lengths to remove the difference and get a more consistent height at that end of the vehicle. These are fixed length links for rear suspension, in various lengths, the longer the length the lower the suspension will go. 70mm is the stock length of the links that come on the rear of the Model S. The number in the file name is the distance from ball-to-ball (center). 68mm is actually a shorter than the Tesla stock rear link and this will raise the car. 70mm is stock height. 72mm is lower ride height than stock. 74mm is lower yet. 76mm is lower than that. 78mm is the lowest ride adjust adjustment. Note, before getting your vehicle recalibrated by Tesla service, install the 70mm links back on the vehicle. When the vehicle is returned to you, put back on your favorite height links. There's an optional "locking cap" you can push onto each link end after installing the link onto the vehicle. See the thread on teslamotorsclub forum https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/3d-printed-lowering-links.78336/ If you don't have a 3D printer, I can print links for you in ABS plastic for $10 per link, so $40 for a set for the vehicle - you pick lengths (I recommend starting with a set that is +4mm or +6mm over stock length, front and rear). This price includes shipping to anywhere in the world. Send a private message to scottm on teslamotorsclub forum. How I Designed This These are ball joint links that don't need to transmit any substantial forces between the air suspension upper A arm in the vehicle to a potentiometer sensor mounted on the vehicle that reads the height / angle. The vehicle uses 10mm balls, and a link that is 70mm ball to ball (centers) in the rear of the Model S. The trick with the Tesla Model S is that the cups on the rear link point in opposite directions, so you'd need to print something with cups facing 180 degrees opposite directions. With filament printing, a downward facing ball cup would fill up with support structure and become a nightmare to clean out. So I went with an "open face" design that is good to snap onto the balls entering into either side of the link. The thickness of the link is 7mm. Which means 1.5mm of ball protrudes outside the link to one side. That is why the locking cap (if you decide to use it) has an allowance carved out to accommodate the protruding ball. I needed to create some spring action to get a 9mm opening over a 10mm ball, without stressing the plastic so much as to deform / weaken it. I cut two slashes in the socket to allow it to expand. The plastic oval encompassing the socket acts as a dual leaf spring that spreads to allow the socket to fit over the ball, and gives additional strength. You can get away with this design on the rear links in the vehicle because there's a lot of air space around the link ends. The link has concaved scalloped edged to accommodate an optional locking clip which can be applied after the link is installed on the vehicle. It clips over the sides of the link and has two D-shaped "fingers" that poke into and fill the "ear holes" on either side of the ball socket. The clip prevents the leaf springs and ball socket sides from spreading again. It's impossible to pull the link off the vehicle (without ruining it!) without first prying the locking cap off, if you choose to use the cap.