Cast Rear Node Repair Guidelines (Vehicles Built Through October 12, 2022)

The criteria to determine if a cast Rear Node is repairable or if the component must be replaced are based on both the severity and the location of the damage. Use the images and information below to determine if the Rear Node component may be repaired or if replacement is necessary.

The images below show different views of the Rear Node, and contain highlighted areas (the images below use the LH Rear Node for reference, but repair areas on the RH component are similar). Compare the damaged area of the vehicle's Rear Node to the images below, then use the repair criteria corresponding to the color of the highlighted area to find the criteria to use to determine if the damaged area can be repaired.


Top View
Bottom View
Inboard View
Outboard View
Outboard (ISO) View

Based on the colors used in the images above, the allowed repairs are as follows:

Table 1. Allowed Repairs
Area Color	Allowed Repairs
Green areas:	Welding damage up to 50 mm is allowed. For damage more than 50 mm in length, contact Tesla Collision Repair for assistance. Bent webbing sections may be straightened using cold methods. Note Do not use heat methods to straighten webbing sections.
Orange areas:	Welding a crack up to 30 mm is allowed, but a reinforcement plate (Tesla part number 1076938-E0-B) must also be installed. See Installing a Reinforcement Plate for information about performing this repair. For damage more than 30 mm in length, contact Tesla Collision Repair for assistance. Bent webbing sections may be straightened using cold methods. Note Do not use heat methods to straighten webbing sections.
Red areas:	None; if the Rear Node is damaged in these areas, the component must be replaced; contact Tesla Collision Repair for assistance and refer to Rear Node (Complete).

Installing a Reinforcement Plate

Reinforcement plates may be installed only at the direction of the Tesla Body Repair Support Team, or as specified in the Allowed Repairs tables (above). Reinforcement plates are installed as follows:

Note

Reinforcement plates are not installed by welding; reinforcement plates are installed only with structural adhesive.

Straighten the area where the reinforcement plate will be installed using cold methods.
Note
Do not use heat methods to straighten webbing sections.
Cut a section of reinforcement plate to length.
Note
Reinforcement plates are placed on both sides of cracked or straightened webbing. Make sure that each reinforcement plate covers the maximum surface area around the repair area.
Trim and rework the reinforcement plate as necessary to snugly fit over the area to be reinforced, and allow for any adjoining panels.
Remove any contaminants from the mating surfaces on the repair area and the reinforcement plate by cleaning them with isopropyl alcohol (IPA) prior to applying structural adhesive.
Apply structural adhesive to the mating surfaces of the vehicle and the reinforcement plate.
Fit the reinforcement plates into position and clamp them into place.
Wipe off excess structural adhesive.

Warning

Before performing any repair that specifies to install fasteners through an already-installed reinforcement plate, contact Tesla Collision Repair for assistance. Because the reinforcement plate increases panel stack thickness, it may be necessary to change fasteners used in repairs performed after the reinforcement plate has been installed.