In most cases you don’t absolutely have to own dedicated pucks, but using jack pads or similar lifting adapters is strongly advised to protect the battery and undercarriage. Properly locating the lift points and using padding helps prevent damage when raising a Tesla for service or tire changes.
How to lift a Tesla safely
Understanding where and how to lift the car is essential. Teslas are designed with specific reinforced points for jacking and lifting, and the use of pads or adapters is recommended to distribute load and protect the vehicle’s low-hanging battery pack.
- Use only the reinforced jacking points as indicated in the vehicle’s owner’s manual or the undercarriage diagrams. Avoid lifting from non-reinforced panels or the battery area itself.
- Place a pad or puck between the jack and the vehicle at each lifting point to distribute load and reduce risk of denting or puncturing the undercarriage.
- Always use wheel chocks on the opposite axle and support the car with jack stands once it is raised.
- Do not rely on a single point of contact. If using a floor jack, raise only enough to place stands, then lift fully with stands in place.
Following these guidelines helps protect the battery, seals, and chassis while the car is raised for maintenance or tire changes.
Do you need pucks? What Tesla’s guidance suggests
Tesla’s official guidance emphasizes using the appropriate lifting points and padding rather than lifting directly on hard surfaces. Some models and service kits include jack pads (often called pucks) to be placed at the designated points, and aftermarket or third-party pads are commonly used as substitutes. While not strictly mandatory, using these pads or adapters is highly recommended to minimize the risk of damage to the battery and underbody.
Lift scenarios and recommended practice
Different lifting situations have different best practices. Here are the common scenarios and how pads fit in:
- Two-post lifts or professional lifts: Use the vehicle’s dedicated lift points and compatible pads or adapters supplied by the lift manufacturer or Tesla service.
- Floor jacks: Use jack pads at the front and rear jacking points to spread the load and protect the battery area; ensure the jack pad seats properly in the point designed for lifting.
- Wheels-off service or tire changes: Still rely on the same reinforced points and pads, and use stands for support after lifting.
In all cases, keep safety first: never lift from non-reinforced areas, never work under a car supported only by a jack, and always verify pad compatibility with your model and year.
What to do if you don’t have pucks
If you don’t have official jack pads harvested from a Tesla service kit, you can use high-quality rubber pads, thick rubber mats, or wooden blocks that are large enough to distribute load over a broad area. The key is to ensure a stable interface between the jack and the lifting point and to avoid direct contact with the battery or fragile underbody panels.
- Park on a flat, level surface and engage the parking brake.
- Chock the wheels on the opposite side to prevent rolling.
- Identify the reinforced jacking points per the owner’s manual or the diagram on the vehicle.
- Place a suitable pad or adapter on the jack pad before raising the car.
- Raise the vehicle slightly and slide in jack stands under the designated support points, then lift to the desired height.
Even without dedicated pucks, following the correct lifting points, using padding where possible, and employing stands will help maintain safety and vehicle integrity during maintenance.
Summary
In short, pucks are not strictly mandatory, but they are highly recommended when lifting a Tesla. Using the manufacturer’s designated lifting points and padding—whether official jack pads or approved substitutes—significantly lowers the risk of damaging the battery pack or underbody. Always use wheel chocks and stands, consult the owner’s manual for model-specific guidance, and consider obtaining official pads if you plan frequent maintenance.