Checked Alignment: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

[hoopty_yo]

A year or so is a good guess on how long it should last, but I'm interested in how long it does last. Having owned more than one car that refused to hold an alignment, I wonder if the toe on these gradually drifts or if its just not being aligned well at the factory/is pulled out during shipping.

Dreamin's test should tell us which it is.

I would never trust a factory alignment. It SHOULD be good, but who knows. Many vehicles have inserts to lock the adjustments in place at the factory. That would work if every panel gets stamped the exact same size and every spot weld is exactly the same. The body should be + or - 3mm at every spec'd area. If enough of those are one way or the other, you could have body structure misalignment that could affect the wheels. I don't want anybody to freak out, but that's the way it is. Factory alignment should be very close, but every vehicle is not "aligned" per say, they are assembled to spec.

 

[Mayhemm]

I would never trust a factory alignment. It SHOULD be good, but who knows. Many vehicles have inserts to lock the adjustments in place at the factory. That would work if every panel gets stamped the exact same size and every spot weld is exactly the same. The body should be + or - 3mm at every spec'd area. If enough of those are one way or the other, you could have body structure misalignment that could affect the wheels. I don't want anybody to freak out, but that's the way it is. Factory alignment should be very close, but every vehicle is not "aligned" per say, they are assembled to spec.

I thought those fancy Tesla robots were supposed to be accurate to the millimeter or something?

With Tesla making so much of the car in-house, you'd think it would be possible for "every panel to get stamped the exact same size and every spot weld to be exactly the same"

Though I agree that the evidence would seem to suggest this is not the case.

 

[Zapped]

This is very good information. I had the "floaty" freeway sensation and also noticed the kind of squirrelly feel under hard acceleration too. I left it until my 12,500 mile inspection where they also replaced the drive unit. I assume they did an alignment (I asked) but haven't received my service summary e-mail yet. I'll find out tomorrow when I take my 45 minute freeway drive to work.

Just go mine back and was told no alignment required but the steering wheel is off center and slight drift to right.

 

[Gizmotoy]

Just go mine back and was told no alignment required but the steering wheel is off center and slight drift to right.

Beth telltale signs of an alignment issue. Not a great sign Tesla knows what to look for.

 

[AnOutsider]

Just go mine back and was told no alignment required but the steering wheel is off center and slight drift to right.

Also had that since the beginning. Tired of fighting it, I just adapted to always putting slight left-ward pressure on the wheel.

 

[Gizmotoy]

Also had that since the beginning. Tired of fighting it, I just adapted to always putting slight left-ward pressure on the wheel.

If Tesla won't fix it, why not just take it to an alignment shop? The added benefit is that they can check for the tire-eating toe issue while they're at it.

 

[AnOutsider]

If Tesla won't fix it, why not just take it to an alignment shop? The added benefit is that they can check for the tire-eating toe issue while they're at it.

Well, I did... sort of. First Tesla told me to take it to a local BMW shop. They claimed it was fixed, it wasn't. Then I went to Tesla SC in NYC. It got better, but still pulled. My local SC took it to some place, and while it did get better if the wheel is held straight, I still have the issue where my steering wheel seems to naturally "rest" to the right. Not sure if that's an alignment issue or something with the wheel.

Either way, car drives much better than it did when I first got it, so I'll just deal. I'll need new tires in the next 500 or so miles, and at that time I'll go to an aftermarket shop to get tires and an alignment.

 

[Dreamin]

I still have the issue where my steering wheel seems to naturally "rest" to the right. Not sure if that's an alignment issue or something with the wheel.

Centering the steering wheel can be done via an alignment, meaning loosen the appropriate steering/suspension system bolts, center the wheel, and tighten the bolts.
It can also be done by removing the steering wheel, moving it over one 'gear tooth', and replacing the wheel - but having replaced a steering wheel before, this is the more complicated option.

For the curious, here is how to change a steering wheel on a Chevy product: DIY - Steering Wheel Replacement (or side-spoke cover replacement) - Corvette Forum
(Obviously, not all of this needs to be done to recenter a steering wheel.)

 

[Gizmotoy]

Did you mention the wheel was off-center when you took it in? They might not have noticed without you telling them, but an alignment can definitely correct that. You might want to seek out a performance alignment specialist in your area if no one can seem to fix it, as they're often much more accommodating of non-standard cars/alignment settings. More expensive, though.

I used to take my car to a place back in Ohio run by a former professional race car crewmember that did excellent alignment work.

 

[Zapped]

Well I paid for 3 alignments. The last one the Tesla Ranger was at the local alignment shop with some tips/riks (raise and lower suspension during alignment etc..) and got it 100%.
Guess I'll have to do it again with the drive train mods. The cost will easily pay off (tire wear, tire road noise, driving a straight line and sore arms :wink: )

 

[Dreamin]

Rear Suspension

Toe Adjustment Nut

Toe adjustment nuts are marked. I went with a very masculine glitter brown nail-polish :wink:
I will check these every month or so.
Note that these along with all the suspension bolts/nuts are marked from the factory (green). Note sure if the SC are checking these markings upon car delivery...

 

[Gizmotoy]

Note that these along with all the suspension bolts/nuts are marked from the factory (green). Note sure if the SC are checking these markings upon car delivery...

Interesting. Can you see those nuts with the wheels on? I suspect not, but the picture does make it seem possible. Maybe we can get people to shove cameras back there around the wheel to take pics and see if everyone's green lines are broken.

Thanks for the pics!

 

[DIL]

Edmunds is doing the same monitoring on their long term tester: http://www.edmunds.com/tesla/model-...el-s-monitoring-the-rear-wheel-alignment.html

 

[Dreamin]

Interesting. Can you see those nuts with the wheels on?

Just checked, yes I can see them with the wheels on. Thanks for the idea... will certainly make checking them easier!
Though not sure if they can be seen with the 21" as I think the fins are too close together...

 

[sfriedrich]

Here was mine from Friday. Car was squirrely and floaty here too. All better now.

Performance Sig 85, 21" Contis - 16,000 miles

 

[lolachampcar]

ANOTHER toe out car!!!

 

[sfriedrich]

And, just like the Edmonds guys said, it was a real pencil sharpener for rear tires too. I am very, very pleased by the improvement in handling. I was really starting to wonder before.

 

[lolachampcar]

sfr,

This is a bit of a strange request but I have been asked many times to describe what toe out feels like. Well, I can go on all day about how it helps a car rotate on slower corners and makes it feel nervous at speed but that is all race car stuff and somewhat useless when a MS owner is trying to determine if they have a rear toe problem.

Would you please start a separate thread titled something like "this is what I felt before my positive toe was fixed and this is what it felt like after" then describe in detail your feelings/findings/thoughts. it sounds a bit silly but I think it would really help other MS owners concerned about this issue.

 

[jerry33]

sThis is a bit of a strange request but I have been asked many times to describe what toe out feels like.

You should be able to feel the feathering from incorrect toe on the tires. Here are the steps:

1. Put suspension in high so that you have some room to work with.

2. Rub the palm of your hand--never the fingers--across the tire. Do this on every tire.

A. If it feels smooth going in and rough going out then there is toe in.
B. If it feels rough going in and smooth going out then there is toe out.
C. If it feels the same both ways, then you are good.

3. The tires don't lie. If you feel a difference and are told the alignment is fine--go elsewhere.

 

[sfriedrich]

sfr,

This is a bit of a strange request but I have been asked many times to describe what toe out feels like. Well, I can go on all day about how it helps a car rotate on slower corners and makes it feel nervous at speed but that is all race car stuff and somewhat useless when a MS owner is trying to determine if they have a rear toe problem.

Would you please start a separate thread titled something like "this is what I felt before my positive toe was fixed and this is what it felt like after" then describe in detail your feelings/findings/thoughts. it sounds a bit silly but I think it would really help other MS owners concerned about this issue.

I think that's a great idea. I'll try to get to it very soon.