Model S Wheel Alignment Advice

[Mighty Monk]

2017 Model S 75D.
Took this for a hunter wheel alignment. 4 fresh oem acoustic foam 19" wheels.
Told the front was fine but rear was out and would be a big job to take the tray off, come back another day.

Just wondering views on this, how bad is it?
Will be another 4 weeks until I can get booked in, ok to drive until then? Front ok?

Not been to the garage before and new to this so just looking for a 2nd take.
Many thanks in advance for any help.

 

[beatle]

You've got a touch of toe out, but not a lot. Toe out in the rear can make the car more inclined to rotate/oversteer and will increase tire wear, but for daily driving this should not be a problem. Who knows how long your alignment has been out of whack, so unless you find the car skittish as-is, it is fine to drive.

It is not a "big job" to remove the rear panel. It is 19 easy to access bolts and 4 clips. To do it on a lift with a power tool would take just a few minutes.

Sounds like a lazy shop or one that just doesn't want to work on a Tesla.

 

[Aggmeister2010]

I agree with @beatle. Rear camber isn't adjustable from the factory, so the only thing to adjust is toe. your toe settings are wrong, but not something that needs urgent panic-mode adjustment. Just do it when you can.

The thing that's strange to me, though, is that they didn't do super well on the front alignment. The camber is way off. If I'm reading it right, you have negative camber on the left, and positive camber on the right...leaving you with a significant cross-camber that will cause the car to pull.

 

[Mighty Monk]

So Ive actually just got back from the rear alignment just after the new post. New result below.

On the first go they told me the front was fine, no need to align and so has just been left. I don’t believe they touched it, but @Aggmeister2010 I wish I’d seen your comment before as yes that is concerning!

Going by this, £135 in and can’t say I’m too impressed by a shop that specialises in alignment!

 

[beatle]

Sheesh, what gets me is that when you look at the "specified range" values for camber and caster, you can see FL is out of spec for caster, and FR is out of spec for caster AND camber. The fact that you have positive camber on any wheel is silly.

At least you no longer have toe out in the rear.

 

[Aggmeister2010]

Sheesh, what gets me is that when you look at the "specified range" values for camber and caster, you can see FL is out of spec for caster, and FR is out of spec for caster AND camber. The fact that you have positive camber on any wheel is silly.

At least you no longer have toe out in the rear.

Yeah, that's bad enough to ask for your money back. Can't believe the shop is complaining about the rear when they cant even get the front right.

 

[Mighty Monk]

Yeah, that's bad enough to ask for your money back. Can't believe the shop is complaining about the rear when they cant even get the front right.

Well I queried the camber being so bad and have been told the front Camber can't be adjusted. That tesla just don't have the tools available.

They said essentially the current state will help keep it straight and is more beneficial to right hand turns (more common on UK roads). So whilst it's out, it's nothing to worry about. They've done the best with the limited options with what they have and they so the same with all teslas they get, but to come back after 1000 miles for a tread wear check.

I'll be honest, I've no idea if it's all bull or they know far too much and I just can't compherend.
I'll side with the latter for peace of mind for now

 

[Aggmeister2010]

Well I queried the camber being so bad and have been told the front Camber can't be adjusted. That tesla just don't have the tools available.

They said essentially the current state will help keep it straight and is more beneficial to right hand turns (more common on UK roads). So whilst it's out, it's nothing to worry about. They've done the best with the limited options with what they have and they so the same with all teslas they get, but to come back after 1000 miles for a tread wear check.

I'll be honest, I've no idea if it's all bull or they know far too much and I just can't compherend.
I'll side with the latter for peace of mind for now

It's total bull.

Front camber is easily adjustable via the eccentric inner bolt on the lower control arm. The tools needed are....a wrench. That's it. There's no special tools for doing alignments. Loosen the nut, turn the bolt, tighten the nut. Done.

Camber can't be adjusted on the rear from factory, but your measurements aren't terrible there. They're just terrible where that shop did adjustments!

On the front...
Camber is adjusted on the lower aft control arm.
Caster is adjusted via the lower front control arm.
Toe is adjusted via the tie rod ends.

It's incredibly easy. Hell, I've done my own alignments with the old string method in my driveway, without a giant Hunter Hammerhead machine, and they came out better than that shop did.

That shop has no clue what they're talking about. Don't go back. Take your car to a performance shop and they'll get it right.

 

[Dangerous Fish]

Well I queried the camber being so bad and have been told the front Camber can't be adjusted. That tesla just don't have the tools available.

They said essentially the current state will help keep it straight and is more beneficial to right hand turns (more common on UK roads). So whilst it's out, it's nothing to worry about. They've done the best with the limited options with what they have and they so the same with all teslas they get, but to come back after 1000 miles for a tread wear check.

I'll be honest, I've no idea if it's all bull or they know far too much and I just can't compherend.
I'll side with the latter for peace of mind for now

Where are you in the UK?

 

[Mighty Monk]

@Aggmeister2010
Ah damn, thanks for the info.
Well I’ll try and get my money back some way or another. How bad would you say it is to drive on as is?

Annoying I thought this WAS a performance place! Had to try lots of places for anyone to take a Tesla and a 40 minute trip each way.
www.stswheelalignment.co.uk
One to avoid!

@Dangerous Fish im based just north of London.

 

[Aggmeister2010]

@Aggmeister2010
Ah damn, thanks for the info.
Well I’ll try and get my money back some way or another. How bad would you say it is to drive on as is?

Annoying I thought this WAS a performance place! Had to try lots of places for anyone to take a Tesla and a 40 minute trip each way.
www.stswheelalignment.co.uk
One to avoid!

@Dangerous Fish im based just north of London.

It’s not like it’s dangerous to drive, it’s just a bizarre alignment that will have your tires wear very oddly.

It always amazes me that there are still shops that wont do alignments on Teslas. They are commonplace now, and one of the easier cars to align IMO.

 

[Dangerous Fish]

@Aggmeister2010
Ah damn, thanks for the info.
Well I’ll try and get my money back some way or another. How bad would you say it is to drive on as is?

Annoying I thought this WAS a performance place! Had to try lots of places for anyone to take a Tesla and a 40 minute trip each way.
www.stswheelalignment.co.uk
One to avoid!

@Dangerous Fish im based just north of London.

Hopefully Amersham isn't too far for you to go? Amersham MOT - Home
Ask for Joe Barber. He has been doing alignments on Teslas for years, is an expert in his field and charges fairly for the work unlike a lot of alignment centres who like charging a fixed high price regardless of how much alignment work they actually do on the day.