Plaid Vibration around 38-42MPH....

[SDRick]

Mine is creaking from the front suspension. They are really struggling to find the source. First they thought it was the sway bar bushings, but that didn't fix it. Now they are trying the radiator mounts? Something squeaks when the frame torques left<-->right, like going up a driveway entrance at an angle.

I had my 2022 P in three times for the low-speed creaking in the front. It was permanently cured the fourth time by taking off and cleaning the bash bar\plate and re-torquing to specs.

 

[WilliamG]

What month build is your Plaid? I have an April build 2022 and I don't get the persistent vibrations after the initial cold start, though it may be too early. I'll check back in if vibration develops again once I put some more miles on the car post-service.

Mine is a late May, 2022 build.

 

[n2mb_racing]

I had my 2022 P in three times for the low-speed creaking in the front. It was permanently cured the fourth time by taking off and cleaning the bash bar\plate and re-torquing to specs.

I've told them about that and they said they did that several times. I hope they actually did it. This time they've been using microphones and driving up a little driveway over and over again, dozens of times.... It's been in service for 23 days now ..

 

[jebinc]

I've told them about that and they said they did that several times. I hope they actually did it. This time they've been using microphones and driving up a little driveway over and over again, dozens of times.... It's been in service for 23 days now ..

Lemon law time? Buyback?

 

[joga]

I originally posted back in Dec '21 that I had vibration issues coming from the front of the car consistent with the title of this post. On a road trip to San Francisco in March, I noticed quite a bit more vibration at >=70mph as well. My wife also mentioned the vibration. Anyway, I took the car in to Tesla service to their new facility in Beaverton, OR. The tech took a test drive with me and, though he noticed the vibration, it wasn't obvious to him the front drive shafts were the problem. They ended up replacing them and it solved the problem.

 

[MarcG]

I originally posted back in Dec '21 that I had vibration issues coming from the front of the car consistent with the title of this post. On a road trip to San Francisco in March, I noticed quite a bit more vibration at >=70mph as well. My wife also mentioned the vibration. Anyway, I took the car in to Tesla service to their new facility in Beaverton, OR. The tech took a test drive with me and, though he noticed the vibration, it wasn't obvious to him the front drive shafts were the problem. They ended up replacing them and it solved the problem.

How long ago (or how many miles ago) did you have the half shafts replaced?

 

[SDRick]

There seems to be much talk about the 1/2 shafts and vibration. What changes or what happens to them that requires these replacements? Is it a big job, how long does it take?

 

[Akimoto]

Links helped, but for me didn't 100% remove the vibration

 

[WilliamG]

Links helped, but for me didn't 100% remove the vibration

Yep, same as my findings here.

 

[TBAnnounced]

If you want to get hands on, swap your tires to the rear and see if the issue follows or goes away. I'm guessing it's a wheel/tire balance/runout issue. The motors are held to a very high standard when it comes to balancing and tolerances. The hubs are also pretty high tolerance. The half shafts and rotors are not held to very tight tolerances, and the wheels/tires have extremely loose tolerances (hence wheel weights).
You can balance a tire to get rid of almost all vibration, but if there is a lateral balance issue, it can present itself like this. It's easily fixed with a dynamic balancer and wheel weights.
If the wheel is out of round >1/8" it should be discarded/replaced because it cannot be fixed with weights. 1/8" is a rule of thumb though. On a car that is meant for this kind of performance, I would think that number would be lower. I can't imagine how an 1/8" out of round would feel/handle at 150+mph.

Good luck!

I have a 22 MSLR (21 factory wheels w/ Mitchell on PS4 5k on them) get a shake in the yoke at 75-85 mph. At 150 nothing at 35 nothing. So I had front wheels and tires re-balanced 2 times . Still do it’s. Put my other set of 19s on smooth nothing !!
Nothing was bent damaged or repaired at any point. Nor is anything detectable from road debris or pothole. It’s definitely a front tire because of the steering wheel shake. Quick tip as if you feel your seat bottom semi you know it’s coming from the rear.
I do calibrate the car for the size tire that is on the vehicle when I do make the change. Not that it matters, but I do have an Unplugged .Not that it matters, but I do have an Unplugged performance adaptive lowering kit.

 

[jebinc]

I have a 22 MSLR (21 factory wheels w/ Mitchell on PS4 5k on them) get a shake in the yoke at 75-85 mph. At 150 nothing at 35 nothing. So I had front wheels and tires re-balanced 2 times . Still do it’s. Put my other set of 19s on smooth nothing !!
Nothing was bent damaged or repaired at any point. Nor is anything detectable from road debris or pothole. It’s definitely a front tire because of the steering wheel shake. Quick tip as if you feel your seat bottom semi you know it’s coming from the rear.
I do calibrate the car for the size tire that is on the vehicle when I do make the change. Not that it matters, but I do have an Unplugged .Not that it matters, but I do have an Unplugged performance adaptive lowering kit.

Defective belt in tire.

 

[joga]

How long ago (or how many miles ago) did you have the half shafts replaced?

They were replaced two weeks ago.

 

[TBAnnounced]

Defective belt in tire.

I was thinking that ! If I didn’t own the tires since day one I would say that one sat flat for extend period of time. didn’t think I could have been defective all a long.

 

[MarkLy]

Mobile service thinks the virbration is the half shafts and they are picking up the car next week to change them out. It's a vibration that comes through the yoke, that feels very similar to a tire imbalance.

 

[aerodyne]

MS LR one year old, 4.5k, always in chill, no vibrations...Yet!

 

[Propofoln]

no 40-50 vibration with my 2023 plaid but have the new, dreaded 80+ MPH vibration

 

[DayTrippin]

no 40-50 vibration with my 2023 plaid but have the new, dreaded 80+ MPH vibration

If I had to deal with one of them, I'll take the 38-42 mph one. It is very transitory to me and honestly I spend more time at 80+ than I do between 38-42.

 

[Propofoln]

If I had to deal with one of them, I'll take the 38-42 mph one. It is very transitory to me and honestly I spend more time at 80+ than I do between 38-42.

Oh 100% agree. Wish I had my 2021 back that only had that. Regret upgrading now

 

[n2mb_racing]

Oh 100% agree. Wish I had my 2021 back that only had that. Regret upgrading now

What's the 80+ vibration? Oh dear.

 

[Propofoln]

What's the 80+ vibration? Oh dear.

Vibration like the wheels are unbalanced at 80+ mph, and the wheel are balanced.