Joe F
Disruption is hard.
Need to also report temperature when anyone feels the rough ride returned just in case it's a contributing factor. Been in the 50's here but I've not driven the last few days anyhow so nothing to report.
-
Want to remove ads? Register an account and login to see fewer ads, and become a Supporting Member to remove almost all ads.
Rough ride
- Thread starter Union Pacifik
- Start date
-
- Tags
- Driving Dynamics Model S
I agree temp could really affect the contact of the relatively massive metal and glass hatch compared to the small plastic bumpers. Temp is also a big culprit in the intermittent behaviour.
If you guys want to try a fun experiment, tape the entire hatch gap shut all the way around with blue painters tape...as close to perfect as you can get.
When I tried this, at first I assumed it generated improvements in all Teslas because the air gap was eliminated and no air could get in past the seal when bumps were hit. I later realized, it is because the tape is strong enough (when placed all the way around) to prevent (or at least reduce) the hatch from RISING whenever it hits a bump. The adjusters primarily control the downward compression stroke of the hatch, but the only thing that controls the upward expansion stroke is the tension on the hatch latch. The hatch is large enough that there is almost always some play there. The blue tape peals right off so no damage to the paint, etc. I have sometimes wondered if manual hatches are any different than power hatches in terms of how tightly they latch, etc.
If you try the tape, I recommend a night time test drive...just to avoid the embarassment of driving around with the hatch all taped up!
When I tried this, at first I assumed it generated improvements in all Teslas because the air gap was eliminated and no air could get in past the seal when bumps were hit. I later realized, it is because the tape is strong enough (when placed all the way around) to prevent (or at least reduce) the hatch from RISING whenever it hits a bump. The adjusters primarily control the downward compression stroke of the hatch, but the only thing that controls the upward expansion stroke is the tension on the hatch latch. The hatch is large enough that there is almost always some play there. The blue tape peals right off so no damage to the paint, etc. I have sometimes wondered if manual hatches are any different than power hatches in terms of how tightly they latch, etc.
If you try the tape, I recommend a night time test drive...just to avoid the embarassment of driving around with the hatch all taped up!
Last edited:
Joe F
Disruption is hard.
Ha! Drove around in the '60's with MASKING tape on the chrome on a Dodge Dart while I was painting it. Never could get that stuff off due to leaving it on over the summer!
Don't think blue painters tape existed then. After that, I'm all embarrassed out
You bring up a good point though. Power hatch vs. non powered?
PUP here so powered. Sounds as if it's being pulled tight due to the sound of the motor straining. Could be an issue for others?
Don't think blue painters tape existed then. After that, I'm all embarrassed out You bring up a good point though. Power hatch vs. non powered?
PUP here so powered. Sounds as if it's being pulled tight due to the sound of the motor straining. Could be an issue for others?
Still smooth sailing for me. All my 'test' roads are night and day difference. Also amazingly enough all my cabin rattles and squeaks are gone.
I hope this is the solution folks were seeking, I'm just saying it's hard to believe that such a simple adjustment would fix an apparent suspension issue. And by the way, your analogy is a bit overblown. The hatch isn't bouncing up and down like a child would be bouncing on the rear bumper. There might be a bit of play, but not enough to cause the type of motion you speak of.
Joe F
Disruption is hard.
How then would you explain that after raising the middle hatch bumpers, reducing the flexing (bouncing action) the issue on my car was drastically reduced if not eliminated? As I stated when I first posted about it, I too found it hard to believe, but can't dispute the results. And I also said a child bounding "just a little" which is not overblown and was carefully worded.
Not attacking, just defending observed results
Why not crank your adjusters all the way in and see what you get, and then form an opinion one way or another...
Wish I could get them to replace the suspension in my March 15 P85D. Stiffest ride I've ever owned by far. It's like a go cart with wheels attached directly to the frame. I've driven dozens of high end performance cars on track days and have owned nearly a dozen myself always with the stiffest most track ready suspension option you can get. They all ride like Cadillacs compared to my P85D. Even the P85+ loaners I've had have a far more compliant ride.
Agree. I've been in a P90DL that was not only softer than my P85DL but softer even than the P85+ loaners I've had.
Warmer weather means lower viscosity on the shock fluid passing through the valving.
I remember a long time ago, several years, reading about someone with a stiff suspension problem on the teslamotors forum and that they had found that the shock valves had not bee released or something wasn't removed that is supposed to be when their being installed. I searched for hours trying to find that thread but there is no search feature on that forum and I never did find it. I was before I bought mine so I didn't really take note of it.
Joe F
Disruption is hard.
So what did Tesla say when you took it back to be fixed, and pointed out similar models did not have the problem?
I get the viscosity issue, but thinking where you are it's not an issue. It's warmer here, but hopefully colder days ahead. Only 3+ weeks into owning the car so not enough time to claim my car is fixed. Damn global warming!
The p85+ is very rough.
Sunroof was driving us crazy with all sort of squeaks.
Solved with non-petroleum lubrication on all rubber up there (same used on mercedes to maintain rubber seals).
You jinxed it sorkaCareful, I'm about to cry mass placebo
Yesterday my rough riding returned. Only thing that changed is that we got a cold spell yesterday morning and it was in the 20s on the way to work. It's been in the low to mid 40s up until then. Today is warmer but still rough..I've gone around with them 3 times on this with 3 different visits. They're always very polite but the tech just drives the car and says it feels like other P85Ds that he's driven and that they can't find anything wrong.
Mine is in the shop now. They gave me a Chevy Fuze to drive.....and it feels wonderful! The tech I spoke with seemed more open minded about this issue than the last guy. I copied and pasted a bunch of the comments in this thread to show that many people are having the same problem.
If they tell me its suppose to be like this, I'm going to get a written statement from 3 non-Tesla mechanics with their opinion and send it directly to Tesla. So far, every non-Tesla employee that has been in my car has said the ride is crazy rough. Even my four year old mentioned it this week! If they say it's normal, I'm asking for scientific proof that it conforms to specifications. "Feels okay to me" isn't going to cut it.
If they tell me its suppose to be like this, I'm going to get a written statement from 3 non-Tesla mechanics with their opinion and send it directly to Tesla. So far, every non-Tesla employee that has been in my car has said the ride is crazy rough. Even my four year old mentioned it this week! If they say it's normal, I'm asking for scientific proof that it conforms to specifications. "Feels okay to me" isn't going to cut it.
Similar threads
