Four-wheel alignment on a 2024 Model S Long Range AWD with adjustable front camber and rear camber/toe. This is a chassis-only job — no HV systems involved — but the vehicle's air suspension (if equipped) and ride-height calibration must be in normal/standard mode before measurement.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Tie rod jam nuts (inspect, replace if deformed) × 2 — OEM specification
• Front lower control arm cam bolt kit (if seized/corroded) × 1 — OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park on level ground, place in P, engage parking brake.
2. Exit ALL doors with key fob away from the vehicle. Wait at least 2 minutes for HV systems to fully de-energize, even on this non-HV job.
3. Disconnect the 12V low-voltage battery in the front trunk (under the nose cowl panel). For 2021+ Plaid with 16V lithium, the unit is under the rear seat — verify your VIN configuration before disconnecting.
4. DO NOT touch, cut, or pierce ANY orange cable — these are high-voltage and lethal.
5. If at any point you encounter an orange cable, an HV component, or are unsure if a system is de-energized: STOP and consult a Tesla-certified technician.
6. NOTE: The 12V disconnect above is included for safety per shop policy; if you elect to keep 12V connected to use the touchscreen for ride-height selection, do not disturb any HV components and re-verify steering angle calibration at completion.
7. Confirm tire size and inflate all four tires to the door-jamb placard pressure (cold).
8. Inspect tires for uneven wear, suspension bushings for play, ball joints, tie rod ends, wheel bearings, and air strut bellows (if equipped) for leaks. Do NOT align a vehicle with worn components — the alignment will not hold.
9. Verify fuel/charge state is at a typical driving level (Tesla aligns at ~50% SOC equivalent ride loading). Remove unusual cargo from frunk and trunk.
10. If equipped with air suspension, set ride height to Standard / alignment height via the touchscreen and confirm the vehicle is not in Jack Mode.
11. Roll vehicle onto alignment rack, center on turn plates, lock turn plates and slip plates.

Procedure

1. 1

   Mount targets and perform initial measurement
   Mount alignment heads/targets on all four wheels per the alignment system manufacturer's procedure. Compensate runout. Select the correct vehicle profile (2024 Tesla Model S Long Range AWD) in the alignment software. Install steering wheel holder with wheels straight ahead and brake pedal depressor. Record the initial 'before' readings for camber, caster, toe, thrust angle, and SAI/included angle on all four corners.
2. 2

   Compare to specification
   Compare measured values to the manufacturer-specified alignment ranges for this trim and ride height. Note that Model S Long Range AWD specs differ from Plaid and from coil-spring vs. air-suspension cars. Identify which corners require adjustment. Front caster on Model S is non-adjustable in normal service — significant caster deviation indicates bent components, not an adjustment opportunity.
   ⚠If caster is significantly out of spec or side-to-side caster split exceeds spec, STOP and inspect for collision damage or bent control arms before adjusting other angles.
3. 3

   Adjust rear camber
   Adjust rear camber via the eccentric cam bolt at the inboard rear lower control link. Loosen the cam nut just enough to allow rotation, rotate the cam to bring camber into spec, then hold the cam position while torquing.
   ⚠Cam bolts on aluminum subframes can seize. Apply penetrating fluid and work the bolt back and forth gently rather than forcing it. A snapped cam bolt requires subframe-side repair.
   Torque spec

   Cam Bolts129 Nm (95 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Adjust rear toe
   Adjust rear toe at the rear toe link via the manufacturer-specified adjuster. Loosen the jam nut, rotate the link to set toe to spec on each side individually, then re-tighten the jam nut while holding the link to prevent binding the inner ball joint.
   ⚠Set rear toe BEFORE front toe — rear thrust angle determines front toe centering.
   Torque spec

   Tie Rod Jam Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Adjust front camber (if adjustable)
   2024 Model S front camber adjustment is via the upper control arm or lower-arm cam bolt depending on configuration — verify the adjustment point on this specific vehicle. Loosen the appropriate cam/camber bolt, set camber to specification, then torque while holding the cam.
   Torque spec

   Camber Bolts75 Nm (55 lb-ft)

   Cam Bolts129 Nm (95 lb-ft)
6. 6

   Center steering wheel
   With steering wheel holder in place and wheels mechanically straight per the alignment system, prepare to set front toe with the wheel centered. If the existing wheel is off-center, plan equal-and-opposite tie rod adjustments to correct.
7. 7

   Adjust front toe
   Loosen the outer tie rod jam nut on each side. Rotate the inner tie rod (turning the rod itself, not the boot) to bring individual toe to spec while keeping the steering wheel centered. Equalize adjustments left-to-right to maintain wheel centering. Ensure the inner tie rod boot is not twisted at completion — un-twist if needed before locking down.
   ⚠Do not turn the tie rod by gripping the rubber boot — this will tear the boot and require inner tie rod replacement.
8. 8

   Lock tie rod adjustments
   While holding the tie rod against rotation, torque the tie rod jam nut / lock nut to specification. Re-measure toe immediately after torquing to confirm no change occurred during nut tightening.
   Torque spec

   Tie Rod Jam Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)

   Tie Rod Lock Nut68 Nm (50 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Final torque verification on cam bolts
   Re-confirm all cam bolts and camber bolts are at final torque. Cam bolts are CRITICAL fasteners — under-torque allows the cam to walk under load, and the alignment will drift within the first few hundred miles.
   ⚠️An untorqued cam bolt can allow a control arm to shift under braking, causing sudden alignment change and loss of control. Verify torque with a calibrated wrench.
   Torque spec

   Cam Bolts129 Nm (95 lb-ft)

   Camber Bolts75 Nm (55 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Settle suspension and re-measure
    Remove the steering wheel holder and brake pedal depressor. Unlock turn plates and slip plates. Roll the vehicle off and back onto the rack, or jounce the suspension per the alignment system's procedure to settle bushings. Re-measure all angles and confirm everything is within spec. Re-adjust if any value drifted out.
11. 11

    Print and save final report
    Print the before/after alignment report. Save a digital copy with the VIN for the customer's records. Note ride height mode used during alignment on the printout.

Reassembly

1. Reinstall any wheel covers / aero covers removed for target mounting.
2. Reconnect the 12V (or 16V) low-voltage battery if it was disconnected. Allow the vehicle to wake and complete its boot sequence.
3. Close frunk / rear seat access used for battery disconnect.
4. Perform a steering angle sensor (SAS) relearn / calibration per the manufacturer-specified procedure. On Model S this typically requires driving straight for a short distance at low speed; if a fault persists, the calibration must be performed with Tesla-approved diagnostic software.
5. Verify Autopilot/Lane-Keep camera calibration is not faulted. Significant alignment changes (especially thrust angle) can require an Autopilot camera recalibration drive cycle — inform the customer this may take 30+ miles of varied driving to complete.

Verification

• Test drive on a flat, crowned road: vehicle should track straight with steering wheel centered, no pull, and no off-center steering wheel.
• Confirm no Autopilot, EPAS, or stability control warnings on the touchscreen after the test drive.
• Re-check tire pressures cold the next day — alignment is invalid if pressures were wrong during measurement.
• Recommend a follow-up tire rotation at the next 6,250 mi interval (Tesla's recommended rotation interval) to extend tire life — Model S Long Range AWD wears tires aggressively due to weight and instant torque.
• Advise the customer that if the car was aligned at Standard ride height, frequent use of Low or High air-suspension modes will not damage alignment, but extended off-road / heavy-cargo use can shift settled bushings — re-check at next tire rotation.
• Document final readings in service records with VIN, date, mileage, and ride-height mode used.

More procedures for this vehicle