Back to 2024 Tesla Model X

2024 TESLA MODEL X

Plaid Tri Motor AWDAWDAUTOMATICev
8 active safety recalls on this vehicle — view recalls
Repairs93Labor371Torque3269Fluid8DTC557Battery0Maintenance0Recalls8
maintenance

Wheel Alignment - 4 Wheel

for 2024 Tesla Model X Plaid Tri Motor AWD · AWD
Difficulty
Advanced
Time
1.5 h
Tools
9
Steps
11

Perform a four-wheel alignment on a 2024 Model X Plaid with standard air suspension. Vehicle must be set to Jack Mode and brought to its calibrated reference height before measuring or adjusting toe, camber, and caster.

Warnings

⚠️Do NOT raise this Model X using the standard rack arms without first enabling Jack Mode via the touchscreen. The air suspension will fight the lift and can damage air struts, level sensors, or the vehicle's underbody.
Falcon-wing rear doors must remain CLOSED during alignment. Opening them on a raised lift can interfere with bay structures and damage door sensors/actuators — a known failure point on Model X.
Air suspension must be at its calibrated 'Standard' ride height before measurements are taken. If ride height has been altered or a height sensor disturbed, alignment numbers will be invalid.
Aluminum body and aluminum suspension components — do not strike with steel hammers. Use a dead-blow or rubber mallet only when persuading cams.
ℹ️After alignment, the Electric Power Steering (EPS) steering angle sensor may require a relearn. The car often self-calibrates during a short drive with steady straight-line cruising; if a steering-related fault appears, a Tesla service tool relearn is required.
ℹ️Adaptive cruise / Autopilot cameras and radar are sensitive to thrust angle. A poor alignment can trigger Autopilot calibration faults.

Tools required

Alignment rack with Tesla-compatible turn plates and slip platesEssential
Imaging/laser alignment system (Hunter, John Bean, or equivalent) with current Tesla Model X 2024 specs loadedEssential
Steering wheel holderEssential
Brake pedal depressorEssential
Metric wrench/socket set (13mm–21mm)Essential
Torque wrench (5–150 Nm range)Essential
Penetrating lubricant for adjustment cams/links
Tire pressure gauge / inflatorEssential
Tesla-compatible scan tool or mobile service app for ride-height calibration if disturbed

Parts

  • Replacement tie-rod end jam nuts (only if seized/damaged during adjustment) × 2 — manufacturer-specified hardware
  • Replacement eccentric/cam bolts (only if corroded) × 2 — manufacturer-specified suspension hardware

Preparation

  1. Park on level ground, place in P, engage parking brake.
  2. Exit ALL doors with the 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 located in the frunk (similar position to Model S) before working under the vehicle if any suspension hardware will be removed. For a pure measurement-and-adjust alignment with no component R&R, the 12V may remain connected — but Sentry Mode and Summon must be OFF.
  4. DO NOT touch, cut, or pierce ANY orange cable — these are high-voltage and lethal. The HV pack is floor-mounted and runs the length of the vehicle.
  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. Confirm tire pressures are set to the door-jamb placard spec (typically cold) and that all four tires match in size, brand, and wear pattern. Mismatched tires invalidate alignment results.
  7. Inspect suspension: tie rods, ball joints, control arm bushings, air strut bellows, and ride-height sensors. Worn components must be replaced BEFORE aligning.
  8. Top off the frunk and any cargo to typical curb-weight condition; ensure fuel-equivalent (battery) state of charge is above ~50% so ride height is representative.
  9. On the touchscreen: Controls → Service → Jack Mode (or Wheel Alignment Mode if displayed) to disable air suspension self-leveling. Confirm air suspension is locked at Standard height.

Procedure

  1. 1
    Roll vehicle onto alignment rack
    Drive the Model X straight onto the alignment rack with wheels centered on turn plates (front) and slip plates (rear). Do NOT push the vehicle on with the parking brake released and the car powered off — Model X will not roll freely with regen/park engaged. Drive it on under its own power, then shift to P.
  2. 2
    Confirm air suspension at reference height
    With Jack Mode / alignment-friendly mode active and the vehicle settled, verify the suspension is at its calibrated Standard height. Bounce each corner gently and allow it to settle. If the vehicle attempts to self-level, repeat the Jack Mode entry.
    Never adjust ride height by altering sensor link length as a shortcut — Tesla calibrates ride height through software, not mechanically.
  3. 3
    Mount alignment heads and compensate
    Install the alignment system's wheel clamps/targets on all four wheels per the equipment manufacturer's instructions. Perform rolling or jacking compensation as directed by the alignment machine. Select the 2024 Tesla Model X (Plaid / air suspension) specification from the alignment database.
  4. 4
    Install steering wheel holder and brake depressor
    Center the steering wheel and lock it with the steering wheel holder. Install a brake pedal depressor to lock the brakes for caster sweep and toe measurements.
  5. 5
    Perform initial measurement
    Run the full caster sweep and record initial readings for camber, caster, toe (individual and total), thrust angle, SAI, and included angle on all four wheels. Compare to the 2024 Model X Plaid factory spec window loaded in the machine.
  6. 6
    Adjust rear toe and camber first
    Begin at the rear. Loosen the rear lower control arm eccentric/cam bolts to adjust rear camber and toe to spec. Make small adjustments and re-measure. Tesla rear suspension cams can seize over time — apply penetrating lubricant if needed and avoid hammering aluminum components.
    If a cam bolt is corroded or galled, replace it with manufacturer-specified hardware rather than forcing it.
    Torque spec
    Mounting Bolts27 Nm (20 lb-ft)
  7. 7
    Confirm rear thrust angle within spec
    After both rear toe values are set, verify thrust angle is centered (ideally 0° ± manufacturer tolerance). An off thrust angle will force a crooked steering wheel and can cause Autopilot lane-keeping anomalies.
  8. 8
    Adjust front camber/caster (if equipped with adjustment)
    On Model X, front camber adjustment is limited from the factory; if values are out of spec and no eccentric is present, inspect for bent components or worn bushings before assuming an adjustment exists. Where adjustment hardware is provided, set front camber and caster to spec following the alignment machine prompts.
    ℹ️Do not install aftermarket camber-adjustment kits without verifying compatibility with air suspension and Tesla service guidelines.
    Torque spec
    Mounting Bolts27 Nm (20 lb-ft)
  9. 9
    Adjust front toe
    With the steering wheel locked straight, loosen the tie-rod end jam nuts and rotate each inner tie rod equally to bring individual front toe to spec. Verify total toe and that the steering wheel remains centered. Re-tighten jam nuts to OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual.
    Do not grip the tie-rod boot or the inner tie-rod housing with pliers — use the wrench flats only.
  10. 10
    Final measurement and printout
    Bounce the suspension, allow the vehicle to settle, perform a final measurement sweep, and confirm all values are within the green spec band on all four corners. Print or save the before/after report.
  11. 11
    Exit Jack Mode and restore systems
    Remove alignment heads, steering holder, and brake depressor. Drive the vehicle off the rack. On the touchscreen, exit Jack Mode. Allow the air suspension to return to its commanded height.

Reassembly

  1. Confirm tie-rod jam nuts and any disturbed suspension fasteners are torqued to OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual.
  2. Verify all wheel lug nuts are tight: torque to 140 Nm (103 lb-ft) in a star pattern if any wheel was removed during the visit.
  3. Reconnect 12V battery if it was disconnected; close the frunk.
  4. Clear any suspension or steering-related alerts on the touchscreen.

Verification

  • Test drive on a flat, straight road: the steering wheel should be centered with no pull. Slight crown-following is normal.
  • Confirm no 'Vehicle may not restart' or suspension-related alerts on the instrument cluster.
  • Verify Autopilot / Traffic-Aware Cruise Control engages without lane-position drift; if Autopilot reports a calibration fault, perform a camera calibration drive (straight, well-marked road, ~20 minutes).
  • Inspect tires for any new uneven wear pattern at the next tire rotation.
  • Tesla recommends tire rotation every 6,250 miles on Model X due to instant torque and curb weight — schedule the next rotation accordingly, and re-check alignment if uneven wear is observed.
  • If the alignment was performed because of suspension component replacement, recheck ride-height calibration via Tesla service tooling and confirm air suspension is leveling correctly at all four corners.

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