Four-wheel alignment on a 2024 Tesla Model X Plaid Tri Motor. Air suspension and AWD geometry require the vehicle to be at standard ride height with calibration considerations before measuring and adjusting toe, camber, and caster.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Replacement cam bolts/eccentric hardware (only if seized or corroded) × 1 — OEM-specified front lower control arm cam bolt set
• Tie rod jam nuts (only if damaged) × 2 — OEM specification

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 (lift frunk liner/access panel per service manual). This prevents air suspension from self-leveling during the procedure if the vehicle is lifted off the alignment rack.
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. Reconnect the 12V before driving the vehicle onto the alignment rack so air suspension can self-level. Once on the rack at Standard ride height, you may again disconnect 12V if leaving for an extended period — otherwise leave connected and use Jack Mode only if lifting.
7. Confirm tire pressures match the door-jamb placard (cold) — unequal pressures invalidate alignment readings.
8. Inspect tires for uneven wear, suspension bushings for play, ball joints, tie rod ends, and wheel bearings before alignment. Document any worn components — alignment of a worn chassis is wasted labor.
9. Verify ride height using Tesla touchscreen / Service Mode is at Standard. Note: factory ride-height calibration may be required if components were replaced.
10. Center the steering wheel and install steering wheel holder. Install brake pedal depressor.

Procedure

1. 1

   Drive vehicle onto alignment rack
   With air suspension at Standard height, drive the Model X onto the alignment rack so front wheels are centered on turn plates and rear wheels on slip plates. Allow the vehicle to settle. Jounce the suspension front and rear to relieve any preload.
2. 2

   Mount alignment heads and compensate
   Mount the alignment targets/heads on all four wheels per the alignment system's instructions. Perform wheel runout compensation. Select the correct 2024 Tesla Model X profile in the alignment software.
3. 3

   Measure baseline alignment
   Capture initial readings for front and rear: camber, caster, toe, SAI, included angle, thrust angle, and setback. Compare against Tesla factory specifications loaded in the alignment system. Print or save the 'before' report.
4. 4

   Adjust rear toe
   Always start at the rear. Loosen the rear toe link adjustment hardware on each side and rotate the eccentric/adjuster to bring rear toe within spec, equalizing side-to-side to minimize thrust angle. Do not final-torque until camber is also set.
5. 5

   Adjust rear camber
   Adjust rear camber via the manufacturer-specified eccentric/cam bolt on the rear lower control arm. Bring camber within spec and equal side-to-side. Once both rear toe and camber are in spec, torque the cam bolts to final spec.
   ⚠Cam Bolts are CRITICAL fasteners — torque only after final adjustment. Hold the cam from rotating while torquing the nut to avoid disturbing the setting.
   Torque spec

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

   Adjust front caster (if equipped/adjustable)
   If the front geometry on this Model X allows caster adjustment, set caster within spec and as equal side-to-side as possible (cross-caster within 0.3°). Caster is typically adjusted before camber on the front.
7. 7

   Adjust front camber
   Adjust front camber via the front upper or lower control arm cam/eccentric bolt as equipped. Bring camber within spec, equalized side-to-side. Torque the camber adjustment hardware to specification after final adjustment.
   Torque spec

   Camber Bolts75 Nm (55 lb-ft)
8. 8

   Center steering wheel and adjust front toe
   With the steering wheel locked dead-center using the holder, loosen the tie rod jam nuts on both sides. Rotate each tie rod equally to set total front toe to spec while keeping the steering wheel centered. Make small (1/6 turn) iterative adjustments and re-measure.
   ⚠Use a backup wrench on the tie rod flats — do not let the inner tie rod or rack boot rotate, or you will damage the rack.
9. 9

   Torque tie rod jam nuts / lock nuts
   Once front toe is in spec and the steering wheel is centered, hold the tie rod from rotating and torque the jam nut. If your Model X uses a separate lock nut at the outer tie rod end, torque it to the lock-nut spec instead.
   ⚠Tie rod jam/lock nuts are CRITICAL safety fasteners. Under-torque can allow toe to drift and cause loss of steering control.
   Torque spec

   Tie Rod Jam Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)

   Tie Rod Lock Nut68 Nm (50 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Final measurement and recheck
    Jounce the suspension, recheck all angles, and confirm steering wheel is centered. Verify thrust angle is near zero. Print the 'after' report and attach to the work order.
11. 11

    Reinstall any removed covers/shields
    If any aero shields, splash trays, or access covers were removed for tie rod or cam bolt access, reinstall them now and torque their fasteners to OEM specification.
    Torque spec

    Cover Screws11 Nm (8 lb-ft)

    Bracket Bolts20 Nm (15 lb-ft)

    Mounting Bolts27 Nm (20 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Remove alignment heads, steering wheel holder, and brake pedal depressor.
2. Roll the vehicle off the rack and re-jounce the suspension on level ground.
3. Reconnect the 12V battery if it was disconnected. Close the frunk.
4. Allow the vehicle to wake fully — verify air suspension returns to Standard height on its own.
5. Reset the Tesla tire/alignment-related learned values via the touchscreen if applicable (e.g., tire configuration if tires were changed).

Verification

• Test drive on a straight, level road. Steering wheel must be centered with no pull.
• Confirm no new warnings on the touchscreen — especially related to steering, ADAS cameras, or air suspension.
• If lane-keeping, Autosteer, or Autopilot behavior feels off after alignment (drifting, off-center steering input), camera/steering-angle recalibration via Tesla Service Mode or Toolbox is required at a Tesla-certified facility.
• Recheck tire wear pattern at the next tire rotation interval (Tesla recommends every 6,250 mi — Model X Plaid wears tires aggressively due to weight and instant torque).
• If this alignment was paired with brake or suspension work, remember Tesla's other interval items: brake fluid every 2 years, cabin air filter every 2 years (3 years if HEPA-equipped), and battery coolant inspection at 4 years / 50,000 mi.

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