Four-wheel alignment on the 2012 Tesla Roadster, which uses a Lotus Elise-derived chassis with shimmed front camber/caster, eccentric cam bolts at the rear, and threaded tie rods at both ends. Alignment specs differ from a stock Lotus and must follow Tesla Roadster-specific values.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Front upper control arm shims (if camber/caster adjustment required) × 1 — Lotus Elise-compatible alignment shim set — verify thickness against Roadster spec

Preparation

1. Park on level ground, place in neutral with parking brake engaged (manual transmission on early Roadsters — confirm gear selection per owner's manual).
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. On the Roadster the 12V auxiliary battery is located in the front trunk area — refer to the Roadster Service Manual for exact location and disconnect sequence.
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. Verify tire pressures are set to Roadster door-placard spec and tires are evenly worn; replace or rotate before alignment if wear is uneven.
7. Inspect all suspension components: ball joints, tie rod ends, control arm bushings, wheel bearings. Any play will invalidate the alignment — repair first.
8. Confirm fuel level / cargo are at the manufacturer-specified alignment condition (typically half tank, no driver weight unless spec calls for it).
9. Bounce the suspension at each corner to settle ride height before measurement.
10. Roll vehicle onto alignment rack, center steering wheel, and install steering wheel holder and brake pedal depressor.

Procedure

1. 1

   Mount and compensate alignment heads
   Install wheel clamps and alignment targets/heads on all four wheels. Perform runout compensation per the alignment system's procedure. Ensure the Roadster's wheels are unobstructed and the rack turn plates and rear slip plates are unlocked.
2. 2

   Take initial readings
   Capture as-found camber, caster, toe, thrust angle, and SAI on all four corners. Compare against Tesla Roadster specifications. Document baseline before any adjustment.
3. 3

   Inspect adjustment hardware
   Visually inspect tie rod jam nuts, rear cam bolts (eccentrics on lower control arm inboard mounts, Lotus-style), front upper control arm shim stacks, and any subframe fasteners that may have moved. Apply penetrating oil to threaded adjusters and let soak.
   ⚠Seized cam bolts are common; if a cam bolt will not break loose, stop and source replacement hardware before forcing.
4. 4

   Adjust rear toe and camber (cam bolts)
   Loosen the rear lower control arm eccentric cam bolts. Rotate the cam to bring rear camber and toe within Roadster spec. Set camber first, then toe, iterating as needed since the two interact. Equalize toe side-to-side relative to the thrust line.
   ⚠Mark cam position before fully loosening so you have a reference point to return to if needed.
   Torque spec

   Cam Bolts129 Nm (95 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Torque rear cam bolts
   With the suspension at ride height (vehicle weight on wheels), torque the rear eccentric cam bolts to specification. Re-check rear camber and toe after torquing — values can shift slightly as the cam clamps.
   ⚠Cam bolt torque is critical — under-torque allows alignment to drift; over-torque can damage the eccentric or control arm bushing sleeve.
   Torque spec

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

   Adjust front camber/caster (shims, if required)
   The Roadster uses Lotus-style shim packs at the front upper control arm inboard mounts to set camber and caster. If front camber or caster is out of spec, support the upright, loosen the upper control arm mounting bolts, and add or remove shims per the OEM adjustment chart. Reinstall and torque the upper arm mounting hardware to OEM specification — refer to Tesla Roadster Service Manual for exact value (do not assume Elise spec).
   ℹ️Shim selection and arrangement are documented in the Roadster Service Manual; do not guess shim thickness.
7. 7

   Center steering and adjust front toe
   With steering wheel locked straight, loosen the front tie rod jam nuts and rotate each tie rod equally to set front toe to spec while keeping the steering wheel centered. Make small adjustments and re-measure.
   Torque spec

   Tie Rod Jam Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
8. 8

   Torque tie rod jam nuts
   Hold the tie rod stationary with a wrench on the flats and torque the jam nuts to specification. Verify the inner tie rod boot has not twisted during adjustment.
   Torque spec

   Tie Rod Jam Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Verify tie rod end / lock nut torque
   If outer tie rod ends were disturbed or the lock nut at the steering knuckle was loosened, torque to specification.
   Torque spec

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

    Settle and re-measure
    Remove steering holder and brake depressor, roll the vehicle off the rack, bounce the suspension, then roll back on and re-clamp. Take a final set of readings on all four corners. Confirm all values are within Roadster spec, steering wheel is centered, and thrust angle is at/near zero.
11. 11

    Final torque verification
    Walk around and verify all disturbed fasteners are at final torque: cam bolts, tie rod jam nuts, tie rod lock nuts (if disturbed), camber bolts (if equipped/adjusted), and any subframe bolts that were loosened.
    ⚠️Subframe bolts and cam bolts are critical safety fasteners. Missing torque here can cause loss of vehicle control.
    Torque spec

    Cam Bolts129 Nm (95 lb-ft)

    Tie Rod Jam Nuts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)

    Tie Rod Lock Nut68 Nm (50 lb-ft)

    Camber Bolts75 Nm (55 lb-ft)

    Subframe Bolts115 Nm (85 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Reinstall any underbody panels or splash shields removed for adjuster access, torquing fasteners to OEM specification.
2. Reconnect the 12V low-voltage battery (negative last).
3. Cycle the steering lock-to-lock with the vehicle on the ground and re-check that the steering wheel remains centered.
4. Print and retain the before/after alignment report for the customer record.

Verification

• Final readings on all four wheels are within Tesla Roadster published alignment tolerances (not Lotus Elise tolerances).
• Steering wheel is centered when driving straight on a flat road; no pull left or right under light throttle and light braking.
• Thrust angle is at or near zero — a non-zero thrust angle indicates rear toe is not symmetric.
• No clunks, knocks, or steering looseness on a short road test.
• Recheck tire pressures after the road test once tires have warmed.
• Reminder: Tesla recommends tire rotation every 6,250 miles on EVs due to instant torque and curb weight — schedule next rotation accordingly. Re-check alignment after any suspension component replacement or significant pothole impact.

More procedures for this vehicle