Fender Alignment: Procedure
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2024 Tesla Model Y, 2023 Tesla Model Y, 2022 Tesla Model Y, 2021 Tesla Model Y, and 2020 Tesla Model Y. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
- Identify any adjacent panels that may also need adjustment to successfully align the fender to within specification.NOTE: If multiple panels require adjustment, the best practice is to start with a panel that is adjacent to a fixed panel on the vehicle (e.g. quarter panel or roof rail).NOTE: The optimal adjustment order is the following:
- Trunk/liftgate
- Rear doors
- Front doors
- Fenders
- Hood
- Identify what directions the fender needs to be adjusted to bring it within specification.
- Use the illustrations to identify the hardware that needs to be loosened to adjust the fender position in the necessary directions.NOTE: Model 3 illustrations shown; Model Y similar.
- Loosen the necessary bolts just enough to enable adjusting the fender with a light application of force.
- Retighten them.
- Check to see if the fit has improved.CAUTION: Adjust the fender in only one direction at a time to reduce risk of damage from panels contacting each other during the adjustment process.
- Repeat the process until the fender fit is within gap and flushness specifications.
- Re-torque all hardware that was loosened back to factory values.