Alignment Specs: 2011-2018 Volkswagen Touareg

Alignment Specs: 2011-2018 Volkswagen Touareg

The Touareg is not your typical vehicle to align. It has a stability control system that needs a recalibration of the steering angle sensor if the toe front or rear is adjusted. On vehicles with air ride systems, lifting the vehicle for a repair requires that the vehicle lift mode must be activated. The vehicle lift mode switches the air suspension control off. This prevents readjusting of the air springs when the vehicle is lifted. Vehicle lift mode is automatically switched off at a speed above 3 mph.

The second-generation VW Touareg hit the roads in 2011 and just finished its production run this year. Aligning the second-generation Touareg is very similar to the previous generation. Previous-generation Touareg models had uneven and rapid tire wear problems. The second generation is not known for this issue.

Precautions
The Touareg is not your typical vehicle to align. It has a stability control system that needs a recalibration of the steering angle sensor if the toe front or rear is adjusted.

On vehicles with air ride systems, lifting the vehicle for a repair requires that the vehicle lift mode must be activated. The vehicle lift mode switches the air suspension control off. This prevents readjusting of the air springs when the vehicle is lifted. Vehicle lift mode is automatically switched off at a speed above 3 mph.

Use the following procedure to deactivate the air suspension:
1. Switch on the electrical parking brake.
2. Switch on the ignition.
3. Press the LOCK button in the center console for 5 seconds.

The “Vehicle Lift Mode” is Displayed In the Instrument Cluster and the Indicator Lamp is the LOCK Button Flashes.

Inspect the tires before alignment. According to VW, the tread depth difference may be no more than 2 mm on an axle. Also, the service information says wheel alignment should not be done until the vehicle has been driven 1,000 to 2,000 km (621 to 1243 miles), since it takes this long for the coil springs to settle.

Front Suspension
At the front of the Touareg is a double wishbone with a tall knuckle. The suspension can have either air or coil springs. The lower control arm inboard mounts have factory-installed cam bolts to adjust the camber and caster. The front lower cam bolt adjusts camber and the rear bolt adjusts caster.

The most common failure on these models is the lower shock bushing. Upper control arm bolts are torque-to-yield with a torque spec of 50 Nm and a turn of 180 degrees.

Rear Suspension
The rear suspension is a multi-link setup with a large lower control arm. Toe is adjusted with the toe link and camber is adjusted using the cam bolt in the lower control arm.

If the rear tires have inner edge wear, inspect the bushings for damage. Most likely, the bushing that attaches the knuckle to the lower control arm is damaged.

You May Also Like

Steering Angle Sensor Operations

It is important for the ABS/ESC module to receive two signals to verify the steering wheel’s position.

Measuring the steering wheel position angle, rate of turn and torque applied by the driver are typically the job of a sensor cluster that contains multiple steering angle sensors (SAS).

The sensor cluster will always have more than one steering angle sensor. Some sensor clusters have three sensors for redundancy, for improving the resolution of the sensor cluster and to confirm the data. It is important for the ABS/ESC module to receive two signals to verify the steering wheel’s position. These signals are often out of phase with each other.  

Chassis Alignment

The source of the complaint can be the angles, electronics or tires.

Laying Out Your Shop for ADAS/EV Repairs

With so many vehicles equipped with some form of ADAS, rethinking your electronics layout or plan might be in order.

Broken Springs

What is the cause for the failure? Why does it occur with specific vehicles?

The Importance Of ADAS Calibrations

Following best practices and using appropriate equipment ensure customer satisfaction and safety.

Other Posts

Audi MLB Alignment

The alignment of these vehicles can be straightforward mechanically

AWD and ABS Services

AWD is always engaged and with the ABS brake modulator, can perform like systems with limited-slip differentials.

Love’s To Debut Hunter Hawkeye XL Alignment System

New heavy-duty system designed to deliver accurate measurements in four minutes or less to debut at five Love’s locations.

Why Do Vehicles Go Out Of Alignment

If camber, caster or toe are out of specifications, there is usually a reason why.