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.
