Service Manual2004 SUSPENSION DIAGNOSIS

SECTION 2A

SUSPENSION DIAGNOSIS

DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION AND PROCEDURES

GENERAL DIAGNOSIS

Problems in the steering, the suspension, the tires, and the wheels involve several systems. Consider all systems when diagnosing a complaint. Some problems, such as abnormal or excessive tire wear and scuffed tires, may be the result of hard driving. Always road test the vehicle first. If possible, do this road test with the customer.

Proceed with the following preliminary checks. Correct any substandard conditions.

Preliminary Checks

Checks	Action
Inspect the tires for improper pressure and uneven wear.	Inflate the tires to the proper pressure.
Inspect the joint from the steering column to the Steering gear for loose connections or wear.	Tighten the intermediate shaft pinch bolts. Replace the Intermediate shaft as needed.
Inspect the front and the rear suspension, the steering gear, and the linkage for loose or damaged parts.	Tighten the front and rear suspension. Tight the steering gear mounting bracket bolts. Tighten the coupling flange pinch bolts. Replace the front and the rear suspension as needed. Replace the steering gear as needed. Replace the intermediate shaft as needed.
Inspect for out-of-round tires.	Perform a free runout test. Match-mount the tires.
Inspect for out-of-balance tires, bent wheels, and worn or loose wheel bearings.	Balance the wheels. Replace the wheels. Replace the Wheel bearing.
Check the power steering pump serpentine belt tension.	Tight the power steering pump serpentine belt.
Inspect for power steering system for leaks. Check the power steering fluid level.	Repair any leaks. Perform a power steering gear test. Add power steering fluid.

Car Lead/Pull

Checks	Action
Inspect for mismatched or uneven tires.	Replace the tires.
Inspect for a broken or a sagging spring.	Replace the spring.
Inspect for a radial tire lateral force.	Check the wheel alignment. Switch the wheels. Replace the tires as needed.
Check the front-wheel alignment.	Align the front wheels.
Inspect for an off-center steering gear.	Reseat the pinion valve assembly. Replace the pinion valve assembly as needed.
Inspect for front-brake dragging.	Adjust the front brakes.

Abnormal or Excessive Tire Wear

Checks	Action
Check the front-wheel and the rear-wheel alignment.	Align the front and rear wheels.
Inspect for excessive toe on the front and the rear wheels.	Adjust the toe on the front and rear wheels.
Inspect for a broken or a sagging spring.	Replace the spring.
Inspect for out-of-balance tires.	Balance the tires.
Inspect for worn strut dampeners.	Replace the strut dampeners.
Check for a failure to rotate tires.	Rotate the tires. Replace the tires as needed.
Check for an overloaded vehicle.	Maintain the proper load weight.
Inspect for low tire inflation.	Inflate the tires to the proper pressure.

Scuffed Tires

Checks	Action
Inspect for incorrect toe on the front and the rear wheels.	Adjust the toe on the front and rear wheels.
Inspect for a twisted or a bent suspension arm.	Replace the suspension arm.

Wheel Tramp

Checks	Action
Inspect for an out-of-balance tire or wheel.	Balance the tire or wheel.
Inspect for improper strut dampener action.	Replace the strut dampeners.

Shimmy, Shake, or Vibration

Checks	Action
Inspect for an out-of-balance tire or wheel.	Balance the tire or wheel.
Inspect for excessive wheel hub runout.	Measure the hub flange runout. Replace the hub as needed.
Inspect for excessive brake drum or brake rotor Imbalance.	Adjust the brakes. Replace the brake rotor or the brake drum as needed.
Inspect for worn tie rod ends.	Replace the outer tie rods.
Inspect for wheel trim imbalance.	Balance the wheel.
Inspect for a worn lower ball joint.	Replace the lower ball joint.
Inspect for excessive wheel runout.	Measure the wheel runout. Replace the wheel as needed.
Inspect for excessive loaded radial runout on the tire and wheel assembly.	Match-mount the tire and wheel assembly.

Hard Steering

Checks	Action
Check the steering rear preload adjustment.	Perform a rack bearing preload adjustment.
Check the hydraulic system. Test the power steering system pressure with a gauge.	Replace the seals and the hoses as needed.
Inspect for binding or catching in the steering gear.	Lubricate the steering gear. Repair or replace the steering gear as needed.
Inspect for a loose steering gear mounting.	Tighten the steering gear mounting bracket bolts and nuts.

Too Much Play in Steering

Checks	Action
Inspect for worn or loose wheel bearings.	Tighten the drive axle nut. Replace the wheel bearings as needed.
Inspect for a loose steering gear mounting.	Tighten the steering gear mounting bracket bolts and nuts.
Inspect the joint from the column to the steering gear for loose connections or wear.	Tighten the intermediate shaft pinch bolts. Replace the intermediate shaft as needed.
Check the steering rear preload adjustment.	Perform a rack bearing preload adjustment.

Poor Returnability

Checks	Action
Inspect for lack of lubrication of the ball joints and the tie rod ends.	Replace the ball joints and the outer tie rods.
Inspect for binding in the ball joints.	Replace the ball joint.
Inspect for binding in the steering column.	Lubricate the steering column. Replace the steering column as needed.
Check the front-wheel alignment.	Align the front wheel.
Check the steering gear preload adjustment.	Perform a rack bearing preload adjustment.
Inspect for a sticking valve.	Lubricate the pinion valve assembly. Replace the pinion valve assembly as needed.
Inspect for binding in the intermediate shaft on the steering gear.	Replace the intermediate shaft.

Abnormal Noise, Front Suspension

Checks	Action
Inspect for lack of lubrication of the ball joints and the tie rod ends.	Replace the ball joints and the outer tie rods.
Inspect for damaged suspension components.	Replace the damaged suspension components.
Inspect for worn control arm bushings or tie rod ends.	Replace the control arm bushings or the tie rods.
Inspect for a loose stabilizer shaft link.	Tight the stabilizer shaft link.
Inspect for loose wheel nuts.	Tight the wheel nuts.
Inspect for loose suspension bolts or nuts.	Tight the suspension bolts or nuts.
Inspect for loose wheel covers.	Tight the wheel covers.
Inspect for worn strut dampeners or strut mountings.	Replace the strut dampeners. Tight the strut mounting nuts.
Inspect for an improperly positioned strut spring.	Adjust the strut spring to the proper position.

Wander or Poor Steering Ability

Checks	Action
Inspect for mismatched or uneven tires.	Replace the tires.
Inspect for lack of lubrication of the ball joints and the tie rod ends.	Replace the ball joints and the outer tie rods.
Inspect for worn strut.	Replace the strut dampeners.
Inspect for a loose stabilizer shaft link.	Tight the stabilizer shaft link.
Inspect for a broken or a sagging spring.	Replace the spring.
Check the steering gear preload adjustment.	Perform a rack bearing preload adjustment.
Check the front-wheel and the rear-wheel alignment.	Align the front and the rear wheels.

Erratic Steering when Braking

Checks	Action
Inspect for worn or loose wheel bearings.	Replace the wheel bearings.
Inspect for a broken or a sagging spring.	Replace the spring.
Inspect for a leaking wheel cylinder or caliper.	Replace the wheel cylinder or caliper.
Inspect for warped rotors.	Replace the rotors.
Inspect for an incorrect or an uneven caster.	If the caster is beyond specifications, check the frame and repair it as needed.

Low or Uneven Trim Height

Checks	Action
Inspect for a broken or a sagging spring.	Replace the spring.
Check for an overloaded vehicle.	Maintain the proper load weight.
Inspect for an incorrect or weak spring.	Replace the spring.

Ride Too Soft

Checks	Action
Inspect for worn strut dampeners.	Replace the strut dampeners.
Inspect for a broken or a sagging spring.	Replace the spring.

Ride Too Harsh

Checks	Action
Inspect for worn strut dampeners.	Replace the strut dampeners.
Inspect for a broken or a sagging spring.	Replace the spring.

Body Leans or Sways in Corners

Checks	Action
Inspect for a loose stabilizer shaft link.	Tighten the stabilizer shaft link.
Inspect for worn strut dampeners or strut mountings.	Replace the strut dampeners. Tighten the strut assembly mounting nuts.
Check for an overloaded vehicle.	Maintain the proper load weight.
Inspect for a broken or a sagging spring.	Replace the spring.

Suspension Bottoms

Checks	Action
Inspect for worn strut dampeners.	Replace the strut dampeners.
Check for an overloaded vehicle.	Maintain the proper load weight.
Inspect for a broken or a sagging spring.	Replace the spring.

Steering Wheel Kickback

Checks	Action
Inspect for air in the power steering system.	Replace the power steering system of air.
Inspect for a loose steering gear mounting.	Tighten the steering gear mounting bracket bolts and nuts.
Inspect for joint from the column to the steering gear for loose connections or wear.	Tighten the intermediate shaft pinch bolts. Replace the intermediate shaft as needed.
Inspect for loose tie rod ends.	Tighten the tie rod ends. Replace the outer tie rods as needed.
Inspect for loose or loose wheel bearings.	Tighten the drive axle nut. Replace the wheel bearings as needed.

Steering Wheel Surges or Jerks

Checks	Action
Check the hydraulic system. Test the power steering system pressure with a gauge.	Replace the seals and the hoses as needed.
Inspect for a sluggish steering gear valve.	Clean the pinion valve assembly. Replace the pinion valve assembly as needed.
Inspect for a loose power steering pump serpentine belt.	Adjust the power steering pump serpentine belt.

Cupped Tires

Checks	Action
Check the front-wheel and the rear-wheel alignment.	Align the front and the rear wheels.
Inspect for worn strut dampeners.	Replace the strut dampeners.
Inspect for worn or loose wheel bearings.	Tighten the drive axle nut. Replace the wheel bearings as needed.
Inspect for excessive tire or wheel runout.	Match-mount the tires. Replace the tires as needed. Replace the wheels as needed.
Inspect for a worn ball joint.	Replace the ball joint.
Check the steering gear preload adjustment.	Perform a rack bearing preload adjustment.

TORQUE STEER

A degree of torque steer to the right may normally be experienced during the use of heavy throttle on some front-wheel drive cars with drive axles of unequal length. This torque steer to the right results from the right drive axle being longer than the left drive axle, which creates a difference in the drive axle angle. Cars with intermediate shaft assemblies have axles of almost equal length.

A difference in the drive axle lengths results in more torque toe-in in the left front wheel. You will notice the torque toe-in when the vehicle accelerates from a standing start or at lower speeds.

Inspection Procedure

Place a small piece of tape at the top center of the steering wheel.
Note the inches of steering wheel deflection required to keep the vehicle straight during heavy acceleration.
Compare this finding with similar cars.

Factors that may cause torque steer to be more apparent on a particular vehicle include the following:

Variations in the tire and wheel assemblies. This has the most significant effect on torque steer. A slightly smaller diameter on the right front tire will increase a right torque lead.
Large differences in the right and the left front tire pressure.
Looseness in the control arm bushings, the tie rod assemblies, or the steering gear mounting. This looseness permits a front wheel to pull forward and toe-in under a torque greater than the wheel on the opposite side. A loose suspension component may result in an opposite lead upon deceleration.
A high front trim height. This height would increase the drive axle angle and could cause wobble at speeds between 24 to 48 km/h (15 to 30 mph).
Binding or a tight drive axle joint. A tight drive axle joint or a high front trim height may also cause a wobble at speeds between 24 to 48 km/h (15 to 30 mph).
Incorrect, worn, or loose engine mounts causing adverse drive angles.

Refer to "General Diagnosis" in this section for actions to remedy these problems.

Conditions that may produce an effect similar to torque steer include the following:

Incorrect front or rear alignment.
Frame misalignment or defect.
Front suspension damage.
Incorrectly mounted rear crossmember.

HUB AND BEARING

Perform the following test to check for looseness in the hub and bearing assembly:

Raise and suitably support the vehicle.
Remove the rear wheel. Refer to Section 2E, Tires and Wheels.
Remove the brake disc caliper and the brake rotor. Refer to Section 4E, Rear Drum Brakes.
Mount a dial indicator set with a magnetic base to a stationary part of the vehicle.
Push and pull the wheel hub by hand. If the wheel hub movement exceeds 0.1 mm (0.004 inch), replace the hub and bearing assembly. Refer to Section 2D, Rear Suspension.
Install the brake disc caliper and the brake rotor. Refer to Section 4E, Rear Drum Brakes.
Install the rear wheel. Refer to Section 2E, Tires and Wheels.
Lower the vehicle.