Suspension: Testing and Inspection
Suspension SystemInspection and Verification
1. Verify the customer's concern by carrying out a road test on a smooth road.
2. Visually inspect for obvious signs of mechanical damage.
Visual Inspection Chart
3. If an obvious cause for an observed or reported condition is found, correct the cause (if possible) before proceeding to the next step.
4. If the fault is not visually evident, verify the symptom and refer to the following Symptom Chart.
Symptom Chart
Condition(s):
Crabbing
Possible Source(s):
^ Incorrect rear thrust angle.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK the rear toe adjustment. [Rear Toe Adjustment]
Possible Source(s):
^ Front or rear suspension components.
Action(s) to take:
^INSPECT the front and rear suspension systems. REPAIR or INSTALL new suspension components as necessary. Refer to Front Suspension Or Rear Suspension.
Possible Source(s):
^ Drive axle damaged.
Action(s) to take:
^ INSTALL a new drive axle. REFER to Rear Drive Axle/Differential.
Drift/Pull
Possible Source(s):
^ Unequal tire pressure.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and ADJUST the tire pressures. INSPECT the tire for excessive wear. REFER to Wheels and Tires.
Possible Source(s):
^ Incorrect wheel alignment.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and ADJUST the wheel alignment. [Front Toe Adjustment-]
Possible Source(s):
^ Tires.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and ADJUST the tire pressures. INSPECT the tire for excessive wear. REFER to Wheels and Tires.
Possible Source(s):
^ Unevenly loaded or overloaded vehicle.
Action(s) to take:
^ NOTIFY the customer of incorrect vehicle loading.
Possible Source(s):
^ Damaged steering components.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK the steering system. REFER to Steering System - General Information.
Possible Source(s):
^ Brake drag.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK the brakes. REFER to Brake System - General Information.
Front Bottoming or Riding Low
Possible Source(s):
^ Spring(s).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK the ride height. INSTALL new springs as necessary. REFER to Front Suspension.
Incorrect Tire Wear
Possible Source(s):
^ Incorrect tire pressure (rapid center rib or inner and outer edge wear).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and ADJUST the tire pressure. INSPECT the tire for excessive wear. REFER to Wheels and Tires.
Possible Source(s):
^ Excessive front or rear toe (rapid inner or outer edge wear).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and ADJUST the wheel alignment. [Front Toe Adjustment-]
Possible Source(s):
^ Excessive negative or positive camber (rapid inner or outer edge wear).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and ADJUST the wheel alignment. [Camber and Caster Adjustment]
Possible Source(s):
^ Tires out of balance (tires cupped or dished).
Action(s) to take:
^ BALANCE the tires.
Rough Ride
Possible Source(s):
^ Spring(s).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and INSTALL new springs as necessary. Refer to Front Suspension or Rear Suspension.
Possible Source(s):
^ Shock absorber(s).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and INSTALL new shock absorbers as necessary. Refer to Front Suspension or Rear Suspension.
Shimmy or Wheel Tramp
Possible Source(s):
^ Loose wheel nut(s).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and TIGHTEN the wheel nuts to specification. REFER to Wheels and Tires.
Possible Source(s):
^ Loose front suspension fasteners.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and TIGHTEN the suspension fasteners to specification. REFER to Front Suspension.
Possible Source(s):
^ Front wheel bearing(s).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK the wheel bearings.
Possible Source(s):
^ Worn or damaged suspension component bushing.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and INSTALL new components as necessary. Refer to Front Suspension or Rear Suspension.
Possible Source(s):
^ Wheel/tires.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK the wheels/tires. BALANCE or INSTALL new wheel/tires as necessary. REFER to Wheels and Tires.
Possible Source(s):
^ Shock absorber(s).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and INSTALL new shock absorbers as necessary. Refer to Front Suspension or Rear Suspension.
Possible Source(s):
^ Spring(s).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and INSTALL new springs as necessary. Refer to Front Suspension or Rear Suspension.
Possible Source(s):
^ Loose, worn or damaged ball joint(s).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK the Ball Joint(s). [Ball Joint Inspection]
Possible Source(s):
^ Loose, worn or damaged steering components.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and INSTALL new components as necessary. REFER to Steering System - General Information.
Possible Source(s):
^ Front wheel alignment.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and ADJUST the wheel alignment. [Front Toe Adjustment]
Poor Returnability of the steering
Possible Source(s):
^ Ball joints.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK the Ball Joints.[Ball Joint Inspection]
Possible Source(s):
^ Steering components.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and INSTALL new components as necessary. REFER to Steering System - General Information.
Steering wheel off-center
Possible Source(s):
^ Unequal front or rear toe settings.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and ADJUST the wheel alignment. For additional information, refer to [Front Toe Adjustment] and [Rear Toe Adjustment] in this section.
Possible Source(s):
^ Steering components.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and INSTALL new components as necessary. REFER to Steering System - General Information.
Sway or roll
Possible Source(s):
^ Overloaded, unevenly or incorrectly loaded vehicle.
Action(s) to take:
^ NOTIFY the customer of incorrect vehicle loading.
Possible Source(s):
^ Loose wheel nut(s).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and TIGHTEN the wheel nut(s) to specification. REFER to Wheels and Tires.
Possible Source(s):
^ Spring(s).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and INSTALL new springs as necessary. Refer to Front Suspension or Rear Suspension.
Possible Source(s):
^ Shock absorber(s).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and INSTALL new shock absorbers as necessary. Refer to Front Suspension or Rear Suspension.
Possible Source(s):
^ Loose front stabilizer bar or rear stabilizer bar .
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and TIGHTEN the stabilizer tear to specification. Refer to Front Suspension or Rear Suspension.
Possible Source(s):
^ Worn lower suspension arm stabilizer bar insulators.
Action(s) to take:
^ INSTALL new lower suspension arm stabilizer bar insulators as necessary. Refer to Front Suspension or Rear Suspension.
Vehicle Leans to One Side
Possible Source(s):
^ Unevenly loaded or overloaded vehicle.
Action(s) to take:
^ NOTIFY the customer of incorrect vehicle loading.
Possible Source(s):
^ Front or rear suspension components.
Action(s) to take:
^ INSPECT the front and rear suspension systems. REPAIR or INSTALL new suspension components as necessary. Refer to Front Suspension or Rear Suspension.
Possible Source(s):
^ Shock absorber(s).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and INSTALL new shock absorbers as necessary. Refer to Front Suspension or Rear Suspension.
Possible Source(s):
^ Spring(s).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and INSTALL new springs as necessary. Refer to Front Suspension or Rear Suspension.
Possible Source(s):
^ Incorrect ride height. Lateral tilt out of specification.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK the ride height. INSTALL new springs as necessary. Refer to Front Suspension or Rear Suspension.
Vibration/Noise
Possible Source(s):
^ Tires/wheel.
^ Wheel bearings.
^ Wheel hubs.
^ Brake components.
^ Suspension components.
^ Steering components.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and INSTALL new components as necessary.
Wander
Possible Source(s):
^ Unevenly loaded or overloaded vehicle.
Action(s) to take:
^ NOTIFY the customer of incorrect vehicle loading.
Possible Source(s):
^ Ball joint(s).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK the Ball Joint(s). [Ball Joint Inspection]
Possible Source(s):
^ Front wheel bearing(s).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK the wheel bearings.
Possible Source(s):
^ Loose, worn or damaged suspension components.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and INSTALL new suspension components as necessary. Refer to Front Suspension or Rear Suspension.
Possible Source(s):
^ Loose suspension fasteners.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and TIGHTEN the suspension fasteners to specification. Refer to Front Suspension or Rear Suspension.
Possible Source(s):
^ Steering components.
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and INSTALL new steering components. REFER to Steering System - General Information.
Possible Source(s):
^ Wheel alignment (excessive total front toe-out).
Action(s) to take:
^ CHECK and ADJUST the wheel alignment. [Front Toe Adjustment]
Component Tests
Ball Joint Inspection
NOTE: The front suspension is shown in the following procedures. The inspection of the rear suspension upper ball joint is similar.
1. Raise and support the vehicle.
2. Prior to carrying out any inspection of the ball joints, inspect the front wheel bearings.
3. CAUTION: The safety stand beneath the suspension lower arm must only support the weight of the suspension and not the full weight of the vehicle. Failure to follow this instruction may result in damage to the components.
Position a safety stand beneath the front suspension lower arm or rear suspension lower arm to be tested.
4. While an assistant pulls and pushes the top and bottom of the tire, observe the relative movement between the ball joint and the front suspension lower arm. Any movement at or exceeding the specification indicates a worn or damaged ball joint. Install a new ball joint as necessary. REFER to Front Suspension.
5. While an assistant pulls and pushes the top and bottom of the tire, observe the relative movement between the ball joint and the front suspension upper arm or rear suspension upper arm. Any movement at or exceeding the specification indicates a worn or damaged ball joint. Install a new upper arm as necessary. Refer to Front Suspension or Rear Suspension.
6. Remove the safety stand.
7. Lower the vehicle.