Steering and Suspension: Testing and Inspection

VEHICLE PULLS/LEADS
^ Mismatched or uneven tires.
^ Unequal tire inflation pressures.
^ Broken or sagging springs.
^ Radial tire lateral force.
^ Incorrect front or rear wheel alignment.
^ Rack and pinion valve imbalance.
^ Front brakes dragging.
^ Powertrain not level in frame.

TORQUE STEERING
^ Mismatched or unequal diameter tires.
^ Powertrain not level in frame.

ABNORMAL OR EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR
^ Hard driving.
^ Incorrect tire inflation pressure.
^ Tires not rotated at recommended intervals.
^ Tire and wheel out of balance.
^ Incorrect front or rear wheel alignment.
^ Sagging or broken springs.
^ Worn strut dampeners.
^ Overloaded vehicle.
^ Excessive wheel runout.

SCUFFED TIRES
^ Toe incorrect.
^ Excessive speed on turns.
^ Suspension components bent.

WHEEL TRAMP
^ Blister or bump on tire.
^ Tire and wheel out of balance.
^ Improper strut dampener action.

SHIMMY, SHAKE, OR VIBRATION
^ Tire and wheel out of balance.
^ Worn wheel bearings.
^ Worn tie rod ends.
^ Worn lower ball joints.
^ Worn suspension bushings.
^ Excessive lateral or radial tire and/or wheel runout.
^ Blister or bump on tire.
^ Brake components out of balance.
^ Weak strut.
^ Drive axle.

ABNORMAL NOISE - FRONT END
^ Inadequate lubrication of ball joints and tie rod ends.
^ Damaged strut or mountings.
^ Worn tie rod ends.
^ Worn control arm bushings.
^ Loose stabilizer shaft.
^ Loose wheel nuts.
^ Loose suspension bolts.
^ Loose mounts.
^ Noisy wheel covers.
^ Incorrect rack bearing preload.
^ Tire noise.
^ Check for diagnostic trouble codes in ride control system. Refer to Suspension.
^ Check for loose or damaged front Road Sensing Suspension (RSS) accelerometers, Refer to Suspension.

ABNORMAL NOISE - REAR END
^ Check for exhaust system contacting underbody.
^ Worn or damaged dual axis ball joint.
^ Damaged strut or mountings.
^ Worn or damaged rear toe link.
^ Worn control arm bushings.
^ Loose stabilizer shaft.
^ Loose wheel nuts.
^ Loose suspension mounting bolts.
^ Noisy wheel covers.
^ Tire noise.
^ Check for diagnostic trouble codes in ride control system. Refer to Suspension.
^ Check for loose or damaged rear RSS accelerometers. Refer to Suspension.
^ Check for loose, damaged or disconnected RSS rear position sensors. Refer to Suspension.

WANDER OR POOR STEERING STABILITY
^ Mismatched or uneven tires.
^ Incorrect front or rear wheel alignment.
^ Inadequate lubrication of ball joints or tie rod ends.
^ Worn tie rod ends.
^ Worn ball joints.
^ Worn strut dampeners.
^ Broken or sagging springs.
^ Loose stabilizer shaft.
^ Incorrect power steering fluid pressure.
^ Loose rack and pinion gear attaching bolts.
^ Worn or binding rack and pinion gear.
^ Worn steering column friction dampener.

HARD STEERING/LACK OF ASSIST
^ At low speeds, possible Magnasteer(TM) system malfunction. Refer to Powertrain Management.
^ Check for diagnostic trouble codes in ride control system. Refer to Suspension.
^ Insufficient power steering fluid pressure.
^ Excessive rack and pinion gear rack bearing preload.
^ Stiff pinion spool valve assembly.
^ Worn or binding upper strut mount bearings.
^ Worn or binding rack and pinion gear.

SOFT STEERING AT HIGH SPEEDS
^ Magnasteer(TM) system malfunction. Refer to Powertrain Management.
^ Check for diagnostic trouble codes in ride control system. Refer to Suspension.
^ Check for blown RSS ignition fuse.

ERRATIC STEERING ASSIST
^ Magnasteer(TM) system malfunction. Refer to Powertrain Management.
^ Check for diagnostic trouble codes in ride control system. Refer to Suspension.
^ Check for intermittent Vehicle Speed Signal.

ERRATIC STEERING WHEN BRAKING
^ Worn strut dampeners.
^ Broken or sagging springs.
^ Damaged master cylinder primary or secondary cups.
^ Leaking wheel cylinder or caliper.
^ Loose or binding caliper.
^ Loose control arm bolt.

TOO MUCH PLAY IN STEERING
^ Loose rack and pinion gear attachment.
^ Worn or loose steering intermediate shaft coupling.
^ Rack and pinion gear rack bearing preload below minimum.

POOR STEERING WHEEL RETURNABILITY
^ Inadequate lubrication of ball joints and tie rod ends.
^ Binding ball joints.
^ Binding in steering column including steering column friction dampener.
^ Incorrect front wheel alignment.
^ Excessive rack and pinion gear rack bearing preload.
^ Sticking pinion spool valve assembly.
^ Worn or binding upper strut mount bearings.

LOW OR UNEVEN TRIM HEIGHT
^ Broken or sagging springs.
^ Overloaded vehicle.
^ Incorrect or weak springs.
^ Inoperative electronic level control system. Refer to Road Suspension.

RIDE TOO SOFT
^ Worn strut dampeners.
^ Incorrect or weak springs.
^ Check for diagnostic trouble codes in ride control system. Refer to Suspension.

RIDE TOO HARSH
^ Incorrect strut dampeners.
^ Incorrect springs.
^ Excessive friction in control arm bushings.
^ Check for diagnostic trouble codes in ride control system. Refer to Suspension.
^ Check for blown road sensing suspension ignition or battery fuse.

BODY LEANS OR SWAYS IN CORNERS
^ Loose or disconnected stabilizer shafts.
^ Worn strut dampeners.
^ Broken or sagging springs.
^ Overloaded vehicle.
^ Check for diagnostic trouble codes in ride control system. Refer to Suspension.

SUSPENSION BOTTOMS
^ Overloaded vehicle.
^ Worn strut dampeners.
^ Incorrect, broken or sagging springs.
^ Inoperative electronic level control system.
^ Check for diagnostic trouble codes in ride control system. Refer to Suspension.

"DOG" TRACKING
^ Damaged rear control arm.
^ Incorrect rear toe adjustment.