Steering Diagnosis
DIAGNOSISIf wander or poor steering stability exists, inspect for the following conditions:
- 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 dampers.
- 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 damper.
If hard steering or lack of assist exists, inspect for the following conditions:
- magnasteer system malfunction (at low speeds). Refer to Diagrams.
- 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
- If soft steering at high speeds exists, inspect for a magnasteer system malfunction, refer to Diagrams.
If erratic steering assist exists, inspect for the following conditions:
- magnasteer system malfunction
- An intermittent vehicle speed signal
If erratic steering exists when braking, inspect for the following conditions:
- Worn strut dampers
- Broken or sagging springs.
- Damaged master cylinder primary or secondary cups
- Leaking wheel cylinder or caliper
- Loose or binding caliper
- Loose control arm bolt
If too much play in the steering exists, inspect for the following conditions:
- Loose rack and pinion gear attachment
- Worn or loose steering intermediate shaft coupling
- Rack and pinion gear rack bearing preload below minimum
If poor steering wheel return exists, inspect for the following conditions:
- Inadequate lubrication of ball joints and tie rod ends
- Binding ball joints
- Binding in steering column (including steering column friction damper)
- Incorrect front wheel alignment
- Excessive rack and pinion gear rack bearing preload
- Sticking pinion spool valve assembly
- Worn or binding upper strut mount bearings