Contents: Checking the front suspension and… ↳ Inspection of the rear suspension ↳ Wheel checking and balancing ↳
Checking the front suspension and steering
1. With the parking brake applied, raise the front of the vehicle and place it on stands.
2. Visually inspect the ball joint dust caps and steering gear protective covers for cracks, abrasions, and other damage (see Figure 15.2). Wear on any of these components will result in loss of lubrication and the ingress of water and dirt, resulting in rapid deterioration of the ball joints or steering gear.
Figure 15.2. Inspect the steering gear protective "accordion" for cracks, abrasions and damage.
3. Check the power steering hoses (if it is installed) for abrasions and internal damage, and connections for leaks. Also, check the steering gear covers for pressure leaks, which may indicate damaged seals in the steering gear.
4. Grasp the wheel from above and below and try to rock it (see Figure 15.4). If you are able to achieve noticeable wheel movement, further investigation should be carried out to determine the source of the problem. While continuing to rock the wheel, have an assistant press the foot brake. If the wheel wobbling stops or decreases significantly after this, then the probable cause is a faulty hub bearing. If play is still evident, this indicates wear in the suspension joints or mountings.
Figure 15.4 Shake the wheel to check the condition of the suspension and steering components.
5. Now grab the wheel by the sides and try to rock it in the same way. Any noticeable movement may also be caused by wear in the bushing bearings or ball joints of the longitudinal or transverse steering rods. On rack and pinion steering systems, if the outer ball joint at the end of the tie rod is worn, wheel "wobble" will be evident. If you suspect the inner joint, it's easy to check by feeling around the rubber protective coating on the rack and pinion and grasping the tie rod. If you now rock the wheel, if it is worn, you will feel movement in the inner joint.
6. To check for wear on the suspension mounting bushings or kingpins, use a large screwdriver or flat crowbar and try to pry the relevant suspension component away from its mounting point. Some movement of the component is normal, but excessive wear will be obvious. Also check the condition of all visible rubber bushings, looking for any splits, cracks or contamination in the rubber. Similarly, check the leaf spring eyes at the attachment points of the solid axle suspension.
7. With the car in a four-wheel drive position, have an assistant turn the steering wheel first one way and then the other, approximately 1/8 of a turn. The lag between the steering wheel and the wheels should be very small, if any. If lag is noticeable, inspect the steering column universal joints, as well as the previously described joints and fasteners, for wear. Also check the condition of the steering gear unit itself.
Inspection of the rear suspension
8. After blocking the front wheels, lift the rear of the vehicle and secure it on supports.
9. Inspect the rear hub bearings for wear using the method described earlier for the front bearings (see paragraph 4).
10. To check the wear of the rear spring mounting bushings, use a large screwdriver or flat crowbar and try to move the corresponding spring eye away from its mounting point. A little movement is normal as the mounts are made of rubber, but excessive wear will be obvious. Check the condition of the springs and shock absorbers with fasteners.
Wheel checking and balancing
11. Periodically remove the wheels and clean off all dirt from both the inside and outside surfaces. Inspect the inside sidewalls of the wheel rim for rust, corrosion, or other damage such as bending. If a wheel rim is bent, then very often the only way out of the situation is to replace the wheel.
12. Proper wheel balancing is necessary not only for reduced tire wear, but also to reduce wear on all suspension and steering components. Wheel imbalance usually produces a characteristic vibration of the car body, which in most cases is felt through the steering wheel. Excessive tire wear can be caused not only by imbalance, but also by wear or damage in the suspension or steering, as well as other factors such as tire out-of-roundness, wheel damage, or worn or improperly adjusted wheel bearings. Some of these factors cause vibration that cannot be corrected by wheel balancing
13. For balancing, the wheels can be removed, if desired (which is not necessary). When removing the wheels, make sure that the relative position of the wheel and hub is marked in some way that allows you to install the wheel back in its original position.