Suspension System - General Information: Troubleshooting

Symptoms Chart 

Trouble symptom	Probable cause	Remedy
Hard steering	Improper front wheel alignment	Repair
	Excessive turning resistance of lower arm ball joint	Replace
	Flat tire	Adjust
	No power assist	Repair or Replace
Poor return of steering wheel to center	Improper front wheel alignment	Repair
Poor ride quality	Improper front wheel alignment	Repair
	Damaged shock absorber	Repair or Replace
	Varied or damaged stabilizer	Replace
	Varied or damaged air spring	Replace
	Worn lower arm bushing	Replace
Abnormal tire wear	Improper front wheel alignment	Repair
	Improper tire inflation pressure	Adjust
	Worn of shock absorber	Replace
Wandering	Improper front wheel alignment	Repair
	Poor turning resistance of lower arm ball joint	Repair
	Loose or worn lower arm bushing	Re-tighten or Replace
Vehicle pulls to one side	Improper front wheel alignment	Repair
	Excessive turning resistance of lower arm ball joint	Replace
	Varied or damaged air spring	Replace
	Bent lower arm	Replace
Steering wheel shimmy	Improper front wheel alignment	Repair
	Excessive turning resistance of lower arm ball joint	Replace
	Varied or damaged stabilizer	Replace
	Worn lower arm bushing	Replace
	Worn of shock absorber	Replace
	Varied or damaged air spring	Replace
Bottoming	Broken or worn spring	Replace
	Malfunction of shock absorber	Replace

Wheel And Tire Diagnosis Chart 

Wheel And Tire Diagnosis
Rapid wear at the center	Rapid wear at both shoulders	Wear at one shoulder
Center-tread down to fabric due to excessive over inflated tires Lack of rotation Excessive toe on drive wheels Heavy acceleration on drive	Under-inflated tires Worn suspension components Excessive cornering speeds Lack of rotation	Toe adjustment out of specification Camber out of specification Damaged strut Damaged lower arm
Partial wear	Feathered edge	Wear pattern
Caused by irregular burrs on brake drums.	Toe adjustment out of specification Damaged or worn tie rods Damaged knuckle	Excessive toe on non-drive wheels Lack of rotation