Suspension System - General Information Ford Taurus X I

ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS

ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS

a Camber Total/Split = LH Camber - RH Camber

b Caster Total/Split = LH Caster - RH Caster

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS

Scheme 1

Camber is the vertical tilt of the wheel when viewed from the front. Camber can be positive or negative and has a direct effect on tire wear.

Caster

Caster is the deviation from vertical of an imaginary line drawn through the pivot points (top of strut and lower ball joint), when viewed from the side. The caster specifications in this article will give the vehicle the best directional stability characteristics when loaded and driven. The caster setting is not related to tire wear. The caster setting is not adjustable.

Scheme 2

A backward tilt is positive (+) and a forward tilt is negative (-). Front caster adjustment is not a separate procedure on this vehicle. The vehicle will tend to drift/pull toward the side with the lowest caster.

Scheme 3

Scheme 4

The vehicle toe setting affects tire wear and directional stability.

Scheme 5

Incorrect thrust angle (also known as dogtracking) is the condition in which the rear axle is not square to the chassis. Heavily crowned roads can give the illusion of dogtracking.

Wander

Wander is the tendency of the vehicle to require frequent, random left and right steering wheel corrections to maintain a straight path down a level road.

Shimmy

Shimmy, as experienced by the driver, is large, consistent, rotational oscillations of the steering wheel resulting from large, side-to-side (lateral) tire/wheel movements.

Shimmy is usually experienced near 64 km/h (40 mph), and can begin or be amplified when the tire contacts pot holes or irregularities in the road surface.

Nibble

Sometimes confused with shimmy, nibble is a condition resulting from tire interaction with various road surfaces and experienced by the driver as small rotational oscillations of the steering wheel.

Poor Returnability/Sticky Steering

Poor returnability and sticky steering are used to describe the poor return of the steering wheel to center after a turn or steering correction.

Drift/Pull

Pull is a tugging sensation felt by the hands on the steering wheel that must be overcome to keep the vehicle going straight.

Drift describes what a vehicle with this condition does with the hands off the steering wheel.

1. A vehicle-related drift/pull on a flat road causes a consistent deviation from the straight-ahead path and requires constant steering input in the opposite direction to counteract the effect.
2. Drift/pull may be induced by conditions external to the vehicle (for example, wind or road crown).

Poor Groove Feel

Poor groove feel is characterized by little or no buildup of turning effort felt in the steering wheel as the wheel is rocked slowly left and right within very small turns around center or straight-ahead (under 20 degrees of steering wheel turn). Effort may be said to be "flat on-center."

1. Under 20 degrees of turn, most of the turning effort that builds up comes from the mesh of the gear teeth in the steering gear. In this range, the steering wheel is not yet turned enough to feel the effort from the self-aligning forces at the road wheel or tire patch.
2. In the diagnosis of a driveability problem, it is important to understand the difference between wander and poor groove feel.

Inspection and Verification

1. Road test the vehicle. If any suspension alignment or ride height concerns are present, go to «Symptom Chart - Suspension System»(/ford/taurus-x/i-2007-2009/remont/suspension-front/#suspension-system-general-information) . Verify the customer concern by carrying out a road test on a smooth road. If any vibrations are present, go to «NVH»(/ford/taurus-x/i-2007-2009/remont/suspension-front/#suspension-system-general-information) .
2. Inspect the tires. Check the tire pressures with all normal loads in the vehicle and the tires cold. Refer to the Vehicle Certification (VC) label. Verify that all tires are sized to specification. Refer to the VC label. Inspect the tires for incorrect wear and damage. Install new tires as necessary.
3. Inspect the chassis and underbody. Remove any excessive accumulation of mud, dirt or road deposits from the chassis and underbody.
4. Inspect for aftermarket equipment. Check for aftermarket changes to the steering, suspension, and wheel and tire components (such as competition or heavy duty). The specifications shown in this manual do not apply to vehicles equipped with aftermarket equipment. VISUAL INSPECTION CHART Mechanical Front or rear suspension components Suspension fastener(s) Incorrect spring usage Spring(s) Shock absorber(s) Strut(s) Suspension bushing(s) Steering system components Wheel bearing and wheel hub(s) Non-OEM parts or modifications
5. If an obvious cause for an observed or reported condition is found, correct the cause (if possible) before proceeding to the next step.
6. If the fault is not visually evident, go to «Symptom Chart - Suspension System»(/ford/taurus-x/i-2007-2009/remont/suspension-front/#suspension-system-general-information) or Go to «NVH»(/ford/taurus-x/i-2007-2009/remont/suspension-front/#suspension-system-general-information) .

Symptom Chart - Suspension System

Symptom Chart - Suspension System

Symptom Chart - NVH

Note. NVH symptoms should be identified using the diagnostic tools that are available. For a list of these tools, an explanation of their uses and a glossary of common terms, refer to NOISE, VIBRATION AND HARSHNESS article. Since it is possible any one of multiple systems may be the cause of a symptom, it may be necessary to use a process of elimination type of diagnostic approach to pinpoint the responsible system. If this is not the causal system for the symptom, refer back to NOISE, VIBRATION AND HARSHNESS article for the next likely system and continue diagnosis.

Symptom Chart - NVH

Pinpoint Test A: Vehicle Drifts/Pulls

This pinpoint test is intended to diagnose the following

1. Unevenly loaded vehicle
2. Tire pressure
3. Tire forces
4. Brake drag
5. Incorrect vehicle alignment
6. Steering system

1. A1 CHECK FOR UNEVENLY LOADED VEHICLE Visually check the vehicle for an uneven loading condition. Is the vehicle unevenly loaded? YES : ADVISE the customer of uneven loading condition. NO : Go to A2 .
2. A2 CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURES AND TIRE CONDITIONS Check the tire pressures. Refer to the Vehicle Certification (VC) label located on the driver door jamb. Check the tires for uneven/abnormal wear. Refer to Diagnosis and Testing - Wheels and Tires in «WHEELS AND TIRES»(/ford/taurus-x/i-2007-2009/remont/wheel-tire-system/#wheels-tires) article. Are the tire pressures and tire conditions OK? YES : Go to A3 . NO : ADJUST the tire pressures to the specified pressure or INSTALL new tires as necessary.
3. A3 ISOLATE TIRE DRIFT/PULL CONDITION Cross the front wheel and tire assemblies from left-to-right. Refer to «WHEELS AND TIRES»(/ford/taurus-x/i-2007-2009/remont/wheel-tire-system/#wheels-tires) article. Does the vehicle drift/pull? YES : If the vehicle drifts/pulls in the opposite direction, tire forces are causing the drift/pull. REFER to «WHEELS AND TIRES»(/ford/taurus-x/i-2007-2009/remont/wheel-tire-system/#wheels-tires) article to diagnose tire drift pull. If the vehicle drifts/pulls in the same direction, go to A4 . NO : Tire forces were causing the drift/pull and the concern has been corrected.
4. A4 CHECK FOR BRAKE DRAG Spin all 4 wheel and tire assemblies by hand and check for brake drag. Do the wheels spin freely? YES : Go to A5 . NO : REFER to «BRAKE SYSTEM - GENERAL INFORMATION»(/ford/taurus-x/i-2007-2009/remont/anti-locktraction-control/#brake-system-general-information) article to diagnose brake drag condition.
5. A5 CHECK THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT Using alignment equipment and the manufacturer's instructions, check the wheel alignment. Is the wheel alignment out of specification? YES : ADJUST the alignment as necessary. REFER to «GENERAL PROCEDURES»(/ford/taurus-x/i-2007-2009/remont/suspension-front/#suspension-system-general-information) . NO : REFER to «STEERING SYSTEM - GENERAL INFORMATION»(/ford/taurus-x/i-2007-2009/remont/manual-power-steering/#steering-system-general-information) article to diagnose steering system drift/pull/wander condition.

Ball Joint Inspection

1. Prior to inspecting the ball joints for wear, inspect the wheel bearings. Install a new wheel bearing as necessary. Refer to «FRONT SUSPENSION»(/ford/taurus-x/i-2007-2009/remont/suspension-front/#front-suspension) article.
2. Raise and support the vehicle by the frame to allow the wheels to hang in the rebound position.
3. Inspect the ball joint and ball joint boot for damage. If the ball joint or ball joint boot is damaged, install a new ball joint as necessary. Refer to «FRONT SUSPENSION»(/ford/taurus-x/i-2007-2009/remont/suspension-front/#front-suspension) article.
4. Inspect the ball joint for relative movement by alternately pulling downward and pushing upward on the lower control arm by hand. Note any relative vertical movement between the wheel knuckle and lower arm at the lower ball joint. If relative movement is not felt or seen, the ball joint is OK. Do not install a new ball joint. If relative movement is found, continue with Step 5.
5. To measure ball joint deflection, attach a suitable dial indicator with a flexible arm between the lower control arm and the wheel knuckle or ball joint stud.
6. Measure the ball joint deflection while an assistant pushes up and pulls down on the lower control arm, by hand. If the deflection exceeds the specification, a new ball joint must be installed. Refer to «FRONT SUSPENSION»(/ford/taurus-x/i-2007-2009/remont/suspension-front/#front-suspension) article. If the deflection meets the specification, no further action is required.

Scheme 6

Note. Make sure that the vehicle is positioned on a flat, level surface and the tires are inflated to the correct pressure. The vehicle should have a full tank of fuel.

1. Position a suitable surface gauge (such as Starrett 57D Surface Gauge) on a flat, level surface. Adjust the gauge's arm until the scriber point is located in the center of the forward lower arm bolt. Lock the surface gauge in this position.
2. With the surface gauge positioned on a flat, level surface, record the measurement of the surface gauge position (measurement 2).
3. Position the surface gauge on the same flat, level surface and adjust the gauge's arm until the scriber point is located on the lowest and furthest outboard point of the lower ball joint. Lock the surface gauge in this position.
4. With the surface gauge positioned on a flat, level surface, record the measurement of the surface gauge position (measurement 3).
5. Subtract measurement 3 from measurement 2 to obtain the front ride height. Refer to «SPECIFICATIONS»(/ford/taurus-x/i-2007-2009/remont/suspension-front/#suspension-system-general-information) .

Scheme 7

Scheme 8

Note. Make sure that the vehicle is positioned on a flat, level surface and the tires are inflated to the correct pressure. The vehicle should have a full tank of fuel.

1. Measure the distance between the flat level surface and the center of the lower control arm-to-subframe bolt (measurement 2).
2. Measure the distance between the same flat level surface and the center of the lower arm-to-knuckle bolt (measurement 3).
3. Subtract measurement 3 from measurement 2 to obtain the rear ride height. Refer to «SPECIFICATIONS»(/ford/taurus-x/i-2007-2009/remont/suspension-front/#suspension-system-general-information) .

Camber Adjustment

Note. Before carrying out a camber adjustment, check the tires for the correct pressure. Inspect the tires for incorrect wear or damage. Inspect the front suspension components for wear or damage.

1. Using alignment equipment and the manufacturer's instructions, measure the front camber.
2. Remove the strut upper mount nuts.
3. Push the strut mount downward and rotate it 180 degrees. When rotated 180 degrees from the original position, camber changes by 0.5 degrees.
4. Install the strut upper mount nuts. Tighten to 35 Nm (26 lb-ft).
5. Recheck the camber settings and adjust as necessary.

Toe Adjustment - Front

1. Using alignment equipment and the manufacturer's instructions, measure the front toe.
2. Start the engine and center the steering wheel.
3. Turn the engine OFF and, using a suitable steering wheel holding device, lock the steering wheel in the straight-ahead position.
4. Remove the steering gear bellows clamps.
5. Loosen the nuts.
6. Rotate the tie rods as necessary to adjust the toe setting.
7. Tighten the tie-rod jam nuts to 63 Nm (46 lb-ft).
8. Install the steering gear bellows clamps.
9. Recheck the toe settings and adjust as necessary.

Toe Adjustment - Rear

1. Using alignment equipment and the manufacturer's instructions, measure the rear toe.
2. Start the engine and center the steering wheel.
3. Turn the engine OFF and using a suitable holding device, hold the steering wheel in the straight-ahead position.
4. Loosen the toe link nut approximately one full turn.
5. From the opposite side, rotate the toe link bolt to achieve the specified toe setting.
6. While holding the toe link bolt, tighten the nut to 100 Nm (74 lb-ft).
7. Recheck the toe settings and adjust as necessary.

See also:
• REAR SUSPENSION
• FRONT SUSPENSION
• WHEELS AND TIRES
• POWER STEERING
• STEERING SYSTEM - GENERAL INFORMATION
• NOISE, VIBRATION AND HARSHNESS
• DRIVELINE SYSTEM - GENERAL INFORMATION
• BRAKE SYSTEM - GENERAL INFORMATION
• Symptom Chart - Suspension System
• Ball Joint Inspection
• Toe Adjustment - Front
• Toe Adjustment - Rear
• Camber Adjustment