Inspection and Verification
- Road test. Verify the customer's concern by carrying out a road test on a smooth road.
- Inspect tires. Check the tire pressure with all normal loads in the vehicle and the tires cold. For additional information, refer to the «VEHICLE CERTIFICATION (VC) LABEL»(ref-233683) . Verify that all tires are sized to specification. Inspect the tires for incorrect wear and damage.
- Inspect chassis and underbody. Remove any excessive accumulation of mud, dirt or road deposits from the chassis and underbody.
- Inspect for aftermarket equipment. Check for aftermarket changes to the steering, suspension, wheel and tire components (such as competition, heavy duty, etc.) The specifications shown in this article do not apply to vehicles equipped with aftermarket equipment. VISUAL INSPECTION CHART Mechanical Front wheel bearing(s) Loose or damaged front or rear suspension components Loose, damaged or missing suspension fastener(s) Damaged or leaking strut(s) Worn or damaged suspension bushing(s) Loose, worn or damaged steering system components Damaged axle components
- If an obvious cause for an observed or reported condition is found, correct the cause (if possible) before proceeding to the next step.
- If the fault is not visually evident, determine the symptom. GO to «SYMPTOM CHART»(ref-233697-S34388779922006052600000) .
Symptom Chart
| Condition | Possible Sources | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Dogtracking | Front or rear suspension components. | INSPECT the front and rear suspension system. REPAIR or INSTALL new suspension components as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION or REAR SUSPENSION . |
| Damaged rear suspension components. | INSTALL new rear suspension components as necessary. REFER to REAR SUSPENSION . | |
| Drift/pull | Unequal tire pressure. | ADJUST tire pressure. |
| Mismatched tire(s). | INSTALL matching tire(s). REFER to WHEELS & TIRES . | |
| Excessive side-to-side difference in caster or camber. | CHECK wheel alignment. ADJUST as necessary. | |
| Tire forces. | ROTATE tires front to rear. | |
| Unevenly loaded or overloaded vehicle. | NOTIFY the customer of incorrect vehicle loading. | |
| Steering components. | REFER to STEERING SYSTEM-GENERAL INFORMATION . | |
| Brake drag. | REFER to BRAKE SYSTEM-GENERAL INFORMATION . | |
| Front bottoming or riding low | Strut(s). | INSTALL new strut(s). |
| Front coil spring(s) (5310). | CHECK ride height. INSTALL new front coil spring(s). REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION . | |
| Incorrect tire wear (uneven or excessive) | Incorrect tire pressure (rapid center rib or inner and outer edge wear). | ADJUST tire pressure. |
| Excessive front or rear toe (rapid inner or outer edge wear). | CHECK wheel alignment. ADJUST as necessary. | |
| Excessive negative or positive camber (rapid inner or outer edge wear). | CHECK wheel alignment. ADJUST as necessary. INSTALL new tires as necessary. REFER to WHEELS & TIRES . | |
| Tires out of balance (tires cupped or dished). | BALANCE tires. | |
| Rough ride | Shock absorber(s) or strut(s). | INSTALL new shock absorber(s) or strut(s). |
| Front coil spring(s) or rear spring(s) (5560). | INSTALL new front coil spring(s) or rear spring(s) as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION or REAR SUSPENSION . | |
| Shimmy or wheel tramp | Loose wheel nut(s). | TIGHTEN to specification. REFER to WHEELS & TIRES . |
| Loose front suspension fasteners. | TIGHTEN to specification. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION . | |
| Front wheel bearing(s). | REFER to WHEEL BEARING INSPECTION - FRONT AND REAR . | |
| Wheel or tire concerns. | REFER to WHEELS & TIRES . | |
| Front coil spring(s). | INSTALL new front coil spring(s) as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION . | |
| Shock absorber(s). | INSTALL new shock absorber(s) as necessary. | |
| Loose, worn or damaged ball joint(s). | GO to the BALL JOINT INSPECTION component test . | |
| Loose, worn or damaged steering components. | REFER to STEERING SYSTEM-GENERAL INFORMATION . | |
| Front wheel alignment. | CHECK the wheel alignment. ADJUST as necessary. | |
| Sticky steering, poor returnability | Ball joints. | GO to the BALL JOINT INSPECTION component test . |
| Steering components. | REFER to STEERING SYSTEM-GENERAL INFORMATION . | |
| Steering wheel off-center | Unequal front settings (side-to-side). | CHECK the wheel alignment. ADJUST as necessary. |
| Steering components. | REFER to STEERING SYSTEM-GENERAL INFORMATION . | |
| Damaged rear suspension components. | REPAIR as necessary. REFER to REAR SUSPENSION . | |
| Sway or roll | Overloaded, unevenly or incorrectly loaded vehicle. | NOTIFY the customer of incorrect vehicle loading. |
| Loose wheel nut(s). | TIGHTEN to specification. REFER to WHEELS & TIRES . | |
| Shock absorber(s). | INSTALL new shock absorber(s) as necessary. | |
| Loose front stabilizer bar (5482). | TIGHTEN to specification. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION . | |
| Stabilizer bar bushings. | INSTALL new stabilizer bar. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION . | |
| Front suspension lower arm bushings. | INSTALL a new front suspension lower arm (5079). REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION . | |
| Front coil spring(s) or rear spring(s). | INSTALL new front coil spring(s) or rear spring(s) as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION or REAR SUSPENSION . | |
| Vehicle leans to one side | Unevenly loaded or overloaded vehicle. | NOTIFY the customer of incorrect vehicle loading. |
| Front or rear suspension components. | INSPECT the front and rear suspension system. INSTALL new suspension components as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION or REAR SUSPENSION . | |
| Front coil spring(s) or rear spring(s). | INSTALL new front coil spring(s) or rear spring(s) as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION or REAR SUSPENSION . | |
| Vibration/noise | Tires and wheel concerns. Wheel bearings. Wheel hubs. Brake components. Suspension components. Steering components. | REFER to NOISE, VIBRATION & HARSHNESS . |
| Wander | Unevenly loaded or overloaded vehicle. | NOTIFY the customer of incorrect vehicle loading. |
| Ball joint(s). | GO to the BALL JOINT INSPECTION . | |
| Front wheel bearing(s). | REFER to the WHEEL BEARING INSPECTION - FRONT AND REAR . | |
| Loose, worn or damaged suspension component(s). | INSTALL new suspension components as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION or REAR SUSPENSION . | |
| Loose suspension fasteners. | TIGHTEN to specification. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION or REAR SUSPENSION . | |
| Steering components. | REFER to STEERING SYSTEM-GENERAL INFORMATION . | |
| Wheel alignment. | ADJUST as necessary (excessive total front toe out). |
SYMPTOM CHART
Ball Joint Inspection
- Prior to inspecting the ball joints for wear, inspect the wheel bearings. For additional information, refer to «NOISE, VIBRATION & HARSHNESS»(ref-233685) .
- Raise and support the vehicle by the frame to allow the wheels to hang in the rebound position.
- 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. For additional information, refer to «FRONT SUSPENSION»(ref-233695) .
- 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 .
- 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.
- 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. For additional information, refer to «FRONT SUSPENSION»(ref-233695) . If the deflection meets the specification, no further action is required.
Wheel Bearing Inspection - Front and Rear
- Raise the vehicle until the tire is off the floor. For additional information, refer to «JACKING & LIFTING»(ref-233684) .
- Grasp each front tire at the top and bottom and move the wheel inward and outward while lifting the weight of the tire off the wheel bearing.
- If the tire and wheel (hub) is loose on the wheel spindle or does not rotate freely, install a new wheel hub (1104). For additional information, refer to «FRONT SUSPENSION»(ref-233695) or «REAR SUSPENSION»(ref-233711) .