Symptoms - Suspension General Diagnosis. Chevrolet Spark 2009

For 1990-2009 cars only

Makes 🢒 Chevrolet 🢒 2009 🢒 Spark 🢒 HVAC 🢒 HVAC - Manual 🢒 Symptoms - Suspension General Diagnosis

Table 1:	Preliminary Checks
Table 2:	Vehicle Lead/Pull
Table 3:	Abnormal or Excessive Tire Wear
Table 4:	Scuffed Tires
Table 5:	Wheel Tramp
Table 6:	Shimmy, Shake, or Vibration
Table 7:	Hard Steering - Manual
Table 8:	Hard Steering - Power
Table 9:	Too Much Play in Steering
Table 10:	Poor Returnability
Table 11:	Abnormal Noise - Front Suspension
Table 12:	Wander or Poor Steering Ability
Table 13:	Erratic Steering When Braking
Table 14:	Low or Uneven Trim Height
Table 15:	Ride Too Soft
Table 16:	Ride Too Harsh
Table 17:	Body Leans or Sways in Corners
Table 18:	Suspension Bottoms
Table 19:	Steering Wheel Kickback - Power
Table 20:	Steering Wheel Surges or Jerks - Power
Table 21:	Cupped Tires

Problems in the steering, the suspension, the tires, and the wheels involve several systems. Consider all systems when you diagnose a complaint. Some problems, such as abnormal or excessive tire wear and scuffed tires, may be the result of hard driving. Always road test the vehicle first. If possible, do this road test with the customer.

Proceed with the following preliminary checks. Correct any substandard conditions.

Preliminary Checks

Checks

Actions

Inspect the tires for improper pressure and uneven wear.

Inflate the tires to the proper pressure.

•	Inspect the joint from the steering column to the intermediate shaft for loosen connections or wear.

•	Inspect the joint from the intermediate shaft to the steering gear for loose connections or wear.

•	Tighten the coupling flange pinch bolts.

•	Replace the intermediate shaft as needed.

Inspect the front and the rear suspension, the steering gear, and the linkage for loose or damaged parts.

•	Tighten the front and rear suspension.

•	Tighten the steering gear mounting bracket bolts.

•	Replace the front and the rear suspension as needed.

•	Replace the steering gear as needed.

•	Replace the coupling flange as needed.

Inspect for out-of-round tires.

•	Perform free runout test.

•	Match-mount the tires.

Inspect for out-of-balance tires, bent wheels, and worn or loose wheel bearings.

•	Balance the wheels.

•	Replace the wheels.

•	Replace the wheel bearings.

Inspect the power steering pump drive belt tension.

Tighten the power steering pump drive belt.

Inspect the power steering system.

Check the power steering fluid level.

•	Repair any leaks.

•	Perform a power steering gear test.

•	Add power steering fluid.

Vehicle Lead/Pull

Checks

Actions

Mismatched or uneven tires

Replace the tires.

A broken or a sagging coil spring

Replace the coil spring.

A improperly radial tire lateral force

•	Check the wheel alignment.

•	Switch the tire and wheel assemblies.

•	Replace the tires as needed.

The front-wheel alignment is out-of-align

Align the front wheels.

Off-center steering gear

•	Reseat the pinion valve assembly.

•	Replace the pinion valve assembly as needed.

Front-brake dragging

Adjust the front brakes.

Abnormal or Excessive Tire Wear

Checks

Actions

The front-wheel and rear-wheel alignment is out-of-align

Align the front and the rear wheels.

Excessive toe

Adjust the toe.

A broken or a sagging coil spring

Replace the coil spring.

Out-of-balance tires

Balance the tires.

Worn strut dampeners

Replace the strut dampeners.

A failure to rotate tires

•	Rotate the tires.

•	Replace the tires as needed.

Overloaded vehicle

Maintain the proper load weight.

Low tire inflation

Inflate the tires to the proper pressure.

Scuffed Tires

Checks	Actions
Incorrect toe	Adjust the toe.
A twisted or a bent suspension arm	Replace the suspension arm.

Wheel Tramp

Checks	Actions
An out-of-balance tire or wheel	Balance the tire or the wheel.
Improper strut dampener action	Replace the strut dampeners.

Shimmy, Shake, or Vibration

Checks

Actions

An out-of-balance tire or wheel

Balance the tire or the wheel.

Excessive wheel hub runout

•	Measure the hub flange runout.

•	Replace the hub as needed.

Excessive brake drum or brake rotor imbalance

•	Adjust the brakes.

•	Replace the brake rotor or the brake drum as needed.

Worn tie rod ends

Replace the tie rod.

Wheel trim imbalance

Balance the wheel.

A worn ball joint

Replace the control arm and ball joint assembly.

Excessive wheel runout

•	Measure the wheel runout.

•	Replace the wheel as needed.

Excessive loaded radial runout on the tire and wheel assembly

Match-mount the tire and wheel assembly.

Hard Steering - Manual

Checks

Actions

A lack of lubrication of the ball joints, the tie rods, and the steering gear

•	Lubricate the ball joints, the tie rods, and the steering gear.

•	Replace the control arm and ball joint assembly, the tie rods, and the steering gear as needed.

The front-wheel alignment is out-of-align

Align the front wheels.

Steering gear adjustment is out-of-adjustment

Adjust the steering gear.

Hard Steering - Power

Checks

Actions

The steering preload adjustment is out-of-adjustment.

Perform a rack bearing preload on-vehicle adjustment.

The leaked hydraulic system

•	Test the power steering system pressure with a gage.

•	Replace the seals and the hoses as needed.

A loose steering gear mounting

Tighten the steering gear mounting bracket bolts.

Too Much Play in Steering

Checks

Actions

Worn or loose wheel bearings

•	Tighten the drive axle nut.

•	Replace the wheel bearing as needed.

A loose steering gear mounting

Tighten the steering gear mounting bracket bolts.

The steering preload adjustment is out-of-adjustment

Perform a rack bearing preload on-vehicle adjustment.

•	Loose connections or wear of the joint from the steering column to the intermediate shaft.

•	Loose connections or wear of the joint from the intermediate shaft to the steering gear.

•	Tighten the coupling pinch bolts.

•	Replace the intermediate shaft as needed.

Poor Returnability

Checks

Actions

Binding in the ball joints

Replace the control arm and ball joint assembly.

Binding in the steering column

•	Lubricate the steering column.

•	Replace the steering column as needed.

The front-wheel alignment is out-of-align

Align the front wheels.

The steering preload adjustment is out-of-adjustment.

Perform a rack bearing preload on-vehicle adjustment.

A sticking valve

•	Lubricate the pinion valve assembly.

•	Replace the pinion valve assembly as needed.

Binding in the coupling on the intermediate shaft

Replace the intermediate shaft.

Abnormal Noise - Front Suspension

Checks

Actions

Damaged suspension components

Replace the damaged suspension components.

Worn control arm bushings or tie rod ends

Replace the control arm bushings or the tie rods.

A loose stabilizer shaft link

Tighten the stabilizer shaft link.

Loose wheel nuts

Tighten the wheel nut.

Loose suspension bolts or nuts

Tighten the suspension bolts or the nuts.

Loose wheel covers

Tighten the wheel covers.

Worn strut dampeners or strut mountings

•	Replace the strut dampeners.

•	Tighten the strut mounting nuts.

An improperly positioned strut spring

Adjust the strut spring to the proper position.

Wander or Poor Steering Ability

Checks	Actions
Mismatched or uneven tires	Replace the tires.
Worn strut dampeners	Replace the strut dampeners.
A loose stabilizer shaft link	Tighten the stabilizer shaft link.
A broken or a sagging coil spring	Replace the coil spring.
The steering preload adjustment is out-of-adjustment.	Perform a rack bearing preload on-vehicle adjustment.
The front-wheel and the rear-wheel alignment are out-of-align.	Align the front and the rear end wheels.

Erratic Steering When Braking

Checks	Actions
Worn or loose wheel bearings	Replace the wheel bearings.
A broken or a sagging coil spring	Replace the coil spring.
A leaking caliper	Replace the caliper.
Warped rotors	Replace the rotors.
An incorrect or an uneven caster	If the caster is beyond specifications, check the frame and repair it as needed.

Low or Uneven Trim Height

Checks	Actions
A broken or a sagging coil spring	Replace the coil spring.
An overloaded vehicle	Maintain the proper load weight.
An incorrect or weak coil spring	Replace the coil spring.

Ride Too Soft

Checks	Actions
Worn strut dampeners	Replace the strut dampeners.
A broken or a sagging coil spring	Replace the coil spring.

Ride Too Harsh

Checks	Actions
Incorrect strut dampeners	Replace the strut dampeners.
An incorrect coil spring	Replace the coil spring.

Body Leans or Sways in Corners

Checks

Actions

A loose stabilizer shaft link

Tighten the stabilizer shaft link.

Worn strut dampeners or strut mountings

•	Replace the strut dampeners.

•	Tighten the strut assembly mounting nuts.

An overloaded vehicle

Maintain the proper load weight.

A broken or a sagging coil spring

Replace the coil spring.

Suspension Bottoms

Checks	Actions
Worn strut dampeners	Replace the strut dampeners.
An overloaded vehicle	Maintain the proper load weight.
A broken or a sagging coil spring	Replace the coil spring.

Steering Wheel Kickback - Power

Checks

Actions

Air in the power steering system

Bleed the power steering system.

A loose steering gear mounting

Tighten the steering gear mounting bracket bolts.

•	Loose connections or wear of the joint from the steering column to the intermediate shaft

•	Loose connections or wear of the joint from the intermediate shaft to the steering gear

•	Tighten the coupling pinch bolts.

•	Replace the intermediate shaft as needed.

Loose tie rod ends

•	Tighten the tie rod ends.

•	Replace the tie rods as needed.

Loose or worn wheel bearings

•	Tighten the drive axle nut.

•	Replace the wheel bearing as needed.

Steering Wheel Surges or Jerks - Power

Checks

Actions

Low pressure in the power steering system

Replace the seals and the hoses as needed.

A sluggish steering gear valve

•	Clean the pinion valve assembly.

•	Replace the pinion valve assembly as needed.

A loose power steering pump drive belt

Adjust the power steering pump drive belt.

Cupped Tires

Checks

Actions

The front-wheel and the rear-wheel alignment are out-of-align.

Align the front and the rear wheels.

Worn strut dampeners

Replace the strut dampeners.

Worn or loose wheel bearing

•	Tighten the drive axle nut.

•	Replace the wheel bearings as needed.

Excessive tire or wheel runout

•	Match-mount the tires.

•	Replace the tires as needed.

•	Replace the wheels as needed.

Worn ball joints

Replace the control arm and ball joint assembly.

The steering gear preload adjustment is out-of-adjustment.

Perform a rack bearing preload on-vehicle adjustment.