When diagnosing vehicle ride/handling complaints, it is often necessary to treat the vehicle as an entire system, due to the fact that many subsystems (such as the front and rear suspensions, steering, tires and wheels) can contribute to ride/handling problems. Because of this, comprehensive ride/handling problem diagnosis must consider all these systems. Once a diagnosis has been made, reference the appropriate service manual for further service information.
Complaint/Condition | Possible Cause(s) | Correction(s) |
|---|---|---|
Vehicle pulls | Mismatched, unevenly worn, or improperly inflated tire(s). | Replace or inflate tire(s) correctly. |
Improper front or rear wheel alignment. | Perform wheel alignment. | |
Worn or bent suspension component(s). | Replace component(s). | |
Worn wheel bearings. | Replace wheel bearings. | |
Steering gear out of adjustment or worn. | Replace or adjust steering gear. | |
Sagging spring(s). | Replace damaged spring(s). | |
Worn strut(s). | Replace worn strut(s). | |
Abnormal or excessive tire wear | Worn suspension component(s). | Replace component(s). |
Hard driving. | Advise customer. | |
Tire(s) improperly inflated. | Inflate tire(s) correctly. | |
Worn strut(s). | Replace worn strut(s). | |
Excessive body roll/pitching | Front stabilizer bar bent or broken. | Replace front stabilizer bar. |
Rear stabilizer bar or stabilizer bar links bent or broken. | Replace rear stabilizer bar/stabilizer bar links. | |
Broken or sagging spring(s). | Replace damaged spring(s). | |
Tire(s) improperly inflated. | Inflate tire(s) correctly. | |
Strut(s) worn. | Replace worn strut(s). | |
Suspension bottoming | Broken or sagging spring(s). | Replace damaged spring(s). |
Strut(s) worn. | Replace worn strut(s). | |
Front wheel shimmy | Tire(s) worn, out of round, or improperly inflated. | Replace or inflate tire(s). |
Wheel(s) out of balance. | Balance wheel(s). | |
Worn strut(s). | Replace worn strut(s). | |
Wheel bearing(s) worn. | Replace worn bearing(s). | |
Ball stud(s) worn. | Replace worn ball stud(s). | |
Lower control arm bushing(s) worn or damaged. | Replace lower control arm(s). | |
Front stabilizer bar bushing(s) worn or damaged. | Replace worn or damaged bushing(s). |
