Diagnosis And Testing
| CONDITION | POSSIBLE CAUSES | POTENTIAL CORRECTIONS |
|---|---|---|
| FRONT END WHINE ON TURNS | 1. Faulty wheel bearing | 1. Replace wheel bearing. |
| 2. Incorrect wheel alignment | 2. Check and reset wheel alignment. | |
| 3. Worn tires | 3. Replace tires. | |
| 4. Low power steering fluid level | 4. Fill power steering fluid reservoir to proper level and check for leaks (make sure all air is bled from the system fluid). | |
| FRONT END GROWL OR GRINDING ON TURNS | 1. Defective wheel bearing | 1. Replace wheel bearing. |
| 2. Engine mount grounding against frame or body of vehicle | 2. Check for motor mount hitting frame rail and reposition engine as required. | |
| 3. Worn or broken C/V joint | 3. Replace C/V joint. | |
| 4. Loose wheel lug nuts | 4. Verify wheel lug nut torque. | |
| 5. Incorrect wheel alignment | 5. Check and reset wheel alignment. | |
| 6. Worn tires | 6. Replace tires. | |
| FRONT END CLUNK OR SNAP ON TURNS | 1. Loose wheel lug nuts | 1. Verify wheel lug nut torque. |
| 2. Worn or broken C/V joint | 2. Replace C/V joint. | |
| 3. Worn or loose tie rod or ball joint | 3. Tighten or replace tie rod end or ball joint. | |
| 4. Worn control arm bushing | 4. Replace control arm. | |
| 5. Loose stabilizer bar or upper strut attachment | 5. Tighten the stabilizer bar or upper strut attachment to specified torque. | |
| FRONT END POPPING/CLICKING/SNAPPING DURING ACCELERATION AFTER DRIVE-TO-REVERSE SHIFT, REVERSE-TO-DRIVE SHIFT OR WHILE TURNING | 1. Insufficient grease on mating surface of axle halfshaft outer C/V joint mating surface to wheel hub/bearing. | 1. Separate halfshaft from hub and bearing and wipe mating surfaces clean. Apply light coating of wheel bearing grease to C/V joint mating surface and reassemble. Tighten hub nut to specified torque. |
| FRONT END WHINE WITH VEHICLE GOING STRAIGHT AT A CONSTANT SPEED | 1. Defective wheel bearing | 1. Replace wheel bearing. |
| 2. Incorrect wheel alignment | 2. Check and reset wheel alignment. | |
| 3. Worn tires | 3. Replace tires. | |
| FRONT END GROWL OR GRINDING WITH VEHICLE GOING STRAIGHT AT A CONSTANT SPEED | 1. Engine mount grounding | 1. Reposition engine as required. |
| 2. Worn or broken C/V joint | 2. Replace C/V joint. | |
| FRONT END WHINE WHEN ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING | 1. Worn or defective drivetrain gears or bearings | 1. Replace drivetrain gears or bearings. |
| FRONT END CLUNK WHEN ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING | 1. Loose wheel lug nuts | 1. Verify wheel lug nut torque. |
| 2. Worn or broken engine mount | 2. Replace engine mounts. | |
| 3. Worn or defective drivetrain gears or bearings | 3. Replace drivetrain gears or bearing. | |
| 4. Worn or broken C/V joint | 4. Replace C/V joint. | |
| 5. Worn or loose ball joint | 5. Tighten or replace ball joint. | |
| 6. Worn or loose control arm bushing | 6. Tighten to specified torque or replace control arm. | |
| 7. Loose crossmember bolts (if equipped) | 7. Tighten crossmember bolts to specified torque (if equipped). | |
| ROAD WANDER | 1. Incorrect tire pressure | 1. Inflate tires to recommended pressure. |
| 2. Incorrect front or rear wheel toe | 2. Check and reset front wheel toe. | |
| 3. Worn wheel bearings | 3. Replace wheel bearing. | |
| 4. Worn control arm bushings | 4. Replace control arm. | |
| 5. Excessive friction in steering gear | 5. Replace steering gear. | |
| 6. Excessive friction in steering shaft coupling | 6. Replace steering coupler. | |
| 7. Excessive friction in strut upper bearing | 7. Replace strut bearing. | |
| LATERAL PULL | 1. Unequal tire pressure | 1. Inflate all tires to recommended pressure. |
| 2. Radial tire lead | 2. Rotate or cross-switch tires - refer to TIRE AND WHEEL ROTATION . | |
| 3. Incorrect front wheel camber | 3. Check and reset front wheel camber. | |
| 4. Power steering gear imbalance | 4. Replace power steering gear. | |
| 5. Wheel braking | 5. Correct braking condition causing lateral pull. | |
| 6. Excessive cross-caster | 6. Check wheel alignment and adjust as necessary. | |
| EXCESSIVE STEERING FREE PLAY | 1. Incorrect steering gear adjustment | 1. Adjust or replace steering gear. |
| 2. Worn or loose tie rod ends | 2. Replace or tighten tie rod ends. | |
| 3. Loose steering gear mounting bolts | 3. Tighten steering gear bolts to the specified torque. | |
| 4. Loose or worn steering shaft coupler | 4. Replace steering shaft coupler. | |
| EXCESSIVE STEERING EFFORT | 1. Low tire pressure | 1. Inflate all tires to recommended pressure. |
| 2. Lack of lubricant in steering gear | 2. Replace steering gear. | |
| 3. Low power steering fluid level (if equipped) | 3. Fill power steering fluid reservoir to correct level (if equipped). | |
| 4. Loose power steering pump belt (if equipped) | 4. Check and replace automatic belt tensioner as necessary. If drive belt is worn or glazed, replace belt (if equipped). | |
| 5. Lack of lubricant in steering ball joints | 5. Lubricate or replace steering ball joints. | |
| 6. Steering gear malfunction | 6. Replace the steering gear. | |
| 7. Lack of lubricant in steering coupler | 7. Replace steering coupler. | |
| POPPING OR CLUNKING | 1. Loose stabilizer bar bolts | 1. Torque the stabilizer bar bolts. |
| 2. Degradation/worn stabilizer bar bushings | 2. Replace the stabilizer bar bushings. | |
| 3. Loose stabilizer bar link nuts | 3. Torque the stabilizer bar link nuts. | |
| 4. Worn stabilizer bar link | 4. Replace the stabilizer bar link.
NOTE:
Do not change more than one part at a time. |