STEERING & SUSPENSION

MANUAL STEERING GEAR TROUBLE SHOOTING

NOTE: This is GENERAL information. This article is not intended

to be specific to any unique situation or individual vehicle configuration. The purpose of this Trouble Shooting information is to provide a list of common causes to problem symptoms. For model-specific Trouble Shooting, refer to SUBJECT, DIAGNOSTIC, or TESTING articles available in the section(s) you are accessing.

BASIC MANUAL STEERING GEAR TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART
CONDITION POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTION

Rattle or Rack and pinion mounting Tighten all mounting
Chucking Noise bracket loose bolts

in Rack and

Pinion Lack of/or incorrect Correct as necessary

lubricant

Steering gear mounting Tighten all mounting
bolts loose bolts

Excessive Play Front wheel bearing See FRONT SUSPENSION

improperly adjusted article

Loose or worn steering See STEERING LINKAGE
linkage article

Loose or worn steering See MANUAL STEERING
gear shift GEAR article

Steering arm loose on See MANUAL STEERING
gear shaft GEAR article

Steering gear housing Tighten all mounting
bolts loose bolts

Steering gear adjustment See MANUAL STEERING
too loose GEAR article

Steering arms loose on Tighten and check

knuckles steering linkage

Rack and pinion mounting Tighten all mounting
loose bolts

Rack and pinion out of See adjustment in
adjustment STEERING article

Tie rod end loose Tighten and check

steering linkage

Excessive Pitman shaft-to- Repair as necessary ball nut lash

Poor Lack of lubricant in ball Lubricate and service

Returnability joint or linkage systems

Binding in linkage or ball See STEERING LINKAGE
joints and SUSPENSION article

Improper front end alignment See WHEEL ALIGNMENT

article

Improper tire pressure Inflate to proper

pressure

Tie rod binding Inflate to proper

pressure

Shaft seal rubbing shaft See STEERING COLUMN

article

Excessive Improper tire pressure Inflate to proper
Vertical Motion pressure

Tires, wheels or rotors Balance tires then
out of balance check wheels and

rotors

Worn or faulty shock Check and replace if
absorbers necessary

Loose tie rod ends or Tighten or replace if
steering necessary

Loose or worn wheel See SUSPENSION article

bearings

Steering Pulls Improper tire pressure Inflate to proper
to One Side pressure

Front tires are different Rotate or replace if
sizes necessary

Wheel bearings not See FRONT SUSPENSION

article adjusted properly

Bent or broken suspension See FRONT SUSPENSION
components article

Improper wheel alignment See WHEEL ALIGNMENT

article

Brakes dragging See BRAKES article

Instability Low or uneven tire Inflate to proper

pressure pressure

Loose or worn wheel See FRONT SUSPENSION

bearings article

Loose or worn idler arm See FRONT SUSPENSION
bushing article

Loose or worn strut See FRONT SUSPENSION

bushings article

Incorrect front wheel See WHEEL ALIGNMENT
alignment article

Steering gear not See MANUAL STEERING

centered GEARS article

Springs or shock Check and replace if

necessary

Improper cross shaft See MANUAL STEERING

GEARS article

POWER STEERING TROUBLE SHOOTING

NOTE: This is GENERAL information. This article is not intended

to be specific to any unique situation or individual vehicle configuration. The purpose of this Trouble Shooting information is to provide a list of common causes to problem symptoms. For model-specific Trouble Shooting, refer to SUBJECT, DIAGNOSTIC, or TESTING articles available in the section(s) you are accessing.

BASIC POWER STEERING TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART

CONDITION POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTION

Rattle or Pressure hoses touching Adjust to proper
Chucking Noise engine parts clearance

Loose Pitman shaft Adjust or replace if

necessary

Tie rods ends or Pitman Tighten and check system arm loose

Rack and pinion mounts Tighten all mounting
loose bolts

Free play in worm and See POWER STEERING GEAR

article

Loose sector shaft or See POWER STEERING GEAR thrust bearing adjustment

Free play in pot coupling See STEERING COLUMN

article

Worn shaft serrations See STEERING COLUMN

article

Growl in Excessive pressure in Restricted hoses, see

Steering Pump hoses POWER STEERING GEAR

article

Scored pressure plates See POWER STEERING GEAR

article

Scored thrust plates or See POWER STEERING GEAR

rotor article

Extreme wear of cam ring See POWER STEERING GEAR

article

Rattle in Vanes not installed See POWER STEERING PUMP

Steering Pump article

Vanes sticking in rotor See POWER STEERING PUMP

article

Swish noise in Defective flow control See POWER STEERING PUMP

Pump valve article

Groan in Air in fluid See POWER STEERING PUMP

Steering Pump article

Poor pressure hose Tighten and check,

connection replace if necessary

Squawk When Damper "O" ring on valve See POWER STEERING PUMP

Turning spool cut article

Moan or Whine Pump shaft bearing scored Replace bearing and

in Pump fluid

Air in fluid or fluid See POWER STEERING PUMP

level low article

Hose or column grounded Check and replace if

necessary

Cover "O" ring missing See POWER STEERING PUMP

or damaged article

Valve cover baffle See POWER STEERING PUMP

missing or damaged article

Interference of See POWER STEERING PUMP

components in pump article

Loose or poor bracket Correct or replace if

alignment necessary

Hissing When Internal leakage in Check valved assembly

Parking steering gear first

Chirp in Loose or worn power Adjust or replace if

Steering Pump steering belt necessary

Buzzing When Noisy pump See POWER STEERING PUMP

Not Steering article

Free play in steering See STEERING COLUMN

shaft bearing article

Bearing loose on shaft See STEERING COLUMN

serrations article

Clicking Noise Pump slippers too long See POWER STEERING PUMP

in Pump article

Broken slipper springs See POWER STEERING PUMP

article

Excessive wear or nicked See POWER STEERING PUMP

rotors article

Damaged cam contour See POWER STEERING PUMP

article

Poor Return of Wheel rubbing against See STEERING COLUMN

Wheel turn signal SWITCHES article

Flange rubbing steering See STEERING COLUMN

gear adjuster article

Tight or frozen steering See STEERING COLUMN

shaft bearing article

Steering gear out of See POWER STEERING GEAR

adjustment article

Sticking or plugged See POWER STEERING PUMP

spool valve article

Improper front end See WHEEL ALIGNMENT

alignment article

Wheel bearings worn or See FRONT SUSPENSION

loose article

Ties rods or ball joints Check and replace if

binding necessary

Intermediate shaft joints See STEERING COLUMN

binding article

Kinked pressure hoses Correct or replace if

necessary

Loose housing head See POWER STEERING GEAR

spanner nut article

Damaged valve lever See POWER STEERING GEAR

article

Sector shaft adjusted See ADJUSTMENTS in POWER

too tight STEERING GEAR article

Worm thrust bearing See ADJUSTMENTS in POWER

adjusted too tight STEERING GEAR article

Reaction ring sticking See POWER STEERING GEAR

in cylinder article

Reaction ring sticking See POWER STEERING GEAR

in housing head article

Steering pump internal See POWER STEERING PUMP

leakage article

Steering gear-to-column See STEERING COLUMN

misalignment article

Lack of lubrication in Service front suspension
linkage

Lack of lubrication in Service front suspension
ball joints

Increased Effort High internal pump leakage See POWER STEERING PUMP

When Turning article

Wheel Fast Power steering pump belt Adjust or replace if

Foaming, Milky slipping necessary

Power Steering

Fluid, Low Fluid Low fluid level Check and fill to

Level or Low proper level

Pressure

Engine idle speed to low Adjust to correct

setting

Air in pump fluid system See POWER STEERING PUMP

article

Pump output low See POWER STEERING PUMP

article

Steering gear See POWER STEERING GEAR

malfunctioning article

Wheel Surges Low fluid level Check and fill to proper

or Jerks level

Loose fan belt Adjust or replace if

necessary

Insufficient pump See POWER STEERING PUMP

pressure article

Sticky flow control valve See POWER STEERING PUMP

article

Linkage hitting oil pan Replace bent components
at full turn

Kick Back or Air in pump fluid system See POWER STEERING PUMP

Free Play article

Worn poppet valve in See POWER STEERING PUMP

steering gear article

Excessive over center See POWER STEERING GEAR

lash article

Thrust bearing out of See POWER STEERING GEAR

adjustment article

Free play in pot coupling See POWER STEERING PUMP

article

Steering gear coupling See POWER STEERING PUMP
loose on shaft article

Steering disc mounting Tighten or replace if
bolts loose necessary

Coupling loose on worm Tighten or replace if
shaft necessary

Improper sector shaft See POWER STEERING GEAR
adjustment article

Excessive worm piston See POWER STEERING GEAR
side play article

Damaged valve lever See POWER STEERING GEAR

article

Universal joint loose Tighten or replace if

necessary

Defective rotary valve See POWER STEERING GEAR

article

No Power When Sticking flow control See POWER STEERING PUMP
Parking valve article

Insufficient pump See POWER STEERING PUMP

pressure output article

Excessive internal pump See POWER STEERING PUMP
leakage article

Excessive internal gear See POWER STEERING PUMP
leakage article

Flange rubs against gear See STEERING COLUMN
adjust plug article

Loose pump belt Adjust or replace if

necessary

Low fluid level Check and add proper

amount of fluid

Engine idle too low Adjust to correct

setting

Steering gear-to-column See STEERING COLUMN
misaligned article

No Power, Left turn reaction seal See POWER STEERING GEAR
Left Turn "O" ring worn article

Left turn reaction seal See POWER STEERING GEAR
damaged/missing article

Cylinder head "O" ring See POWER STEERING PUMP
damaged article

No Power, Column pot coupling See STEERING COLUMN
Right Turns bottomed article

Right turn reaction seal See POWER STEERING GEAR
"O" ring worn article

Right turn reaction seal See POWER STEERING GEAR
damaged article

Internal leakage through See POWER STEERING GEAR
piston end plug article

Internal leakage through See POWER STEERING GEAR
side plugs article

Lack of Effort Left and/or right Replace, see POWER

in Turning reaction seal sticking STEERING GEAR article in cylinder head

Wanders to One Front end alignment See WHEEL ALIGNMENT
Side incorrect article

Unbalanced steering See POWER STEERING GEAR
gear valve article

Low Pressure Due Flow control valve stuck See POWER STEERING PUMP
to Steering Pump or inoperative article

Pressure plate not flat See POWER STEERING PUMP
against cam ring article

Extreme wear of cam ring Replace and check

adjustments

Scored plate, thrust See POWER STEERING PUMP
plate or rotor article

Vanes not installed See POWER STEERING PUMP
properly article

Vanes sticking in rotor See POWER STEERING PUMP
slots article

Cracked/broken thrust or See POWER STEERING PUMP
pressure plate article

STEERING COLUMN TROUBLE SHOOTING

NOTE: This is GENERAL information. This article is not intended

to be specific to any unique situation or individual vehicle configuration. The purpose of this Trouble Shooting information is to provide a list of common causes to problem symptoms. For model-specific Trouble Shooting, refer to SUBJECT, DIAGNOSTIC, or TESTING articles available in the section(s) you are accessing.

BASIC STEERING COLUMN TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART

CONDITION POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTION

Noise in Coupling pulled apart See STEERING COLUMNS

Steering article

Column not correctly See STEERING COLUMNS

aligned article

Broken lower joint Replace joint

Horn contact ring not See STEERING COLUMN

article

Bearing not lubricated See STEERING COLUMN

article

Shaft snap ring not Reseat or replace snap

properly seated ring

Plastic spherical joint See STEERING COLUMN

not lubricated article

Shroud or housing loose Tighten holding screws

Lock plate retaining See STEERING COLUMN

ring not seated article

Loose sight shield Tighten holding screws

High Steering Column assembly See STEERING COLUMN

Shaft Effort misaligned article

Improperly installed dust Adjust or replace
shield

Tight steering universal See STEERING COLUMN

joint article

High Shift Column is out of See STEERING COLUMN

Effort alignment article

Improperly installed Adjust or replace
dust shield

Seals or bearings not See STEERING COLUMNS

lubricated article

Mounting bracket screws Replace with new

too long shorter screws

Burrs on shift tube Remove burrs or replace

tube

Lower bowl bearing See STEERING COLUMN

assembled wrong article

Shift tube bent or broken Replace as necessary

Improper adjustment of See STEERING COLUMN

shift levers article

Improper Trans. Sheared shift tube joint Replace as necessary
Shifting

Sheared lower shaft lever Replace as necessary

Improper shift lever See STEERING COLUMN

adjustment article

Improper gate plate See STEERING COLUMN
adjustment article

Excess Play in Instrument panel bracket Tighten bolts and check
Column bolts loose bracket

Broken weld nut on jacket See STEERING COLUMN

article

Instrument bracket capsule See STEERING COLUMN
sheared article

Column bracket/jacket Tighten bolts and check
bolts loose bracket

Steering Locks Release lever mechanism See STEERING COLUMN
in Gear article

SUSPENSION TROUBLE SHOOTING

NOTE: This is GENERAL information. This article is not intended

to be specific to any unique situation or individual vehicle configuration. The purpose of this Trouble Shooting information is to provide a list of common causes to problem symptoms. For model-specific Trouble Shooting, refer to SUBJECT, DIAGNOSTIC, or TESTING articles available in the section(s) you are accessing.

BASIC SUSPENSION TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART

CONDITION POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTION

Front End Noise Loose or worn wheel See Wheel Bearing

Adjustment in SUSPENSION

Worn shocks or shock Replace struts or strut
mountings mountings

Worn struts or strut Replace struts or strut
mountings mountings

Loose or worn lower control See SUSPENSION arm

Loose steering gear-to- See STEERING frame bolts

Worn control arm bushings See SUSPENSION

Ball joints not lubricated Lubricate ball joints &

see Ball Joint Checking in SUSPENSION

Front Wheel Tires or wheels out of Check tire balance Shake, Shimmy, balance or Vibration

Incorrect wheel alignment See WHEEL ALIGNMENT

Drive shaft unbalanced Check drive shaft

balance

Loose or worn wheel See WHEEL ALIGNMENT
bearings

Loose or worn tie rod ends See SUSPENSION

Worn upper ball joints See Ball Joint Checking

in SUSPENSION

Worn shock absorbers Replace shock absorbers

Worn strut bushings Replace strut bushings

Car Pulls to Mismatched or uneven tires Check tire condition
One Side

Broken or sagging springs See SUSPENSION

Loose or worn strut See SUSPENSION
bushings

Improper wheel alignment See WHEEL ALIGNMENT

Improper rear axle Check rear axle

alignment alignment

Power steering gear See STEERING
unbalanced

Front brakes dragging See BRAKES

Abnormal Tire Unbalanced tires Check tire balance &

Wear rotation

Sagging or broken springs See SUSPENSION

Incorrect front end See WHEEL ALIGNMENT
alignment

Faulty shock absorbers Replace chock absorbers

Scuffed Tires Toe-In incorrect See WHEEL ALIGNMENT

Suspension arm bent or See appropriate

twisted SUSPENSION article

Springs Bottom Bent or broken springs See SUSPENSION
or Sag

Leaking or worn shock Replace shock absorbers

absorbers

Frame misalignment Check frame for damage

Spring Noises Loose "U" Bolts See SUSPENSION

Loose or worn bushings See SUSPENSION

Worn or missing interliners See SUSPENSION

Shock Absorber Loose shock mountings Check & tighten

Noise mountings

Worn bushings Replace bushings

Air in system Bleed air from system

Undercoating on shocks Remove undercoating

Car Leans or Loose stabilizer bar See SUSPENSION
Sways on Corners

Faulty shocks or mountings Replace shocks or

mountings

Broken or sagging springs See SUSPENSION

Shock Absorbers Worn seals or reservoir See SUSPENSION
Leaking tube crimped

Broken Springs Loose "U" bolts See SUSPENSION

Inoperative shock absorbers Replace shock absorbers

WHEEL ALIGNMENT TROUBLE SHOOTING

NOTE: This is GENERAL information. This article is not intended

to be specific to any unique situation or individual vehicle configuration. The purpose of this Trouble Shooting information is to provide a list of common causes to

problem symptoms. For model-specific Trouble Shooting,
refer to SUBJECT, DIAGNOSTIC, or TESTING articles available
in the section(s) you are accessing.

BASIC WHEEL ALIGNMENT TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART

CONDITION POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTION

Premature Tire Improper tire inflation Check tire pressure

Wear

Front alignment out of See ALIGNMENT SPECS in

tolerance WHEEL ALIGNMENT section

Suspension components worn See SUSPENSION section

Steering system components See STEERING section
worn

Improper standing height See WHEEL ALIGNMENT

Uneven or sagging springs See SUSPENSION section

Bent wheel See WHEEL ALIGNMENT

Improper torsion bar See SUSPENSION section
adjustment

Loose or worn wheel See WHEEL BEARING ADJ.

bearings in SUSPENSION section

Worn or defective shock Replace shock absorbers

Tires out of balance Check tire balance

Pulls to One Improper tire inflation Check tire pressure
Side

Brake dragging See BRAKE section

Mismatched tires See WHEEL ALIGNMENT

Broken or sagging spring See SUSPENSION section

Broken torsion bar See SUSPENSION section

Power steering valve not See STEERING section
centered

Front alignment out of See WHEEL ALIGNMENT

tolerance section

Defective wheel bearing See WHEEL BEARINGS in

SUSPENSION section

Uneven sway bar links See SUSPENSION section

Frame bent Check for frame damage

Steering system bushing See STEERING section
worn

Hard Steering Idler arm bushing too tight See STEERING LINKAGE

in STEERING section

Ball joint tight or seized See SUSPENSION section

Steering linkage too tight See STEERING LINKAGE in

STEERING section

Power steering fluid low Add proper amount of

fluid

Power steering drive belt See STEERING section
loose

Power steering pump See STEERING section
defective

Steering gear out of See STEERING section
adjustment

Incorrect wheel alignment See WHEEL ALIGNMENT

Damaged steering gear See STEERING section

Damaged suspension See SUSPENSION section

Bent steering knuckle or See SUSPENSION section
supports

Vehicle Strut rod or control arm See SUSPENSION section

"Wanders" bushing worn

Loose or worn wheel See WHEEL BEARINGS in

bearings SUSPENSION section

Improper tire inflation Check tire pressure

Stabilizer bar missing or See SUSPENSION section
defective

Wheel alignment out of See Adjustment in

tolerance WHEEL ALIGNMENT section

Broken spring See SUSPENSION section

Defective shock absorbers Replace shock absorbers

Worn steering & suspension See SUSPENSION section
components

Front End Shimmy Tire out of balance/round Check tire balance

Excessive wheel runout See WHEEL ALIGNMENT

Insufficient or improper See WHEEL ALIGNMENT

caster section

Worn suspension or steering See SUSPENSION section
components

Defective shock absorbers Replace shock absorber

Wheel bearings worn or See WHEEL BEARING ADJ.

loose in SUSPENSION section

Power steering reaction See STEERING section
Bracket loose

Steering gear box (rack) See STEERING section
mounting loose

Steering gear adjustment See STEERING section
loose

Worn spherical joints See SUSPENSION section

Toe-In Not Lower control arm bent See SUSPENSION section
Adjustable

Frame bent Check frame for damage

Camber Not Control arm bent See SUSPENSION section
Adjustable

Frame bent Check frame for damage

Hub & bearing not seated See SUSPENSION section
properly