Symptom Chart - Suspension System

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2011 Mercury Milan, 2011 Lincoln MKZ, and 2011 Ford Fusion. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

SYMPTOM CHART - SUSPENSION SYSTEM

Condition	Possible Sources	Action
Incorrect thrust angle (dogtracking)	Rear suspension components	INSPECT the rear suspension system. CHECK the rear alignment for the correct thrust angle. REPAIR or INSTALL new suspension components as necessary. REFER to REAR SUSPENSION article.
Vehicle drifts/pulls	Unevenly loaded or overloaded vehicle Tires/tire pressure Alignment is not within specification Brake drag Steering components	GO to PINPOINT TEST A .
Front bottoming or riding low	Worn, damaged or incorrect springs	MEASURE the ride height. REFER to RIDE HEIGHT MEASUREMENT in this service information. INSTALL new springs as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION article.
Front bottoming or riding low	Worn front strut(s)	INSTALL new struts as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION article.
Abnormal/incorrect tire wear	Incorrect tire pressure (rapid center rib or inner and outer edge wear)	ADJUST the tire pressure. REFER to the Vehicle Certification (VC) label located on the driver door jamb. REFER to WHEELS & TIRES article, Diagnosis and Testing for further tire wear diagnosis.
	Incorrect tire rotation intervals	REFER to MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE article.
	High-speed cornering Excessive front or rear toe (inner or outer edge wear) Excessive negative or positive camber (inner or outer edge wear)	REFER to WHEELS & TIRES article, Diagnosis and Testing for further tire wear diagnosis.
	Front or rear suspension components	INSPECT the front and rear suspension system. REPAIR or INSTALL new suspension components as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION article, for front suspension or REAR SUSPENSION article, for rear suspension.
Sticky steering, poor returnability	Damaged or worn front strut mount bearing(s)	INSTALL a new front strut mount bearing(s) as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION article.
	Binding ball joints	REFER to the BALL JOINT INSPECTION in this service information.
	Steering components	INSPECT the steering system. INSTALL new components as necessary. REFER to POWER STEERING SYSTEM article.
	Caster out of specification	CHECK the wheel alignment. REFER to CASTER ADJUSTMENT - FRONT in this service information. ADJUST as necessary.
Steering wheel off-center	Unequal front toe setting (side-to-side)	CHECK the wheel alignment. REFER to TOE ADJUSTMENT - FRONT in this service information. ADJUST as necessary.
Steering wheel off-center	Steering components	INSPECT the steering system. INSTALL new components as necessary. REFER to STEERING SYSTEM - ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST STEERING (EPAS) article or STEERING SYSTEM - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST STEERING (HPAS) article. For Electronic Power Assist Steering (EPAS) vehicles, refer to STEERING SYSTEM - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST STEERING (HPAS) article to diagnose steering system drift/pill/wander condition. For Hydraulic Power Assist Steering (HPAS) vehicles, refer to STEERING SYSTEM - ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST STEERING (EPAS) article to diagnose steering system drift/pull/wander condition.
Sway or roll	Overloaded, unevenly or incorrectly loaded vehicle	NOTIFY the customer of incorrect vehicle loading.
	Loose wheel nut(s)	TIGHTEN the wheel nut(s) to specification. REFER to WHEELS & TIRES article.
	Strut(s) or shock absorber(s)	INSTALL new struts or shock absorbers as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION article for front suspension or REAR SUSPENSION article for rear suspension.
	Loose stabilizer bracket-to-frame bolts	TIGHTEN the bolts to specification. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION article.
	Worn stabilizer bar bushings or links	INSTALL new stabilizer bar bushings or links as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION article.
	Damaged or broken stabilizer bar	INSTALL a new stabilizer bar as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION article.
	Damaged spring(s)	INSTALL new springs as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION article for front suspension or REAR SUSPENSION article for rear suspension.
Vehicle leans to one side	Unevenly loaded or overloaded vehicle	NOTIFY the customer of incorrect vehicle loading.
Vehicle leans to one side	Front or rear suspension components	MEASURE the ride height. REFER to RIDE HEIGHT MEASUREMENT in this service information. INSPECT the front and rear suspension systems. REPAIR or INSTALL new components as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION article for front suspension or REAR SUSPENSION article for rear suspension.
Wander	Overloaded, unevenly or incorrectly loaded vehicle	NOTIFY the customer of incorrect vehicle loading.
	Ball joint(s)	INSPECT the ball joints. REFER to the BALL JOINT INSPECTION in this service information.
	Damaged or missing front strut mount bearing(s)	INSTALL a new front strut mount bearing(s) as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION article.
	Loose, worn or damaged front wheel bearing(s)	INSPECT the wheel bearings. INSTALL new wheel bearings as necessary.
	Loose, worn or damaged suspension component(s)	INSTALL new suspension component(s) as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION article for front suspension or REAR SUSPENSION article for rear suspension.
	Loose suspension fasteners	INSPECT the suspension fasteners. TIGHTEN to specification. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION article for front suspension or REAR SUSPENSION article for rear suspension.
	Wheel alignment (excessive total front toe out)	ADJUST as necessary. REFER to TOE ADJUSTMENT - FRONT in this service information.
	Steering components	REFER to STEERING SYSTEM - ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST STEERING (EPAS) article or STEERING SYSTEM - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST STEERING (HPAS) article for steering system diagnosis. For EPAS vehicles, refer to STEERING SYSTEM - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST STEERING (HPAS) article to diagnose steering system drift/pull/wander condition. For HPAS vehicles, refer to STEERING SYSTEM - ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST STEERING (EPAS) article to diagnose steering system drift/pull/wander condition.