Symptom Chart - Suspension System

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2010 Mercury Mariner and 2010 Ford Escape. 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 REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION .
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 . INSTALL new springs as necessary. REFER to REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION .
Front bottoming or riding low	Worn front strut(s)	INSTALL new struts as necessary. REFER to STRUT AND SPRING ASSEMBLY .
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 . REFER to WHEELS & TIRES in Diagnosis and Testing for further tire wear diagnosis.
	Incorrect tire rotation intervals	REFER to MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE .
	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 in 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 REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION for front suspension or REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION 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 STRUT AND SPRING ASSEMBLY .
	Binding ball joints	REFER to the BALL JOINT INSPECTION COMPONENT TEST .
	Steering components	INSPECT the steering system. INSTALL new components as necessary. REFER to REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION or STEERING LINKAGE . Sunshine
	Caster out of specification	CHECK the wheel alignment. REFER to CAMBER AND CASTER ADJUSTMENT . ADJUST as necessary.
Steering wheel off-center	Unequal front toe setting (side-to-side)	CHECK the wheel alignment. REFER to TOE ADJUSTMENT . ADJUST as necessary.
Steering wheel off-center	Steering components	INSPECT the steering system. INSTALL new components as necessary. REFER to STEERING SYSTEM .
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 TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS .
	Strut(s) or shock absorber(s)	INSTALL new struts or shock absorbers as necessary. REFER to REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION for front suspension or REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION for rear suspension.
	Loose stabilizer bracket-to-frame bolts	TIGHTEN the bolts to specification. REFER to TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS .
	Worn stabilizer bar bushings or links	INSTALL new stabilizer bar bushings or links as necessary. REFER to REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION .
	Damaged or broken stabilizer bar	INSTALL a new stabilizer bar as necessary. REFER to REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION .
	Worn spring(s)	INSTALL new springs as necessary. REFER to STRUT AND SPRING ASSEMBLY for front suspension or SPRING for rear suspension.
Vehicle leans to one side	Unevenly loaded or overloaded vehicle	NOTIFY the customer of incorrect vehicle loading.
	Front or rear suspension components	INSPECT the front and rear suspension systems. INSTALL new suspension components as necessary. REFER to REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION for front suspension or REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION for rear suspension.
	Incorrect drive axle (s) ride height. Side-to-side lean out of specification	MEASURE the ride height. REFER to RIDE HEIGHT MEASUREMENT . INSPECT the front and rear suspension systems. REPAIR or INSTALL new components as necessary. REFER to REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION for front suspension or REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION 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 COMPONENT TEST .
	Damaged or missing front strut mount bearing(s)	INSTALL a new front strut mount bearing(s) as necessary. REFER to STRUT AND SPRING ASSEMBLY .
	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 REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION for front suspension or REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION for rear suspension.
	Loose suspension fasteners	INSPECT the suspension fasteners. TIGHTEN to specification. REFER to TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS for front suspension or TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS for rear suspension.
	Steering components	INSPECT the steering system. INSTALL new components as necessary. REFER to STEERING SYSTEM .
	Wheel alignment (excessive total front toe out)	ADJUST as necessary. REFER to TOE ADJUSTMENT .