Symptom Chart - Suspension System

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2008 Mercury Sable, 2008 Ford Taurus X, and 2008 Ford Taurus. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

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 Worn front strut(s)	MEASURE the ride height. REFER to Ride Height Measurement . INSTALL new springs as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION article. If the ride height is OK, 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) Incorrect tire rotation intervals High-speed cornering Excessive front or rear toe (inner or outer edge wear) Alignment out of specification (inner or outer edge wear)	REFER to WHEELS AND 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.
Poor returnability/sticky steering	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 component test.
	Steering components	INSPECT the steering system. INSTALL new components as necessary. REFER to POWER STEERING article.
Steering wheel off-center	Unequal front or rear toe setting (side-to-side)	CHECK the wheel alignment. REFER to Toe Adjustment - Front or Toe Adjustment - Rear . ADJUST as necessary.
	Steering components	INSPECT the steering system. INSTALL new components as necessary. REFER to Component Tests in STEERING SYSTEM - GENERAL INFORMATION article.
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 AND 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.
	Worn spring(s)	MEASURE the ride height. REFER to Ride Height Measurement . 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.
	Front or rear suspension components	INSPECT the front and rear suspension systems. INSTALL new suspension components as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION article for front suspension or REAR SUSPENSION article for rear suspension.
	Incorrect 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 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 component test.
	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.
	Steering components	INSPECT the steering system. INSTALL new components as necessary. REFER to STEERING SYSTEM - GENERAL INFORMATION article.
	Wheel alignment (excessive total front toe out)	ADJUST as necessary. REFER to Toe Adjustment - Front or Toe Adjustment - Rear .