Diagnosis And Testing - Suspension And Steering
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2016 Dodge Journey and 2015 Dodge Journey. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
| CONDITION | POSSIBLE CAUSES | POTENTIAL CORRECTIONS |
|---|---|---|
| Front End Whine On Turns | 1. Defective 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 Sway Bar Or Upper Strut Attachment | 5. Tighten Sway 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 half shaft outer C/V joint mating surface to wheel hub/bearing. | 1. Separate half shaft 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 Transaxle Gears Or Bearings | 1. Replace Transaxle 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 Transaxle Gears Or Bearings | 3. Replace Transaxle 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 | 7. Tighten Crossmember Bolts To Specified Torque | |
| 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 | 3. Fill Power Steering Fluid Reservoir To Correct Level | |
| 4. Loose Power Steering Pump Belt | 4. Check and replace automatic belt tensioner as necessary. If drive belt is worn or glazed, replace belt. | |
| 5. Lack Of Lubricant In Steering Ball Joints | 5. Lubricate Or Replace Steering Ball Joints | |
| 6. Steering Gear Malfunction | 6. Replace Steering Gear | |
| 7. Lack Of Lubricant In Steering Coupler | 7. Replace Steering Coupler |