Evaluating Suspension Of Vehicles Involved In Accidents

When servicing load-bearing or wheel-supporting components on accident vehicles, damages on suspension could remain undiscovered. These undiscovered damages may lead to heavy damages in continued vehicle operation. Therefore, on accident vehicles, the listed components must be checked in the described manner and sequence, independent of performing a vehicle alignment. If no deviations from specified values were determined during vehicle alignment, no deformations of the suspension are present.

Visual and Function Check of Steering System 

• Visual check for deformations and cracks.
• Check for play in tie rod joints and steering gear.
• Visual inspection for faulty bellows and grease boots.
• Check electric and hydraulic lines and hoses for chafe marks, cuts and kinks.
• Check hydraulic lines, bolted connections and steering gear for leaks.
• Check steering gear and lines for proper seating.
• Check proper function through entire steering angle by turning steering wheel from stop to stop. Steering wheel must be rotary without hitching at equal force.

Visual and Function Check of Suspension 

• Observe the sequence of the following test steps!

• Check all components shown in assembly overviews for deformation, cracks and other damages
• Replace damaged components
• Perform vehicle alignment on wheel alignment stand approved by VOLKSWAGEN AG

Visual and Function Check for Wheels and Tires 

• Run-out and balance, checking, refer to DISC WHEEL, CHECKING RADIAL AND LATERAL RUN OUT and BALANCING .
• Tires, checking for cuts and impact damage on tread and flanks, refer to TIRE DAMAGE .
• Check tire inflation pressure; inflation pressure see inflation pressure plate in tank flap.

For damage on disc wheel and/or tire, tire must be replaced. This also applies when the course of the accident and damage on the vehicle points to possible non-visible damages.

Another determining factor is the age of the tires: Tires should not be older than 6 years.

In case of doubt, always proceed as follows:

• As soon as a safety risk cannot be ruled out, the tire(s) must be replaced.

Entire Vehicle 

Also check other vehicle systems as, for example:

• Brake system including ABS.
• Exhaust system and passenger protection by visual and function check.

Test values, adjustment values and notes can be found in respective repair information .

Checking of accident vehicles described here, refers to suspension and does not lay claim to completeness for entire vehicle.

Electronic Vehicle Systems 

Safety-related systems, for example: ABS/EDL, airbag, electronically regulated vehicle systems, electromechanical, electrohydraulic steering and other driver assistance systems must be queried for fault codes that could possibly be stored, using the Vehicle Diagnostic Tester. If faults were stored in the DTC memory for the system mentioned, then these systems must be serviced according to the specifications in the repair information . After performing repairs, check the fault stored in the DTC memory of the affected system again, to make sure that proper function can be ensured again.