Suspension and Steering Diagnostics Flashcards

Which alignment angle, if unequal side to side, is the MOST common cause of a steady pull on a level road?

Answer: Camber

A vehicle pulls toward the side with the more positive camber.

A tire shows feathered wear across the tread. What is the MOST likely cause?

Answer: Incorrect toe setting

Incorrect toe drags the tire sideways and wears a feathered, sawtooth edge.

What is SAI (steering axis inclination) used to diagnose?

Answer: Bent spindles, struts, or control arms

SAI and included angle compared to specs help find bent suspension parts that camber readings alone cannot show.

A vehicle wanders on the highway and needs constant steering correction. Which is the LEAST likely cause?

Answer: Slightly excessive positive caster

Extra positive caster increases directional stability, so it would not cause wandering.

A shock absorber is suspected of being weak. Which test gives the MOST reliable result on the vehicle?

Answer: Bounce test, then check for oil leaks and mount condition

Excessive bounce after the test, along with heavy leakage or damaged mounts, points to a failed shock.

Torque steer on a FWD vehicle under hard acceleration is MOST likely made worse by:

Answer: Worn engine/transaxle mounts

Worn mounts let the powertrain shift, changing driveshaft angles and increasing torque steer.

Bump steer (toe changes as the suspension moves up and down) is MOST often caused by:

Answer: Unequal tie rod heights or a misaligned rack

If the tie rods are not parallel to the control arms, toe changes as the wheels travel up and down.