Suspension and Steering Diagnostics Flashcards

How is a wear-indicator type lower ball joint inspected?

Answer: Check whether the grease fitting boss is recessed into the housing with the weight on the wheel

With the vehicle on its wheels, a joint is worn if the indicator boss is flush with or recessed into the housing.

Cupped or scalloped tire wear is MOST commonly caused by:

Answer: Worn shock absorbers or struts

Worn dampers let the tire bounce, leaving cupped patches around the tread.

A vehicle steering returns slowly to center after a turn. Which of these is the MOST likely cause?

Answer: Binding upper strut bearing or tight ball joint

Binding pivot points resist the self-centering force produced by caster and SAI.

Technician A says excessive wheel bearing play can cause a vehicle to wander. Technician B says it can cause a brake pedal pulsation from caliper piston knockback. Who is correct?

Answer: Both A and B

Loose bearings let the wheel move, causing wander, and rotor wobble can push the caliper pistons back.

On a parallelogram steering system, which component connects the pitman arm to the idler arm?

Answer: Center link

The center link spans between the pitman arm and the idler arm, and the tie rods attach to it.

A vehicle with air suspension sits low at one corner after sitting overnight. What is the MOST likely cause?

Answer: A leaking air spring or line at that corner

A leak at one corner lets that corner lose pressure, while the other corners hold height.

Which tire condition causes radial pull, where the vehicle drifts and the pull changes sides when the front tires are swapped?

Answer: A tire with a belt or conicity defect

Conicity from a shifted belt makes the tire roll like a cone, so the pull moves with the tire.