Suspension and Steering Flashcards

When adjusting a recirculating ball steering gear, which adjustment is made first?

Answer: Worm bearing preload

Worm bearing preload is set first, and the sector shaft over-center adjustment is made after it.

A power steering pump makes a whining noise, and the fluid looks foamy. What is the most likely cause?

Answer: Air in the system or a low fluid level

Aerated or low fluid makes the pump cavitate, which causes whining and foaming.

A rack-and-pinion vehicle steers hard for the first few minutes after a cold start and then returns to normal. What is the likely cause?

Answer: Worn internal seals in the rack housing

Often called 'morning sickness,' this problem comes from worn rack seals and grooved housing bores that leak internally until the parts warm up and expand.

After a toe adjustment, the steering wheel is off-center even though total toe is correct. How should the technician center the wheel?

Answer: Lengthen one tie rod and shorten the other by the same amount

Moving the tie rods equally in opposite directions turns the steering wheel without changing total toe.

In a parallelogram steering linkage, which component is mounted to the frame on the side opposite the pitman arm?

Answer: Idler arm

The idler arm supports the passenger-side end of the center link so it moves parallel to the pitman arm.

After a wheel alignment on a vehicle with electronic stability control, what is often required?

Answer: Recalibrating the steering angle sensor

The stability control system uses the steering angle sensor to know where center is, so it must be reset after alignment changes.

Bump steer, where the vehicle darts as the suspension moves over bumps, is usually caused by:

Answer: Tie rods that are not level or parallel with the control arms

When the tie rods move through a different arc than the control arms, toe changes as the suspension moves up and down.