SECTION 2A

SUSPENSION DIAGNOSIS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Diagnostic Information and Procedures . . . . . 2A-1 Wheel Bearing Diagnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2A-6
General Diagnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2A-1

DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION AND PROCEDURES

GENERAL DIAGNOSIS
Problems in the steering, the suspension, the tires, and
the wheels involve several systems. Consider all sys-
tems when you diagnose a complaint. Some problems,
such as abnormal or excessive tire wear and scuffed
tires, may be the result of hard driving. Always road test
the vehicle first. If possible, do this road test with the
customer.
Proceed with the following preliminary checks. Correct
any substandard conditions.

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Application Checks
D Inspect the tires for improper pressure
and uneven wear.
Correction
D Inflate the tires to the proper pressure.

D Inspect the joint from the steering
column to the intermediate shaft for
loose connections or wear.
D Inspect the joint from the intermediate
shaft to the steering gear for loose
connections or wear.
D Inspect the front and the rear
suspension, the steering gear, and the
linkage for loose or damaged parts.
D Inspect for out–of–round tires.
D Inspect for out–of–balance tires, bent
wheels, and worn or loose wheel
bearings.
D Check the power steering pump drive
belt tension.
D Inspect the power steering system.
Also, check the power steering fluid
level.
D Tighten the coupling flange pinch
bolts.
D Replace the intermediate shaft as
needed.
D Tighten the front and the rear
suspension.
D Tighten the steering gear mounting
bracket bolts.
D Replace the front and the rear
suspension as needed.
D Replace the steering gear as needed.
D Replace the coupling flange as
needed.
D Perform free runout test.
D Match–mount the tires.
D Balance the wheels.
D Replace the wheels.
D Replace the wheel bearings.
D Tighten the power steering pump drive
belt.
D Repair any leaks.
D Perform a power steering gear test.
D Add power steering fluid.

DAEWOO M-150 BL2

 2A – 2 SUSPENSION DIAGNOSIS

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Condition Probable Cause Correction
Car Lead/Pull D Mismatched or uneven tires. D Replace the tires.
D A broken or a sagging coil spring. D Replace the coil spring.
D A improperly radial tire lateral force. D Check the wheel alignment.
D Switch the tire and wheel assemblies.
D Replace the tires as needed.
D The front–wheel alignment is D Align the front wheels.
out–of–align.
D Off–center steering gear. D Reseat the pinion valve assembly.
D Replace the pinion valve assembly as
needed.
D Front–brake dragging. D Adjust the front brakes.
Abnormal or Excessive D The front–wheel and rear–wheel D Align the front and the rear wheels.
Tire Wear alignment is out–of–align.
D Excessive toe. D Adjust the toe.
D A broken or a sagging coil spring. D Replace the coil spring.
D Out–of–balance tires. D Balance the tires.
D Worn strut dampeners. D Replace the strut dampeners.
D A failure to rotate tires. D Rotate the tires.
D Replace the tires as needed.
D Overloaded vehicle. D Maintain the proper load weight.
D Low tire inflation. D Inflate the tires to the proper pressure.
Scuffed Tires D Incorrect toe. D Adjust the toe.
D A twisted or a bent suspension arm. D Replace the suspension arm.
Wheel Tramp D An out–of–balance tire or wheel. D Balance the tire or the wheel.
D Improper strut dampener action. D Replace the strut dampeners.
Shimmy, Shake, or D An out–of–balance tire or wheel. D Balance the tire or the wheel.
Vibration
D Excessive wheel hub runout. D Measure the hub flange runout.
D Replace the hub as needed.
D Excessive brake drum or brake rotor D Adjust the brakes.
imbalance. D Replace the brake rotor or the brake
drum as needed.
D Worn tie rod ends. D Replace the tie rod ends.
D Wheel trim imbalance. D Balance the wheel.
D A worn ball joint. D Replace the control arm and ball joint
assembly.
D Excessive wheel runout. D Measure the wheel runout.
D Replace the wheel as needed.
D Excessive loaded radial runout on the D Match–mount the tire and wheel
tire and wheel assembly. assembly.

DAEWOO M-150 BL2

 SUSPENSION DIAGNOSIS 2A – 3

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Condition Probable Cause Correction
Hard Steering (Manual) D A lack of lubrication of the ball joints, D Lubricate the ball joints, the tie rods,
the tie rods and the steering gear. and the steering gear.
D Replace the control arm and ball joint
assembly, the tie rods, and the
steering gear as needed.
D The front–wheel alignment is D Align the front wheels.
out–of–align.
D Steering gear adjustment is D Adjust the steering gear.
out–of–adjustment.
Hard Steering (Power) D The steering preload adjustment is D Perform a rack bearing preload
out–of–adjustment. on–vehicle adjustment.
D The leaked hydraulic system. D Test the power steering system
pressure with a gauge.
D Replace the seals and the hoses as
needed.
D A loose steering gear mounting. D Tighten the steering gear mounting
bracket bolts.
Too Much Play in D Worn or loose wheel bearings. D Tighten the drive axle nut.
Steering. D Replace the wheel bearing as needed.
D A loose steering gear mounting. D Tighten the steering gear mounting
bracket bolts.
D The steering preload adjustment is D Perform a rack bearing preload
out–of–adjustment. on–vehicle adjustment.
D Loose connections or wear of the joint D Tighten the coupling pinch bolts.
from the steering column to the D Replace the intermediate shaft as
intermediate shaft. needed.
D Loose connections or wear of the joint
from the intermediate shaft to the
steering gear.
Poor Returnability D Binding in the ball joints. D Replace the control arm and ball joint
assembly.
D Binding in the steering column. D Lubricate the steering column.
D Replace the steering column as
needed.
D The front–wheel alignment is D Align the front wheels.
out–of–align.
D The steering preload adjustment is D Perform a rack bearing preload
out–of–adjustment. on–vehicle adjustment.
D A sticking valve. D Lubricate the pinion valve assembly.
D Replace the pinion valve assembly as
needed.
D Binding in the coupling on the D Replace the intermediate shaft.
intermediate shaft.
Abnormal Noise, Front D Damaged suspension components. D Replace the damaged suspension
Suspension components.
D Worn control arm bushings or tie rod D Replace the control arm bushings or
ends. the tie rods.

DAEWOO M-150 BL2

 2A – 4 SUSPENSION DIAGNOSIS
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Condition Probable Cause
Abnormal Noise, Front D A loose stabilizer shaft link.
Suspension
D Loose wheel nuts.
D Loose suspension bolts or nuts.
D Loose wheel covers.
D Worn strut dampeners or strut
mountings.
D An improperly positioned strut spring.
Wander or Poor D Mismatched or uneven tires.
Steering Ability
D Worn strut dampeners.
D A loose stabilizer shaft link.
D A broken or a sagging coil spring.
D The steering preload adjustment is
out–of–adjustment.
D The front–wheel and the rear–wheel
alignment are out–of–align.
Erratic Steering when D Worn or loose wheel bearings.
Braking
D A broken or a sagging coil spring.
D A leaking caliper.
D Warped rotors.
D An incorrect or an uneven caster.
Low or Uneven Trim D A broken or a sagging coil spring.
Height
D An overloaded vehicle.
D An incorrect or weak coil spring.
Ride Too Soft D Worn strut dampeners.
D A broken or a sagging coil spring.
Ride Too Harsh D Incorrect strut dampeners.
D An incorrect coil spring.
Body Leans or Sways D A loose stabilizer shaft link.
in Corners
D Worn strut dampeners or strut
mountings.
D an overloaded vehicle.
D A broken or a sagging coil spring.
Suspension Bottoms D Worn strut dampeners.
D An overloaded vehicle.
D A broken or a sagging coil spring.
Correction
D Tighten the stabilizer shaft link.
D Tighten the wheel nuts.
D Tighten the suspension bolts or the
nuts.
D Tighten the wheel covers.
D Replace the strut dampeners.
D Tighten the strut mounting nuts.
D Adjust the strut spring to the proper
position.
D Replace the tires.
D Replace the strut dampeners.
D Tighten the stabilizer shaft link.
D Replace the coil spring.
D Perform a rack bearing preload
on–vehicle adjustment.
D Align the front and the rear end
wheels.
D Replace the wheel bearings.
D Replace the coil spring.
D Replace the caliper.
D Replace the rotors.
D If the caster is beyond specifications,
check the frame and repair it as
needed.
D Replace the coil spring.
D Maintain the proper load weight.
D Replace the coil spring.
D Replace the strut dampeners.
D Replace the coil spring.
D Replace the strut dampeners.
D Replace the coil spring.
D Tighten the stabilizer shaft link.
D Replace the strut dampeners.
D Tighten the strut assembly mounting
nuts.
D Maintain the proper load weight.
D Replace the coil spring.
D Replace the strut dampeners.
D Maintain the proper load weight.
D Replace the coil spring.
DAEWOO M-150 BL2
 SUSPENSION DIAGNOSIS 2A – 5

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Condition Probable Cause Correction
Steering Wheel D Air in the power steering system. D Bleed the power steering system.
Kickback (Power)
D A loose steering gear mounting. D Tighten the steering gear mounting
bracket bolts.
D Loose connections or wear of the joint D Tighten the coupling pinch bolts.
from the steering column to the D Replace the intermediate shaft as
intermediate shaft. needed.
D Loose connections or wear of the joint
from the intermediate shaft to the
steering gear.
D Loose tie rod ends. D Tighten the tie rod ends.
D Replace the tie rods as needed.
D Loose or worn wheel bearings. D Tighten the drive axle nut.
D Replace the wheel bearing as needed.
Steering Wheel Surges D Low pressure in the power steering D Replace the seals and the hoses as
or Jerks (Power) system. needed.
D A sluggish steering gear valve. D Clean the pinion valve assembly.
D Replace the pinion valve assembly as
needed.
D A loose power steering pump drive D Adjust the power steering pump drive
belt. belt.
Cupped Tires D The front–wheel and the rear–wheel D Align the front and the rear wheels.
alignment are out–of–align.
D Worn strut dampeners. D Replace the strut dampeners.
D Worn or loose wheel bearing. D Tighten the drive axle nut.
D Replace the wheel bearings as
needed.
D Excessive tire or wheel runout. D Match–mount the tires.
D Replace the tires as needed.
D Replace the wheels as needed.
D A worn ball joints. D Replace the control arm and ball joint
assembly.
D The steering gear preload adjustment D Perform a rack bearing preload
is out–of–adjustment. on–vehicle adjustment.

DAEWOO M-150 BL2

2A – 6 SUSPENSION DIAGNOSIS
WHEEL BEARING DIAGNOSIS
This vehicle with non–serviceable bearings in the rear
wheels. If any fault is found with a wheel bearing, it must
be replaced.
Wheel Bearing Noise
A road test usually reveals excessive wheel bearing
noise. Wheel bearings emit a howling sound when loose
or damaged. Wheel bearing noise is present only when
the vehicle is moving. It is constant and unwavering and
increases with the speed of the vehicle. If the wheel
bearing noise cannot be positively diagnosed, or if the
origin of the noise cannot be determined, perform the
following test :
1. Raise and suitably support the vehicle.
2. Spin the wheels using your hand. Check for out–of–
round or out–of–balance tires, bent rims, or loose
wheel bearings.
3. Spin the rear wheels using a commercial wheel spin-
er.
4. If a noise can be heard from the passenger compart-
ment, replace the noisy wheel bearings. Refer to Sec-
tion 2D, Rear Suspension.
5. Lower the vehicle.
DAEWOO M-150 BL2