Diagnóstico de averías de la suspensión y la dirección

Antes de comenzar a comprobar los componentes de la suspensión y del mecanismo de dirección, asegúrese de que la causa del problema no sea una presión de inflado incorrecta de los neumáticos, la instalación de neumáticos de distinto tamaño, un desequilibrio de las ruedas o el "agarrotamiento" de los frenos.

Vehicle pulls to one side
1 Tires of different sizes are installed on the same axle, or the tires are inflated to different pressures (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).
2 Coil springs are broken or sagging (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).
3 Front wheel alignment is out of adjustment (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).
4 Front brakes are dragging (refer to the Brakes chapter).
5 Tire is defective (refer to the Adjustments and Routine Maintenance chapter).
6 Suspension or steering linkage components are worn (refer to the Adjustments and Routine Maintenance and Suspension and Steering chapters).
7 Suspension or steering linkage components are damaged due to an accident (refer to the Adjustments and Routine Maintenance chapter).

Wheel play and excessive vehicle vibration
1 Front wheels are out of balance (vibration is most noticeable through the steering wheel) (refer to the Adjustments and Routine Maintenance chapter).
2 Rear wheels are out of balance (vibration is most noticeable through the vehicle body) (refer to the Adjustments and Routine Maintenance chapter).
3 Wheels are damaged or deformed (refer to the Adjustments and Routine Maintenance and Suspension and Steering chapters).
4 Tires are damaged (refer to the Adjustments and Routine Maintenance chapter).
5 Steering or suspension components, or their ball joints and/or bushings, are worn (refer to the Adjustments and Routine Maintenance and Suspension and Steering chapters).
6 Wheel bolts are loose (refer to the Adjustments and Routine Maintenance chapter).
7 Front wheel hub assemblies or bearings are worn (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).

Vehicle pitches and/or rolls during cornering and braking
1 Stabilizer bar mounting is loose (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).
2 Shock absorbers are faulty (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).
3 Coil springs are broken or sagging (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).
4 Steering or suspension components, or their ball joints and/or bushings, are worn (refer to the Adjustments and Routine Maintenance and Suspension and Steering chapters).
5 Vehicle is overloaded.

Vehicle wanders or has general directional instability
1 Tires of different sizes are installed on the same axle, or the tires are inflated to different pressures (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).
2 Wheels are out of balance (refer to the Adjustments and Routine Maintenance and Suspension and Steering chapters).
3 Wheel bolts are loose (refer to the Adjustments and Routine Maintenance chapter).
4 CV joints and tie-rod ends lack lubrication (refer to the Adjustments and Routine Maintenance and Suspension and Steering chapters).
5 Strut assemblies are worn (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).
6 Stabilizer bar mounting is loose (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).
7 Coil springs are broken or sagging (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).
8 Front wheel alignment is out of adjustment (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).
9 Steering or suspension components, or their ball joints and/or bushings, are worn (refer to the Adjustments and Routine Maintenance and Suspension and Steering chapters).

Steering wheel is excessively hard to turn
1 Power steering fluid level is low (refer to the Adjustments and Routine Maintenance chapter).
2 Power steering line is restricted (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).
3 Power steering pump is faulty (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).
4 CV joints and tie-rod ends lack lubrication (refer to the Adjustments and Routine Maintenance and Suspension and Steering chapters).
5 Tires are underinflated (refer to the Adjustments and Routine Maintenance and Suspension and Steering chapters).
6 Tie-rod end joint or suspension arm ball joint is seized (refer to the Adjustments and Routine Maintenance and Suspension and Steering chapters).
7 Front wheel alignment is out of adjustment (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).
8 Steering rack or column is bent or damaged (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).

Excessive steering wheel free play
1 Steering column intermediate shaft universal joint(s) are worn (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).
2 Tie-rod end joints are worn (refer to the Adjustments and Routine Maintenance and Suspension and Steering chapters).
3 Rack-and-pinion gear is worn (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).
4 Steering or suspension components, or their ball joints and/or bushings, are worn (refer to the Adjustments and Routine Maintenance and Suspension and Steering chapters).
5 Front wheel hubs or bearings are worn (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).

Steering wheel does not return to the straight-ahead position properly
1 Ball joints or tie-rod ends lack lubrication (refer to the Adjustments and Routine Maintenance and Suspension and Steering chapters).
2 Ball joints are seized (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).
3 Steering column is binding (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).
4 Lubricant level in the steering gear housing is low (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).
5 Front wheel alignment is out of adjustment (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).

Abnormal noises from the front of the vehicle
1 Ball joints or tie-rod ends lack lubrication (refer to the Adjustments and Routine Maintenance and Suspension and Steering chapters).
2 Shock absorber mounts are damaged (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).
3 Suspension control arm bushings or tie-rod ends are worn (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).
4 Stabilizer bar mounting is loose (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).
5 Wheel nuts are loose (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).
6 Suspension component mounting bolts are loose (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).

Vehicle handling is reduced during braking
1 Front wheel bearings are worn (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).
2 Suspension coil springs are broken or sagging (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).
3 Brake discs/drums are warped (refer to the Brakes chapter).

Vehicle sags excessively
Overloading.

Grinding or other abnormal noises from the steering gear
1 Rack-and-pinion assembly fasteners are loose (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).
2 Steering gear is internally damaged (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).

No power assist
1 Hydraulic fluid level is low (refer to the Adjustments and Routine Maintenance chapter).
2 Power steering hoses are restricted (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).
3 Power steering pump is faulty (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).
4 Rack-and-pinion gear is faulty (refer to the Suspension and Steering chapter).