Preliminary Inspection
Symptom Chart — Suspension System
Diagnostics in this manual assume a certain skill level and knowledge of Ford-specific diagnostic practices.
REFER to: Diagnostic Methods (100-00 General Information, Description and Operation).
Condition | Possible Sources | Action |
---|---|---|
Vehicle drifts/pulls | Unevenly loaded or overloaded vehicle | GO to Pinpoint Test A |
Tires/tire pressure | ||
Alignment is not within specification | ||
Brake drag | ||
Steering components | ||
Subframe misalignment | ||
Wander | Overloaded, unevenly or incorrectly loaded vehicle | NOTIFY the customer of incorrect vehicle loading. |
Ball joint(s) | INSPECT the ball joints. REFER to the Ball Joint Inspection component test in this section. | |
Damaged or missing front strut mount bearing(s) |
INSTALL a new front strut mount bearing(s) as necessary. REFER to: Front Strut and Spring Assembly (204-01 Front Suspension, Disassembly and Assembly). |
|
Loose, worn or damaged front wheel bearing(s) |
INSPECT the wheel bearings. INSTALL new wheel bearings as necessary. REFER to: Front Wheel Bearing (204-01 Front Suspension, Removal and Installation). |
|
Loose, worn or damaged suspension component(s) | INSTALL new suspension component(s) as necessary. Refer to the appropriate section in Group 204 for the procedure. | |
Loose suspension fasteners | INSPECT the suspension fasteners. TIGHTEN to specification. Refer to the appropriate section in Group 204 for the procedure. | |
Steering components | INSPECT the steering system. INSTALL new components as necessary. Refer to the appropriate section in Group 211 for the procedure. | |
Wheel alignment (excessive total front toe out) |
ADJUST as necessary. REFER to: Front Toe Adjustment (204-00 Suspension System - General Information, General Procedures). |
|
Front bottoming or riding low | Worn, damaged or incorrect springs |
MEASURE the ride height. REFER to: Ride Height Measurement (204-00 Suspension System - General Information, General Procedures). INSTALL new springs as necessary. REFER to: Front Strut and Spring Assembly (204-01 Front Suspension, Disassembly and Assembly). |
Worn front strut(s) |
INSTALL new struts as necessary. REFER to: Front Strut and Spring Assembly (204-01 Front Suspension) . |
|
Abnormal/incorrect tire wear | Incorrect tire pressure (rapid center rib or inner and outer edge wear) | ADJUST the tire pressure. REFER to the VC label. REFER to Diagnosis and Testing for further tire wear diagnosis. |
Incorrect tire rotation intervals | Refer to the appropriate section in Group 103 for the procedure. | |
|
REFER to: Wheels and Tires (204-04A Wheels and Tires, Diagnosis and Testing). for further tire wear diagnosis. |
|
Front or rear suspension components | INSPECT the front and rear suspension system. REPAIR or INSTALL new suspension components as necessary. Refer to the appropriate section in Group 204 for the procedure. | |
Sticky steering, poor returnability | Damaged or worn front strut mount bearing(s) |
INSTALL a new front strut mount bearing(s) as necessary. REFER to: Front Strut and Spring Assembly (204-01 Front Suspension, Disassembly and Assembly). |
Binding ball joints | REFER to the Ball Joint Inspection component test in this section. | |
Steering components | INSPECT the steering system. INSTALL new components as necessary. Refer to the appropriate section in Group 211 for the procedure. | |
Steering wheel off-center | Unequal front or rear toe setting (side-to-side) |
CHECK the wheel alignment. REFER to: Front Toe Adjustment (204-00 Suspension System - General Information, General Procedures). ADJUST as necessary. |
Steering components | INSPECT the steering system. INSTALL new components as necessary. Refer to the appropriate section in Group 211 for the procedure. | |
Sway or roll | Overloaded, unevenly or incorrectly loaded vehicle | NOTIFY the customer of incorrect vehicle loading. |
Loose wheel nut(s) |
TIGHTEN the wheel nut(s) to specification. REFER to: Specifications (204-04A Wheels and Tires, Specifications). |
|
Strut(s) or shock absorber(s) |
INSTALL new struts or shock absorbers as necessary. REFER to: Front Strut and Spring Assembly (204-01 Front Suspension) . or REFER to: Rear Shock Absorber (204-02 Rear Suspension) . |
|
Loose stabilizer bracket-to-frame bolts | TIGHTEN the bolts to specification. Refer to the appropriate section in Group 204 for the procedure. | |
Worn stabilizer bar bushings or links |
INSTALL new stabilizer bar bushings or links as necessary. REFER to: Front Stabilizer Bar Bushing (204-01 Front Suspension) . |
|
Damaged or broken stabilizer bar |
INSTALL a new stabilizer bar as necessary. REFER to: Front Stabilizer Bar (204-01 Front Suspension, Removal and Installation). |
|
Worn spring(s) |
INSTALL new springs as necessary. REFER to: Front Strut and Spring Assembly (204-01 Front Suspension, Disassembly and Assembly). orREFER to: Spring (204-02 Rear Suspension) . |
|
Vehicle leans to one side | Unevenly loaded or overloaded vehicle | NOTIFY the customer of incorrect vehicle loading. |
Front or rear suspension components | INSPECT the front and rear suspension systems. INSTALL new suspension components as necessary. Refer to the appropriate section in Group 204 for the procedure. | |
Incorrect drive axle(s) ride height. Side-to-side lean out of specification |
MEASURE the ride height. REFER to: Ride Height Measurement (204-00 Suspension System - General Information, General Procedures). INSPECT the front and rear suspension systems. REPAIR or INSTALL new components as necessary. Refer to the appropriate section in Group 204 for the procedure. |
Symptom Chart — NVH
NVH
symptoms should be identified using the diagnostic tools that are
available. For a list of these tools, an explanation of their uses and a
glossary of common terms,
REFER to: Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) (100-04 Noise, Vibration and Harshness, Description and Operation).
.
Since it is possible any one of multiple systems may be the cause of a
symptom, it may be necessary to use a process of elimination type of
diagnostic approach to pinpoint the responsible system. If this is not
the causal system for the symptom, REFER to: Noise, Vibration and
Harshness (NVH) (100-04 Noise, Vibration and Harshness, Diagnosis and
Testing).
for the next likely system and continue diagnosis.
Condition | Possible Sources | Actions |
---|---|---|
Squeak or grunt - noise from the suspension | Front or rear suspension components | INSPECT the front or rear suspension. INSTALL new components as necessary. Refer to the appropriate section in Group 204 for the procedure. |
Clunk - noise from the front suspension, occurs in and out of turns | Loose front suspension | INSPECT for loose nuts or bolts. TIGHTEN to specifications. Refer to the appropriate section in Group 204 for the procedure. |
Clunk - noise from the rear suspension, occurs when shifting from REVERSE to DRIVE | Loose rear suspension components | INSPECT for loose or damaged rear suspension components. REPAIR or INSTALL new components as necessary. Refer to the appropriate section in Group 204 for the procedure. |
Click or pop - noise from the front suspension. More noticeable over rough roads or over bumps | Worn or damaged ball joint(s) |
CARRY OUT a ball joint inspection. INSTALL new lower arm assembly as necessary. REFER to: Lower Arm (204-01 Front Suspension, Removal and Installation). |
Front suspension noise - a squeak, creak or rattle noise. Occurs mostly over bumps or while turning |
|
INSPECT the front suspension. INSTALL new components as necessary. Refer to the appropriate section in Group 204 for the procedure. |
Rear suspension noise - a squeak, creak or rattle noise. Occurs mostly over bumps or rough roads |
|
INSPECT the rear suspension. INSTALL new components as necessary. Refer to the appropriate section in Group 204 for the procedure. |
Shudder - occurs during acceleration from a slow speed or stop | Incorrect ride height causing incorrect driveline angle | Refer to the appropriate section in Group 205 for the procedure. |
Shimmy | Loose wheel nut(s) |
TIGHTEN the nut(s) to specification. REFER to: Specifications (204-04A Wheels and Tires, Specifications). |
Loose front suspension fastener(s) | TIGHTEN the fastener(s) to specification. Refer to the appropriate section in Group 204 for the procedure. | |
Loose front wheel bearing(s) |
INSPECT the front wheel bearing(s). INSTALL new bearing(s) as necessary. REFER to: Front Wheel Bearing (204-01 Front Suspension, Removal and Installation). |
|
Strut(s) or shock absorber(s) |
INSTALL new struts or shock absorbers as necessary. REFER to: Front Strut and Spring Assembly (204-01 Front Suspension) . or REFER to: Rear Shock Absorber (204-02 Rear Suspension) . |
|
Shimmy - most noticeable on coast/deceleration. Also hard steering condition | Excessive positive caster | INSPECT the front suspension. Refer to the appropriate section in Group 204 for the procedure. REPAIR or INSTALL new suspension components as necessary. |
Rough/harsh ride | Incorrect tire pressure | ADJUST the tire pressure. REFER to the VC label. |
Low ride height |
MEASURE the ride height. REFER to: Ride Height Measurement (204-00 Suspension System - General Information, General Procedures). INSTALL new springs as necessary. REFER to: Front Strut and Spring Assembly (204-01 Front Suspension, Disassembly and Assembly). or REFER to: Spring (204-02 Rear Suspension) . |
|
Loose, worn or damaged suspension component(s) | INSTALL new suspension component(s) as necessary. Refer to the appropriate section in Group 204 for the procedure. |
Pinpoint Tests
Vehicle Drifts/Pulls
Diagnostic Overview
Diagnostics in this manual assume a certain skill level and knowledge of Ford-specific diagnostic practices.
REFER to: Diagnostic Methods (100-00 General Information, Description and Operation).
Possible Causes
A1 CHECK FOR UNEVENLY LOADED VEHICLE | ||||
Is the vehicle unevenly loaded?
|
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A2 CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURES AND TIRE CONDITIONS | ||||
Are the tire pressures and tire conditions OK?
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A3 ISOLATE TIRE DRIFT/PULL CONDITION | ||||
NOTE: It is important to determine if tire forces are the cause of a drift/pull condition. Changing the position of the wheel and tire assemblies on the vehicle may correct a pull/drift condition. A tire or tires that are causing a drift/pull should not be removed from service unless it has been determined that the tire(s) are worn beyond specification. Refer to Diagnosis and Testing — Wheels and Tires in Section 204-04.
Does the vehicle drift/pull?
|
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A4 CHECK SUBFRAME ALIGNMENT | ||||
NOTE: RH and LH dimensions are identical. All measurements on center.
Is the subframe aligned correctly?
|
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A5 CHECK FOR BRAKE DRAG | ||||
Do the wheels spin freely?
|
||||
A6 CHECK THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT | ||||
Is the wheel alignment out of specification?
|
Component Tests
Ball Joint Inspection
NOTE: To obtain accurate measurements, the suspension must be in full rebound with the weight of the vehicle supported by the frame.
NOTICE: Do not use any tools or equipment to move the wheel and tire assembly or suspension components while checking for relative movement. Suspension damage may occur. The use of tools or equipment will also create relative movement that may not exist when using hand force. Relative movement must be measured using hand force only.
NOTE: To obtain an accurate measurement, align the dial indicator should be aligned as close as possible with the vertical axis (center line) of the ball joint.
Special Tool(s) / General Equipment
Flat Headed Screw Driver Transmission Jack Vehicle/Axle StandsRemoval
NOTICE: Suspension fasteners are critical parts that affect performance of vital components and systems. Failure of these fasteners may result in major service expense. Use the same or equivalent parts if replacement is necessary. Do not use a replacement part of lesser quality or substitute design. Tighten fasteners as specified.
Remove the floor console.