General Suspension Troubleshooting 1980 US Vehicles

General Suspension Troubleshooting For 1980 American Vehicles
Condition and Possible Cause:
Front End Noise

• Loose wheel lug nuts. Loose or worn wheel bearings, shock absorbers or shock mountings, strut bushings, struts or lower control arm
• Loose steering gear to frame, mounting bolts.
• Steering knuckle arm contracting lower control arm wheel stop
• Worn upper control arm bushings
• Insufficient lubrication and ball joints

Front Wheel Shake, Shimmy and Vibration

• Loose or worn wheel bearings, tie rod ends, strut bushings, upper control arm ball joints, shock absorbers or linkage pivots.
• Tires or wheels out of balance
• Incorrect front wheel alignment
• Propeller shaft balance

Car Pulls to One Side

• Mismatch or uneven tires
• Broken or sagging springs
• Loose or worn strut bushings
• Incorrect front wheel alignment or rear axle alignment
• Power Steering Gear control valve unbalance
• Front Brakes dragging

Abnormal Tire Wear

• Unbalance or non-rotation of tires
• Sagging or broke springs
• Front end alignment
• Faulty shock absorbers
• Overloaded car

Scuffed Tires

• Toe-in incorrect
• Excessive speed on turns
• Suspension arm bent or twisted

Springs Bottom or Sag

• Automobile overloaded
• Leaking or worn out shocks
• Bent or Broke Springs

Ride Too Soft, Too Hard or Excessive Vertical Motion of Wheels

• Faulty or improper operation of shocks
• Incorrect Springs

Car Leans or Sways on Corners

• Loose stabilizer bar or missing link
• Faulty shocks or shock mountings
• Broken or sagging springs

"Dog" Tracking

• Damage rear suspension arm or worn bushings
• Broken leaf springs
• Bent rear axle housing
• Frame or underbody misalignment

Broken Springs

• Loose "U" Bolts, or inoperative shock absorbers

Noisy Shock Absorbers

• Loose bolts or studs
• Undercoating on shock absorber reservoir
• Excessively worn bushing
• Air Trapped in system

Shock Absorber Leaking Fluid

• Worn seals, or crimp in reservoir tube.

Toe Not Adjustable to Specifications

• Lower control arm bent
• Frame bent

Camber Not Adjustable to Specifications

• Control arm bent.
• Frame bent
• Hub and bearing assembly not properly seated on mounting surface