1. STEERING SUSPENSION ALIGNMENT

2. Suspension Service Overview
Testing the repair suspension parts.
Measure spring height/replace springs.
Testing shocks and struts/replacement.
Checking suspension parts/ replace as necessary.
Replacement of: ball joints, control arms bushings, control arms, steering knuckles, strut rods, strut rod bushings, stabilizers & stabilizer bushings.

3. Steering Service Overview
Testing and repair of steering parts.
Test conventional steering parts for wear and damage.
Test rack and pinion steering for wear and damage.
Replace worn parts including: tie rods, idler arms, center links, pitman arms, pitman shaft seals, entire racks & power steering repairs.

4. Wheel Alignment Overview
Front wheel alignment.
4 wheel alignment.
Hunter DSP 400.

5. Automotive Springs Leaf Springs Coil Springs Torsion Bars
Air Suspension

6. Leaf Springs
Often used on trucks and SUV’s some car applications

7. Coil Springs Most common type on automobiles
Requires more sophisticated suspension system

8. Torsion Bars Popular on pick-ups and SUV’s
Adjustable on many applications

9. Air Suspension Used on luxury cars Complicated
Can use sensors and computer

10. Testing Springs Measuring height called ride height or curb height
Simple inch or mm measurement
Need to know where to measure
Must check specifications

11. Shock Absorbers Remove spring oscillations Dual Acting Direct Action
Telescopic
Hydraulic
Gas operated

12. Checking Shock Absorbers
Look for oil leaks
Jounce test
Bench test

13. Rear Suspension
Rear suspension using leaf springs.

14. Control Arm Suspension
Steering knuckle
Upper control arm
Lower control arm
Upper ball joint
Lower ball joint
Upper control arm bushings
Lower control arm bushings
Spring
Shock

15. McPherson Strut Spring Strut (shock) Lower control arm
Lower ball joint
Steering knuckle
Strut rod
Stabilizer

16. Inspecting Control Arm Suspensions
Visual inspection
Control arms
Steering knuckle
Upper and lower control arm bushings
Jack properly to check ball joints

17. Inspecting McPherson Strut Suspensions
Visual inspection
Control arm
Steering knuckle
Lower control arm bushings
Properly lift to check lower ball joint
Strut

18. Strut Rods Strut rod is also known as a brake reaction rod. Strut Rodor
Brake Reaction
Rod

19. Stabilizers Anti-Roll or Sway bar for better cornering.
Note: It mounts to each control arm and the chassis.

21. Conventional or parallelogram type used on trucks and large cars
Rack and pinion steering used on most cars
STEERING LINKAGE

22. Conventional Steering System Parts

23. Steering Gear

24. Conventional Steering Linkage

25. Steering Linkage Detail
Idler Arm
Tie Rod

26. Inspecting Steering Linkage
Inspect the following:
Pitman Arm
Idler arm
Center link
Tie-rod ends
Rack housing
Boots and bushings
Grab the tire in the front and move
back and forth. Observe parts for
Improper looseness.

27. Rack and Pinion Steering

28. How a Rack and Pinion Works
Pinion connects to the steering column.
Rack (a flat gear) Connects to the tie rods and steering arm.

29. Exploded view of the rack

30. Rack & Pinion Steering Inspection
Check out-board tie rods ends.
Check in-board tie rod ends.
Check bellows boot.
Check rack mounting.
Check pinion gear lash.

31. Power Steering
Hydraulic assist using a pump, reservoir, hoses, valves and power cylinder.

36. Conventional Power Steering

37. Integral Type Power Steering

38. Power Rack & Pinion Steering

39. Power Steering Inspection
Check for the following:
1 - Belt tension
2 - Belt condition
3 - Leaks
4 - Noises
5 - Proper operation