Symptom | Possible cause | Remedy |
Hard steering | Improper front wheel alignment Excessive turning resistance of lower arm ball joint Low tire pressure No power assist | Correct Replace Adjust Repair and replace |
Poor return of steering wheel to center | Improper front wheel alignment | Correct |
Poor rough ride | Improper front wheel alignment Malfunctioning shock absorber Broken or worn stabilizer Broken or worn coil spring Worn lower arm bushing | Correct Repair or replace Replace Replace Replace the lower arm assembly |
Abnormal tire wear | Improper front wheel alignment Improper tire pressure Malfunctioning shock absorber | Correct Adjust Replace |
Wandering | Improper front wheel alignment Poor turning resistnace of lower arm ball joint Loose or worn lower arm bushing | Correct Repair Retighten or replace |
Vehicle pulls to one side | Improper front wheel alignment Excessive turning resistance of lower arm ball joint Broken or worn coil spring Bent lower arm | Correct Replace Replace Repair |
Steering wheel shimmy | Improper front wheel alignemtn Poor turning resistance of lower arm ball joint Broken or worn stabilizer Worn lower arm bushing Malfunctioning shock absorber Broken or worn coil spring | Correct Replace Replace Replace Replace Replace |
Bottoming | Broken or worn coil spring Malfunctioning shock absorber | Replace Replace |
WHEEL AND TYPE DIAGNOSIS | ||||
CENTER OF TREAD | BOTH SIDES OF TREAD WORN | CHUNKING OF TIRE | ONE SIDE OF TIRE WORN | |
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Over-Inflation | Center-tread down to fabric due to excessive over-inflation | Under-Inflation Bulge at the shoulder Rapid wear | When a patch of tread has loosened, torn off the tire by centrifugal force at high speed | Incorrect camber angle |
WHEEL AND TYPE DIAGNOSIS | ||||
FLAT SPOT | FEATHERING | BAD PLUGGING | UNEVEN TIRE WEAR | TOTALLY UNSAFE TIRE |
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Caused by heavy braking which makes the wheels lock and scrubs tires along the road surface | Excessive toe-in toe-out | Using more than one plug distorts the tread, resulting in carcass failure | Bad wheel balance, fault in suspension, steering gear or bearing | Tread worn below the limit |