Symptom Chart

SYMPTOM CHART

Symptom	Suspect Area	Remedy
Squeak or grunt-noise from the front suspension, occurs more in cold ambient temperatures - more noticeable over rough roads or when turning	Front stabilizer bar	Under these conditions, the noise is acceptable.
Clunk - noise from the front suspension, occurs in and out of turns	Loose front struts or shocks	Inspect for loose nuts or bolts. Tighten to specifications.
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.
Click or pop - noise from the front suspension - more noticeable over rough roads or over bumps	Worn or damaged ball joints	Install new lower arm as necessary.
Click or pop - noise occurs when vehicle is turning	Worn or damaged ball joints	Install new lower arm as necessary.
Click or snap - occurs when accelerating around a corner	Damaged or worn Birfield joint	Repair or install a new Birfield joint as necessary. Refer to DRIVESHAFT .
Front suspension noise - A squeak, creak, or rattle noise - occurs mostly over bumps or rough roads	Steering components Loose or bent front struts or shock absorbers Damaged spring or spring mounts Damaged or worn arm bushings Worn or damaged stabilizer bar bushing or links	Go to DETAILED TEST A .
Groaning or grinding - noise from the front strut, occurs when driving on bumpy roads or turning the vehicle	Uneven seating surface between the insulator and panel by the burrs around the strut insulator mounting bolts and the insulator bolts mounting holes	Repair or install a new parts as necessary.
Rear suspension noise - a squeak, creak or rattle noise - occurs mostly over bumps or rough roads	Loose or bent rear shock absorbers Damaged spring or spring mounts Damaged or worn control arm bushings	Go to DETAILED TEST B .
Shudder - occurs during acceleration from a slow speed or stop	Rear axle assembly mis-positioned Damaged or worn front suspension components	Check the axle mounts and rear suspension for damage or wear. Repair as necessary. Check for a loose stabilizer bar, damaged or loose strut/strut bushings or loose or worn ball joints. Inspect the steering linkage for wear or damage. Repair or Install new components as necessary.
Shimmy - most noticeable on coast/deceleration - also hard steering condition	Excessive positive caster	Check the caster alignment angle. Correct as necessary.
Tire noise - hum/moan at constant speeds	Abnormal wear patterns	Spin the tire and Check for tire wear. Install a new tire as necessary. Inspect for damaged/worn suspension components. Perform wheel alignment.
Tire noise - noise tone lowers as the vehicle speed is lowered	Out-of-balance tire	Balance the tire and road test. Install a new tire as necessary.
Tire noise - ticking noise, change with speed	Nail puncture or stone in tire tread	Inspect the tire. Repair or replace as necessary.
Wheel and tire - vibration and noise concern is directly related to vehicle speed and is not affected by acceleration, coasting or decelerating	Damaged or worn tire	Go to DETAILED TEST C .
Tire wobble or shudder - occurs at lower speeds	Damaged wheel bearings	Spin the tire and check for abnormal wheel bearing play or roughness. Adjust or Install new wheel bearings as necessary. Refer to FRONT/REAR AXLE .
	Damaged wheel	Inspect the wheel for damage. Install a new wheel as necessary.
	Damaged or worn suspension components	Inspect the suspension components for wear or damage. Repair as necessary.
	Loosen wheel nuts	Check the wheel nuts. Tighten to specification.
	Damaged or uneven tire wear	Spin the tire and Check for abnormal tire wear or damage. Install a new tire as necessary.
Tire shimmy or shake - occurs at lower speeds	Wheel/tire out of balance	Check for wheel balance.
	Uneven tire wear	Check for abnormal tire wear. Install a new tire as necessary.
	Excessive radial runout of wheel or tire	Perform a radial runout test of the wheel and tire. Install a new tire as necessary.
	Worn or damaged wheel studs or elongate stud holes	Inspect the wheel studs and wheels. Install new components as necessary.
	Excessive lateral runout of the wheel or tire	Perform a lateral runout test of the wheel and tire. Check the wheel, tire and hub. Repair or Install new components as necessary.
	Foreign material between the brake disc and hub.	Clean the mounting surfaces of the brake disc and hub. Refer to FRONT/REAR AXLE .
High speed shake or shimmy - occurs at high speeds	Excessive wheel hub runout Damaged or worn tires Damaged or worn wheel bearings Worn or damaged suspension or steering linkage Brake disc or drum imbalance	Go to DETAILED TEST D .
Drift left or right	Tires Steering linkage Alignment Base brake system	Go to DETAILED TEST E .
Steering wheel	Alignment Steering linkage Front lower arm ball joint	Go to DETAILED TEST F .
Tracks incorrectly	Rear suspension Caster	Go to DETAILED TEST G .
Rough ride	Front strut and spring assembly Rear shock absorber and spring assembly	Go to DETAILED TEST H .
Excessive noise	Front or rear stabilizer bar components Springs Suspension components Shock absorbers	Go to DETAILED TEST I .
Incorrect tire wear	Tire or unbalanced wheels Tire inflation Strut Alignment	Go to DETAILED TEST J .
Vibration	Wheel/tire Front wheel driveshaft(s) Steering system Strut and spring assembly Spring and strut mounting Front lower arm ball joint Front lower arm mounting bolt bushing Stabilizer bar bushings Wheel hubs and bearing Rear suspension arms and bushings	Go to DETAILED TEST K .
Vehicle leans	Tire/wheel Vehicle load Suspension components Incorrect ride height	Inflate tires to specification. Redistribute the load as necessary. Visually inspect the suspension system. Correct the ride height as necessary.
Poor steering returnability	High knuckle rotating torque Alignment	Go to DETAILED TEST E .