Performance Issues
| CONDITION | POSSIBLE CAUSES | EVALUATION/CORRECTION |
|---|---|---|
| STEERING WHEEL IS OFF CENTER | 1. Front toe is out of adjustment. | 1. Perform wheel alignment Make sure to perform the Clear Steering Pull Compensation and Vehicle Trim procedures with the steering wheel lock still on the steering wheel. Refer to WHEEL ALIGNMENT, STANDARD PROCEDURE . |
| VEHICLE PULLS LEFT OR RIGHT | 1. Steering wheel lock was taken off before the Clear Steering Pull Compensation procedure was performed during an alignment. | 1. With the steering wheel straight ahead and locked in position, perform the Clear Steering Pull Compensation and Vehicle Trim procedures. Refer to STANDARD PROCEDURE . |
| 2. The center position of the column does not match the center position of the vehicle alignment. | 2. Perform wheel alignment Make sure to perform the Clear Steering Pull Compensation and Vehicle Trim procedures. Refer to WHEEL ALIGNMENT, STANDARD PROCEDURE . Refer to STANDARD PROCEDURE . | |
| 3. Suspension components are bent and/or damaged. | 3. Inspect suspension components for damage. | |
| STEERING WHEEL OR COLUMN HAS FREE-PLAY/LASH/LOOSENESS (CLUNKING OR RATTLING) | 1. Loose coupling pinch bolt at gear input shaft. | 1. Check pinch bolt torque. Replace pinch bolt with thread locker patch and tighten to specifications. |
| 2. Steering gear loose on frame. | 2. Inspect gear mounting bolts. Replace if necessary and tighten to specifications. | |
| 3. Excessive free-play or noise from steering column bearings. | 3. Replace steering column. | |
| 4. Excessive intermediate (steering) shaft coupling U-joint free-play. | 4. Rotate steering wheel back-and-forth while watching coupling. Observe for free-play. Replace the intermediate shaft if necessary. | |
| 5. Loose or worn tie rods. | 5. For evaluation and correction. Refer to TIE ROD, STEERING, DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING . | |
| 6. Lack of lubrication in lower ball joint or ball joint is damaged. | 6. Lubricate ball joint if equipped with a zerk fitting and check for function. If not equipped with a zerk fitting, test and replace ball joint/Knuckle as necessary. | |
| 7. Excessive lash inside steering gear. | 7. Disconnect intermediate shaft and turn steering gear input shaft. Observe for any movement without a corresponding tire movement. Replace steering gear as necessary. | |
| STEERING WHEEL HAS FORE AND AFT LOOSENESS | 1. Steering wheel retaining bolt loose. | 1. Check steering wheel retaining bolt torque and tighten to specifications as necessary. |
| 2. Loose steering column to instrument panel fasteners. | 2. Check steering column to instrument panel fastener torque and tighten to specifications as necessary. | |
| STEERING WHEEL, DASH OR VEHICLE VIBRATES DURING STEERING MANEUVERS (ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEED OR STANDSTILL) | 1. Tire(s) not properly inflated. | 1. Check and inflate tires to the specified pressure. |
| 2. Excessive engine vibration. | 2. Ensure that the engine is tuned properly. | |
| 3. Loose tie rod end jam nut. | 3. Check torque and tighten the inner to outer tie rod jam nut to specifications. | |
| 4. Grounded, damaged or loose engine mount. | 4. Visually inspect for damaged or misaligned mounts. Check fastener torque. Replace or realign as necessary. | |
| 5. Loose or worn tie rods. | 5. For evaluation and correction. Refer to TIE ROD, STEERING, DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING . | |
| 6. Steering gear noisy. | 6. During a parking event at 0 mph, verify there is vibration only with steering. Steer in both directions and verify that the noise follows the steering input. Check TSBs for any known issues. Replace steering gear as necessary. | |
| STEERING IS DIFFICULT IN BOTH DIRECTIONS | 1. Steering column internal issue. |
CAUTION:
1. Disconnect the intermediate shaft and rotate steering column. If condition is still present, replace steering column. Refer to COLUMN, REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION .Do not turn past two revolutions. Damage to the clockspring may occur. Always rotate steering column back to initial position. Steering column is equipped with an absolute position sensor that has a unique zero position. |
| STEERING CATCHES, SURGES OR STICKS IN CERTAIN POSITIONS OR IS DIFFICULT TO TURN | 1. Tire(s) not properly inflated. | 1. Check and inflate tires to the specified pressure. |
| 2. Lack of lubrication in lower ball joint or ball joint is damaged. | 2. Lubricate ball joint if equipped with a zerk fitting and check for function. If not equipped with a zerk fitting, test and replace ball joint/lower control arm as necessary. | |
| 3. Lack of lubrication in steering tie rod end(s). | 3. For evaluation and correction, refer to TIE ROD, STEERING, DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING . | |
| 4. Excessive friction in intermediate shaft/coupler joint. | 4. Disconnect intermediate shaft/coupler at steering gear and check joint for smooth operation in all directions. | |
| 5. Excessive friction in steering column. |
CAUTION:
5. Disconnect intermediate shaft/coupler at steering gear. Turn steering wheel two revolutions in either direction from on center and check for smooth operation. Replace steering column as necessary.Do not turn past two revolutions. Damage to the clockspring may occur. Always rotate steering column back to initial position. Steering column is equipped with an absolute position sensor that has a unique zero position. |
|
| 6. Worn or binding ball joints. | 6. Disconnect outer tie rod ends from knuckles, then turn tire and wheel assembly checking for smooth operation. Replace the ball joints if needed. | |
| 7. Faulty steering gear. | 7. With vehicle on hoist, tires unsupported and engine off, steer gear throughout travel and check for smooth operation. Replace steering gear (only after all previous components have been checked). | |
| STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER POSITION | 1. Tire(s) not properly inflated. | 1. Check and inflate tires to the specified pressure. |
| 2. Improper front wheel alignment. | 2. Check and adjust wheel alignment as necessary. | |
| 3. Lack of lubrication in lower ball joint or ball joint is damaged. | 3. Lubricate ball joint if equipped with a zerk fitting and check for function. If not equipped with a zerk fitting, test and replace ball joint/lower control arm as necessary. | |
| 4. Excessive friction in intermediate shaft/coupler joint. | 4. Disconnect intermediate shaft/coupler at steering gear and check joint for smooth operation in all directions. Replace steering column. | |
| 5. Excessive friction in steering column. | 5. Disconnect intermediate shaft/coupler at steering gear. Turn steering wheel two revolutions in either direction from on center and check for smooth operation. DO NOT turn past two revolutions. Damage to the clockspring may occur. Replace steering column as necessary. | |
| 6. Worn suspension ball joints. | 6. Disconnect outer tie rod ends from knuckles, then turn tire and wheel assembly checking for smooth operation. Replace the ball joints if needed. | |
| 7. Excessive friction in steering gear. | 7. With vehicle on hoist, tires unsupported and engine off, steer gear throughout travel and check for smooth operation. Replace steering gear (only after all previous components have been checked). | |
| EXCESSIVE STEERING WHEEL KICKBACK FROM ROAD INPUTS | 1. Steering gear loose on the frame. | 1. Inspect gear mounting bolts. Replace if necessary and tighten to specifications. |
| 2. Steering column, coupling or intermediate shaft worn or loose. | 2. Rotate steering wheel back-and-forth while inspecting intermediate shaft going into steering gear. Look for excessive free-play. If loose bolt is found don't reuse intermediate shaft bolt, if it's loose it has to be replaced. Replace steering column, coupling. Refer to COLUMN, REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION . |