You can assess the technical condition of the suspension while the car is moving. When driving at low speed on uneven roads, the suspension should work without knocks, squeaks and other extraneous sounds. After driving over an obstacle, the vehicle must not sway.
Recommendation. Checking the condition of the suspension is best combined with checking tires, rims and wheel bearings (see «Rims, tires and hubs - checking the technical condition»).
To perform the work, an inspection ditch or overpass is required.
Execution sequence
1. We prepare the car for work (see «Preparing the car for maintenance and repair»).
Recommendation. It is necessary to check the performance of the shock absorbers immediately after a long trip, while the working fluid in the shock absorbers has not cooled down.
2. Vigorously swing the front of the car body in a vertical direction. If, due to inertia, the body continues to oscillate (more than two up and down movements), after they stopped swinging it, it means that one or both shock absorbers are faulty. To identify a faulty shock absorber strut, we repeat the test, applying force first on one side of the car, then on the other.
Comment. Such a check reveals only completely faulty shock absorbers. It is possible to check the effectiveness of vibration damping by shock absorber struts only on a special stand.
3. With the effort of the hands, we shake the upper and lower parts of the front wheel of the car in the transverse direction.
If you feel the backlash (even unobtrusive), we check the reliability of fastening the steering knuckle to the front suspension strut and the condition of the hub bearing (see «Rims, tires and hubs - checking the technical condition»).
4. We inspect the shock absorber suspension struts - fluid leakage from them is not allowed.
5. Check the correct installation of the springs: the ends of the turns should rest against the special ledges of the support cups.
6. Check the integrity of the coils of the spring.
7. Shaking the front lug of the lever in a horizontal plane with a crowbar, we check the condition of the front silent block of the lever. There should be no backlash, otherwise it is necessary to replace the silent block.
8. Shaking the crowbar on the back of the lever in a horizontal plane, we check the condition of the rear silent block of the lever. There should be no backlash, otherwise it is necessary to replace the silent block.
9. Using the mount as a lever, we check the absence of backlash in the ball joint. If there is play, replace the support (see «Ball joint - replacement»).
10. Visually check the condition of the pillows and struts of the anti-roll bar, fastening the subframe and ball bearing covers. Hinges and cushions with one-sided bulging of rubber, tears and cracks are replaceable (see relevant sections).
11. Similarly, we check the front suspension on the other side of the car.
12. We check the tightening of the bolts and nuts for fastening the suspension parts, if necessary, tighten them (see «Reference data»).
13. We examine the details of the suspension. Deformation and fatigue cracks in suspension parts are not allowed. Damaged parts are replaced (see relevant sections).
Comment. We pay special attention to the subframe in the places of the front attachments of the front suspension arms, since during operation these places experience increased loads. There should be no cracks or deformations.
Visitor comments