Wheel Alignment Trouble Shooting
NOTE:
This is GENERAL
information. This article is not intended to be specific to any unique situation or individual vehicle configuration. The purpose of this Trouble Shooting information is to provide a list of common causes to problem symptoms. For model-specific Trouble Shooting, refer to SUBJECT, DIAGNOSTIC, or TESTING articles available in the section(s) you are accessing.
BASIC WHEEL ALIGNMENT TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART
| CONDITION & POSSIBLE CAUSE | CORRECTION | |
|---|---|---|
| Premature Tire Wear | ||
| Improper tire inflation | Check tire pressure | |
| Front alignment out of tolerance | See ALIGNMENT SPECS in WHEEL ALIGNMENT section | |
| Suspension components worn | See SUSPENSION section | |
| Steering system components worn | See STEERING section | |
| Improper standing height | See WHEEL ALIGNMENT | |
| Uneven or sagging springs | See SUSPENSION section | |
| Bent wheel | See WHEEL ALIGNMENT | |
| Improper torsion bar adjustment | See SUSPENSION section | |
| Loose or worn wheel bearings | See WHEEL BEARING ADJ. in SUSPENSION section | |
| Worn or defective shock | Replace shock absorbers | |
| Tires out of balance | Check tire balance | |
| Pulls to One Side | ||
| Improper tire inflation | Check tire pressure | |
| Brake dragging | See BRAKE section | |
| Mismatched tires | See WHEEL ALIGNMENT | |
| Broken or sagging spring | See SUSPENSION section | |
| Broken torsion bar | See SUSPENSION section | |
| Power steering valve not centered | See STEERING section | |
| Front alignment out of tolerance | See WHEEL ALIGNMENT section | |
| Defective wheel bearing | See WHEEL BEARINGS in SUSPENSION section | |
| Uneven sway bar links | See SUSPENSION section | |
| Frame bent | Check for frame damage | |
| Steering system bushing worn | See STEERING section | |
| Hard Steering | ||
| Idler arm bushing too tight | See STEERING LINKAGE in STEERING section | |
| Ball joint tight or seized | See SUSPENSION section | |
| Steering linkage too tight | See STEERING LINKAGE in STEERING section | |
| Power steering fluid low | Add proper amount of fluid | |
| Power steering drive belt loose | See STEERING section | |
| Power steering pump defective | See STEERING section | |
| Steering gear out of adjustment | See STEERING section | |
| Incorrect wheel alignment | See WHEEL ALIGNMENT | |
| Damaged steering gear | See STEERING section | |
| Damaged suspension | See SUSPENSION section | |
| Bent steering knuckle or supports | See SUSPENSION section | |
| Vehicle "Wanders" | ||
| Strut rod or control arm bushing worn | See SUSPENSION section | |
| Loose or worn wheel bearings | See WHEEL BEARINGS in SUSPENSION section | |
| Improper tire inflation | Check tire pressure | |
| Stabilizer bar missing or defective | See SUSPENSION section | |
| Wheel alignment out of tolerance | See Adjustment in WHEEL ALIGNMENT section | |
| Broken spring | See SUSPENSION section | |
| Defective shock absorber | Replace shock absorbers | |
| Worn steering & suspension components | See SUSPENSION section | |
| Front End Shimmy | ||
| Tire out of balance/round | Check tire balance | |
| Excessive wheel runout | See WHEEL ALIGNMENT | |
| Insufficient or improper caster | See WHEEL ALIGNMENT section | |
| Worn suspension or steering components | See SUSPENSION section | |
| Defective shock absorbers | Replace shock absorber | |
| Wheel bearings worn or loose | See WHEEL BEARING ADJ. in SUSPENSION section | |
| Power steering reaction Bracket loose | See STEERING section | |
| Steering gear box (rack) mounting loose | See STEERING section | |
| Steering gear adjustment loose | See STEERING section | |
| Worn spherical joints | See SUSPENSION section | |
| Toe-In Not Adjustable | ||
| Lower control arm bent | See SUSPENSION section | |
| Frame bent | Check frame for damage | |
| Camber Not Adjustable | ||
| Control arm bent | See SUSPENSION section | |
| Frame bent | Check frame for damage | |
| Hub & bearing not seated properly | See SUSPENSION section | |