6 Auto Suspension and Steering
Other Tools 49
Pry Bars/Hammers/Punches and Drifts/Metal
Cutting Tools
Power Steering Tools 51
Belt Tension Gauge/Pressure Gauges/Steering
Effort Gauge/Line Wrenches/Pulley Removers/
Special Tools for Pumps and Gearboxes
Alignment Tools 52
Tie Rod Sleeve Adjusters/Lever-Type Adjusting
Tools/Threaded Adjusting Tools/Alignment
Wrenches/Four-Wheel Steering Alignment Tools
Electrical and Electronic Testers 55
Test Lights/Multimeters/Scan Tools/Special
Suspension and Steering Testers/Harshness
and Vibration Testers
Measuring Tools 56
Dial Indicators/Torque Wrenches
Suspension and Steering Service Equipment 57
Mechanical Alignment Testers/Alignment
Machines/Tire Installation Machines/Wheel
Balance Machines/Hydraulic Press/Cleaning
Equipment/Floor Jacks and Lifts/Brake Pedal
Lock/Steering Wheel Lock
Service Information 62
Factory Service Manuals/General Service
Manual/Specialized Manual/ Schematics/
Troubleshooting Charts/Telephone Hotlines/
Internet Resources/Training Materials/
Care of Service Information
Chapter 4
Common Suspension System
Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Springs 68
Spring Operation/Spring Oscillations/Spring
Rate
Modern Spring Types 68
Coil Springs/Leaf Springs/Torsion Bars/Air
Springs
Shock Absorbers 72
Shock Absorber Mountings/Shock Absorber
Operation/Shock Absorber Variations
Control Arms 76
Control Arms with Two Frame Mountings/Control
Arms with One Frame Mounting
Steering Knuckles 76
Driving Knuckles/Non-Driving Knuckles
Ball Joints 78
Ball Joint Lubrication/Ball Joint Loading
Bushings 80
Torsion Bushings/Compression Bushings
Stabilizer Bars 81
Chapter 5
Front Suspension Systems. . . . . . . . . . 85
The Job of the Front Suspension 86
MacPherson Strut Front Suspensions 86
Upper Strut Mounting/Lower Strut Mounting/
Other MacPherson Strut Parts/MacPherson
Strut Variations
Conventional Independent Front Suspensions 89
Short-Long Arm Suspension Design/
Conventional Suspension Variations
Solid and I-Beam Axle Front Suspensions 93
Ball Joints or Kingpins?/Solid Axle Front
Suspensions/Twin I-Beam Axle Front
Suspensions
Ball Joint Loading 99
MacPherson Strut Suspensions/Conventional
Suspensions/Solid and Twin I-Beam
Suspensions
Chapter 6
Front Suspension System Service . . . 103
Checking the Front Suspension 104
Suspension Part Life/Cautions for Spring-
Loaded Suspension Parts
Checking Suspension Parts 104
Visual Inspection of Suspension Parts/Manual
Inspection/Checks with Measuring Tools
Replacing Front Suspension Parts 109
Check Replacement Parts/Strut Cartridge and
Shock Absorber Replacement/Ball Joint
Replacement/Control Arms and Control Arm
Bushing Replacement/Solid and Twin I-Beam
Axle and Bushing Replacement/Strut Rod and
Strut Rod Bushing Replacement/Stabilizer Bar
and Bushing Replacement/Spring Replacement/
Torsion Bar Replacement/Kingpin Service
Chapter 7
Rear Suspension Systems . . . . . . . . . 127
The Job of the Rear Suspension 128
Types of Suspensions
Solid Rear Axles 128
Non-Driving Axles/Driving Axles
Independent Rear Axles 133
Non-Driving Axles/Driving Axles
Semi-Independent Rear Axle 139
Air Adjustable Rear Suspensions 140
Air Supply Methods