Pre-Wheel Alignment Inspection

Before starting wheel alignment, the following inspection and necessary corrections must be completed. Refer to the suspension and steering system diagnosis chart below for additional information.

Inspect tires for size, air pressure, and tread wear. If tire wear is found, proceed to following steps. If not, proceed to step 2.
1. Inspect the front wheel bearings for wear using the procedure outlined in the hub and bearing information.
2. Inspect the front wheels for excessive radial or lateral runout and balance using procedure outlined in tire and wheel information.
Inspect the ball joints, linkage pivot points, and the steering gear for looseness, roughness, binding, wear or noise using the appropriate component diagnosis procedure.
Road test the vehicle. The purpose of road testing the vehicle is to fully understand the voice of the customer. During the road test, the customer complaint should be duplicated under the same conditions that the customer cites (i.e. road, lane, and speeds) as an issue.
1. Vehicle pulling and steering wheel off center complaints can often be misdiagnosed. The road test should be used to determine if the vehicle is actually pulling, or if the steering wheel is off center.
2. While driving in a stable manner, a test driver can differentiate a pull and wheel off center condition by momentarily releasing the steering wheel and observing whether the vehicle tracks straight, follows the road crown or if the steering wheel is simply off center to one side.
3. Depending on the results, the appropriate corrective action should be applied.

SUSPENSION AND STEERING SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS

CONDITION	POSSIBLE CAUSES	CORRECTION
FRONT END NOISE	1. Loose or worn hub and bearing.	1. Replace the hub and bearing.
FRONT END NOISE	2. Loose or worn steering or suspension components.	2. Tighten or replace components as necessary.
EXCESSIVE PLAY IN STEERING	1. Loose or worn hub and bearing.	1. Replace the hub and bearing.
	2. Loose or worn steering or suspension components.	2. Tighten or replace components as necessary.
	3. Loose or worn steering gear.	3. Replace steering gear.
FRONT WHEELS SHIMMY	1. Loose or worn wheel bearing.	1. Replace the wheel bearing.
	2. Loose or worn steering or suspension components.	2. Tighten or replace components as necessary.
	3. Tires worn or out of balance.	3. Replace or balance the tires.
	4. Wheel Alignment.	4. Align the vehicle to specifications.
VEHICLE INSTABILITY	1. Loose or worn wheel bearing.	1. Replace the wheel bearing.
	2. Loose or worn steering or suspension components.	2. Tighten or replace components as necessary.
	3. Tire pressure.	3. Adjust the tire pressure.
	4. Wheel Alignment.	4. Align the vehicle to specifications.
EXCESSIVE STEERING EFFORT	1. Loose or worn steering gear.	1. Replace the steering gear.
	2. Column coupler binding.	2. Replace the coupler.
	3. Tire pressure.	3. Adjust the tire pressure.
	4. Wheel Alignment.	4. Align the vehicle to specifications.
VEHICLE PULLS TO ONE SIDE	1. Tire pressure.	1. Adjust the tire pressure.
	2. Tire.	2. Cross rotate the front tires.
	3. Wheel Alignment.	3. Align the vehicle to specifications.
	4. Loose or worn steering or suspension components.	4. Tighten or replace components as necessary.
	5. Radial tire lead.	5. Rotate or replace tires as necessary.
	6. Brake pull.	6. Repair the brake system as necessary.
	7. Weak or broken spring.	7. Replace the spring.

NOTE:

If the Steering wheel is off-center prior to the wheel alignment, perform the following:

Adjust the Steering wheel to the "Full Up" position using the adjustment lever on the column.
Turn the Steering wheel to its straight/centered position.
With the Steering wheel centered, use the scan tool and go to the EPS module. Read and record the position of the Steering Angle Sensor.
With the Steering Wheel centered and in the "Full Up" position, reset the value of the steering wheel angle sensor in the EPS module via the Scan Tool.
With the Steering Wheel centered and in the "Full Up" position, measure and adjust the toe-in.