You can assess the technical condition of the suspension while the car is moving. When driving at low speed on uneven surfaces, the suspension should operate without knocking, creaking or other extraneous sounds. After driving over an obstacle, the car should not swing.
Advice: It is better to combine the suspension check with the check of the condition of the tires and wheel hub bearings (see "Wheels, tires and hubs"). One-sided wear of the tire tread indicates deformation of the rear suspension beam.
To carry out the work, you will need an inspection pit or overpass.
Sequence of execution
1. Prepare the car for work (see "Preparing the car for maintenance and repair").
Recommendation. It is better to check the functionality of the shock absorbers after a long trip, while the working fluid in the shock absorbers has not cooled down.
(Original is available on this resource: LADAman)
2. Vigorously swing the rear part of the car body in a vertical direction. If the body continues to oscillate due to inertia (more than two: up and down), after it stopped swinging, it means that one or both shock absorbers are faulty. To identify a faulty shock absorber, repeat the test, applying force first on one side of the car and then on the other.
Note: This check only detects faulty shock absorbers. The effectiveness of vibration damping by shock absorbers can only be tested on a special stand.
3. Inspect the suspension shock absorbers - no fluid leaks from the shock absorbers are allowed.
Recommendation. Shock absorbers should be replaced in pairs, even if the second rear shock absorber is in good condition.
4. Visually check the condition of the rubber-metal hinges for mounting the shock absorbers 1 and the rear axle beam levers 2.
We replace joints with one-sided rubber bulging, ruptures and cracks (see below for relevant sections).
5. Check the tightening of the nuts securing the suspension parts and tighten them if necessary.
6. Inspect the suspension parts. Deformation and fatigue cracks in suspension parts are not allowed. We replace damaged parts.