You can assess the technical condition of the suspension while the car is moving. When driving at low speed on an uneven road, the suspension should operate without knocking, creaking or other extraneous sounds. After driving over an obstacle, the car should not continue to swing.
Recommendation. It is better to combine the suspension check with the check of the condition of the disks and tires (see "Wheels, tires and hubs - technical condition check"). One-sided wear of the tire tread indicates a violation of the wheel alignment angles as a result of deformation of suspension parts or improper adjustment.
To carry out the work, you will need an inspection pit or overpass.
Note: It is better to check the condition of the hub bearings with an assistant.
Recommendation. The functionality of the shock absorbers should be checked immediately after a long trip, while the working fluid in the shock absorbers has not cooled down.
Sequence of execution
1. Place the vehicle on an inspection ditch or overpass (see "Preparing the car for maintenance and repair").
2. Vigorously rock the front of the car body in a vertical direction several times. If after the rocking stops, the body continues to oscillate due to inertia (more than two), then one or both shock absorbers are faulty.
3. 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.
4. Rock the upper part of the front wheel in the transverse direction.
Note: If you feel any play, even if it is barely noticeable, or hear clicks or knocks, you need to check the condition of the front suspension and hub more thoroughly (see below).
5. To check, hang up the front wheels (see "Preparing the car for maintenance and repair"). We swing the front wheel in a vertical and then in a horizontal plane.
Note: There should be no noticeable play. The cause of the play may be a worn hub bearing. In this case, the play will disappear when checked again with the brake pedal depressed (see "Checking the technical condition of disks, tires and hubs"). Otherwise, the play is caused by a suspension malfunction. If the play is felt in the vertical plane, then the ball joint is probably worn out (see below). It is also necessary to check the fastening of the front suspension strut. If play is detected only in the horizontal plane, then it is most likely that the steering rod end is faulty (see "Steering - checking the steering").
6. We check the play on the other side of the car in the same way.
7. Inspect the shock absorber struts of the suspension, the mounting points (mechanical damage and fluid leakage from shock absorbers are not allowed).
8. By applying force with a mounting blade to the anti-roll bar, we make sure that there is no play in the rack.
9. We check the second stabilizer bar in the same way.
10. If there is any play, replace the struts (see "Anti-roll bar strut - replacement").
11. Visually check the condition of the anti-roll bar cushions (bulging and cracking of rubber is not allowed). We replace faulty pillows.
12. Using a mounting blade, swing the front eye of the lower arm to check the condition of the front silent block of the arm.
Similarly, we check the condition of the rear silent block. There should be no play, otherwise we replace the lever (see "Front Suspension Arm - Replacement").
13. Inspect the ball joint protective cover. Using a mounting blade as a lever, we check for any play in the lower ball joint. If the cover is damaged or if there is play, replace the lever assembly (see "Front Suspension Arm - Replacement").
