You can assess the technical condition of the suspension while the car is moving. When driving at low speed on uneven roads, the suspension should work without knocks, squeaks and other extraneous sounds. After driving over an obstacle, the vehicle must not continue to sway.
Recommendation. Suspension check is best in conjunction with checking the condition of the wheels and tires (see «Checking the technical condition of discs, tires and hubs»).
To perform the work, an inspection ditch or overpass is required.
Recommendation. We check the performance of the shock absorbers immediately after a long trip, until the working fluid in the shock absorbers has cooled down.
Execution sequence
1. We install the car on a viewing ditch or overpass (see «Preparing the car for maintenance and repair»).
2. Vigorously swing the back of the car body several times in a vertical direction. If after the cessation of rocking, 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, we repeat the test, applying force first from one and then from the other side of the car.
Comment. Such a check allows you to identify faulty shock absorbers. It is possible to check the effectiveness of vibration damping by shock absorbers only on a special stand.
4. We swing the upper part of the rear wheel in the transverse direction.
Comment. If play is felt, even subtle, clicks or knocks are heard, more carefully check the condition of the rear suspension and hub (see below).
5. To check the condition of the hub bearing, we hang out the rear wheel and shake it in a vertical plane (if the bearing is worn, play will be felt).
6. In order to make sure that the backlash is caused by a malfunction of the bearing hub, we repeat the test with the brake pedal depressed.
Comment. The backlash should not be felt. The cause of the backlash could be a worn wheel bearing. In this case, the play will disappear when re-checking with the brake pedal depressed (see «Checking the technical condition of discs, tires and hubs»). It is also necessary to check the reliability of the fastening of the hub (hub nut tightening torque, see «Rear brake drums - replacement). If play is detected when the brake pedal is depressed, then it is most likely that the trunnion has loosened (hub axle). It is necessary to check the tightening torque of the trunnion bolts (see above, «Reference data»).
7. Inspecting the springs and shock absorbers of the suspension (mechanical damage, fluid leakage from shock absorbers...
...and buckling of the rubber in the joint is not allowed).
8. We check the reliability of fastening the shock absorber to the lever, the absence of play in the connection.
Comment. You can jack up the rear of the vehicle or remove the rear wheels to inspect the upper shock mount.
9. Using the mounting blade as a lever, we check the silent blocks of the rear suspension arms.
If play is detected or the rubber massif of the silent block is damaged, we replace the rear suspension beam (see «Rear suspension beam - removal and installation»).