1987 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA steering

17-3. MAINTENANCE SERVICES
Shock Absorber
1) Inspect for deformation or damage.
2) Inspect bushings for wear or damage.
3) Inspect for evidence of oil leakage.
Replace any defective part.
WARNING:
When handling rear shock absorber in which
high-pressure gas is sealed, make sure to
observe the following precautions.
1) Don’t disassemble it.
2) Don’t put it into the fire.
3) Don’t store it where it gets hot.
4) Before disposing it, be sure to drill a
hole in it where shown by an arrow in
the figure below and let gas and oil out.
Lay it down sideways for this work.
Drill hole with approx-imately 3 mm (0.12 in.)diameter.
‘-cut off
Cover with a vinyl envelope asshown so that drill dust willnot scatter around.
Leaf Spring and Bumper
1) Inspect leaf spring for crack, wear and damage.
NOTE:
Special attention must be paid to that part as
indicated by “A” in below figure (where each
end of the shorter leaf contacts).
2) Inspect bumper for damage.
If found defective, replace.
Fig. 17-3-3
Front Wheel Bearing [ INSPECTION ]
(1) To check wheel bearings, jack up front end.
Spin wheel and check if it is spun smoothly
and is free from abnormal noise. If it isn’t,
replace wheel bearing.
Fig. 17-3-4
(2) Upon completion of the check in above(1),
check each joint of steering system for
tighteness, each ball stud of the steering link
as well as each kingpin for rattle. Then check
bearing as described below.
Fig. 17-3-1
Fig. 17-3-2
17-20

Fig. 17-3-9
(2) Be sure to insert lock washer after adjust-
ment and tighten lock nut @ to specified
torque. Then bend a part of lock washer
toward bearing nut (body side) and another
part toward lock nut (outside) so that these
2 nuts are locked.
Wheel bearing lock nut60 - 90 N-m
@tightening torque6.0 - 9.0 kg-m
(43.5 - 65.0 lb-ft)
Fig. 17-3-10 @ Wheel Bearing Nut
@ Wheel Bearing Lock Nut
(3)
(4)
Recheck that bearing starting preload is
within specification.
Upon completion of adjustment, be sure to
install axle shaft drive flange or free wheeling
hub (if equipped), circlip, disc brake caliper
& holder and wheel.
Refer to “INSTALLATION” in this section.
King Pin
[ Inspection and adjustment ]
Where tapered roller bearings holding 2 kingpins
at each front wheel are in good and properly
preloaded (tightened) condition, there will be
no appreciable rattle of wheel. To check king-
pins and their tapered roller bearings, jack up
the front end and shake wheel to feel any
rattle, as shown in figure. If rattle is felt, elimi-
nate it by properly decreasing the shim thick-
ness. The shim is located between flanged part
of kingpin and knuckle.
The above-mentioned method of making a shim
adjustment demands a high degree of skill on the
part of the serviceman. The alternative method
is to adjust shim thickness by referring to the
torque resistance which knuckle arm offers
when pulled in the condition shown in figure.
For this method, the reference torque value is
established as indicated below, and you are to
increase or decrease shim thickness to produce
this torque value,
NOTE:
After removing wheel and steering knuckle oil
seal and disconnecting tie rod end, this check-
ing and adjustment shouId be carried out.
@ Spring Balance
17-22
Fig. 17-3-12
Fig. 17-3-11

Before giving a test pull to knuckle arm with a
spring balance in the alternative method, in-
stall a large amount of shims on each kingpin to
lighten preload on tapered roller bearing.
Keep on reading the torque, each time decreas-
ing shim thickness a little, and continue this
process until specified torque value is obtained.
(This process protects kingpins because it ensure
that no excessive pull will be applied to bearings
at the onset.) If the process fails to produce
specified torque, that is, if desired torque
resistance does not occur even when shim
thickness has been reduced to zero on each
kingpin, it means that bearings or kingpins are
excessively worn and need replacement.
NOTE:
l Read spring balance indication when knuckle
arm begins to turn. In other words, you are
to read “starting torque.”
l When checking knuckle arm starting torque,
be sure to have axle hub oil seal removed
and tighten king pin bolts to specified torque.
Knuckle arm starting1 .O - 1.8 kg (2.20 - 3.96 lb)
torque (force)without oil seal
Available sizes of0.1,0.5 mm
shim for kingpins(0.004,0.02 in.)
/r--QzL- -\King pin shim
Fig. 17-3-13
Upon completion of this check and/or adjust-
ment, be sure to connect tie rod end to steering
knuckle and install oil seal retainer, oil seal,
felt packing oil seal cover and wheel.
Refer to “INSTALLATION” in this section.
Steering Knuckle Oil Seal
The oil seal used at the spherical sliding joint
between knuckle and inner case accomplishes
additional purposes of keeping out road dust
and of acting as the damper for steering hand-
wheel. As wear of this seal advances, its damping
effect decreases and thus makes front wheel
develop a tendency to “shimmy” not onI9 that
road dust begins to creep into sliding clearance
to promote wear of spherical sliding surfaces.
The oil seal is an expendable item, and must be
replaced at regular intervals.
Fig. 17-3-14
[How to replace oil seal]
1) Remove 8 bolts securing joint seat, and
displace oil seal cover and felt packing inward.
Fig. 17-3-15
17-23

SECTION 18
STEERING SYSTEM
CONTENTS
18-1.GENERAL DESCRIPTION............................... 18-4
18-2.SPECIFICATIONS AND DATA............................18-4
STEERING GEAR BOX CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION...18-5
18-4.REMOVAL...........................................18-6
18-5.INSPECTION OF COMPONENTS..........................
CHECKING STEERING COLUMN FOR ACCIDENT DAMAGE.
18-7.IMPORTANT STEPS IN REINSTALLATION..................
18-8.WHEEL ALIGNMENT..................................
18-9.MAINTENANCE SERVICES.............................
18-10. RECOMMENDED TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS..............
NOTE:
All steering system fasteners are important parts in that they could affect the performance
of vital parts and systems, and/or could result in major repair expense. They must be
replaced with one of the same part number or with an equivalent part if replacement
becomes necessary. Do not use a replacement part of lesser quality or substitute design.
Torque values must be used as specified during reassembly to assure proper retention of
this part.
18-1
18-3.
18-9
18-12
18-11
18-16
18-18
18-22
18-6.

18-1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The rotary motion of the steering handwheel is carried to the steering shaft upper, steering shaft lower,
steering gear box and pitman arm. Then as the pitman arm moves, the drag rod is caused to move linearly,
actuating the tie rod to turn the wheels, right and left, through their knuckle arms. The turning force
exerted by the tie rod experiences a damping action due to the presence of the oil seal at the sphere-like
joint between the knuckle case and the inner case (integral with the dead axle sleeve). Another damping
action is available, which will be mentioned below.
The steering system formed by the components named above is designed for easy steering, high durability
and excellent steering reaction as well as reliable self-restoring action. Articulated joints in the steering
lever is equipped with a damping device for ensuring the greater steering stability.
Linkage are of wear-resistant ball-and-socket type. Pitman arm is equipped with a damping device for
ensuring the greater steering stability.
[Right-hand steering vehicle]
Steering Wheel
n’
Steering shaft upper
Steering shaft lower
/Knuckle arm/Steering damper\ Pitman arm
Steering gear box
Drag rod

Fig. 18-1
18-2

[Left-hand steering vehicle]
Drag I
Steering wheel
Steering lower shaft
*odSteering damperSteering gaar box
upper shaft
18-3
Fig. 18-1-1

18-2. SPECIFICATIONS AND DATA
Steering gear boxRecirculating ball-and-nut type
Gear ratio15.6 - 18.1
Steering angle, inside29” + 3”
Steering angle, outside26” + 3”
Steering wheel diameter400 mm (15.74 in.)
Minimum turning radius5.1 m (16.73 ft.)
5
Toe-in2 - 6 mm (0.079 - 0.236 in.)
igCamber1 degree (1”) + 45’
%=Kingpin inclination9 degree (9”) + 2“
SC3_Caster3 degree 30 minutes (3” 30’) + 1”
Side slip0-in3m/km
18-5
AL

18-4. REMOVAL
NOTE:
When removing the column assembly from the
car, special care must be taken in handling it
Use of a steering wheel puller other than the
steering wheel remover recommended in this
manual or a sharp blow on the end of the
steering shaft, leaning on the assembly, or
dropping the assembly is prohibited. Any of
such actions could shear the plastic shear pins
which maintain column length especially.
Steering Hand Wheel
1) Disconnect negative battery cable.
2) Pull horn button to remove.
Fig. 18-3
3) After loosening steering shaft nut, remove
steering wheel by using special tool.
Fig. 18-4 @ Special tool (Steering wheel
remover 09944-36010)
Steering Column
1) After removing steering handwheel according
to the foregoing step, remove steering covers
(lower & upper).
NOTE:
After removing instrument lower panel, loosen
2 screws and 4 nuts securing steering column to
remove upper cover.
Fig. 18-5
18-6