Page 143 of 801

YH4
GRAND
VITARA
3A-2 FRONT END ALIGNMENT
CAMBER
Camber is the tilting of the front wheels from the vertical, as viewed from the front of the vehicle. When the wheels
tilt outward at the top, the camber is positive. When the wheels tilt inward at the top, the camber is negative. The
amount of tilt is measured in degrees.
PRELIMINARY CHECKS PRIOR TO ADJUSTING FRONT ALIGNMENT
Steering and vibration complaints are not always the result of improper alignment. An additional item to be checked
is the possibility of tire lead due to worn or improperly manufactured tires. ªLeadº is the deviation of the vehicle from
a straight path on a level road without hand pressure on the steering wheel.
Section 3 of this manual contains a procedure for determining the presence of a tire lead problem.
Before making any adjustment affecting toe setting, the following checks and inspections should be made to en-
sure correctness of alignment readings and alignment adjustments:
1) Check all tires for proper inflation pressures and approximately the same tread wear.
2) Check for loose ball joints. Check tie rod ends; if excessive looseness is noted, it must be corrected before ad-
justing.
3) Check for run-out of wheels and tires.
4) Check vehicle trim heights; if out of limits and a correction is to be made, it must be made before adjusting toe.
5) Check for loose control arms.
6) Check for loose or missing stabilizer bar attachments.
7) Consideration must be given to excess loads, such as tool boxes. If this excess load is normally carried in ve-
hicle, it should remain in vehicle during alignment checks.
8) Consider condition of equipment being used to check alignment and follow manufacturer's instructions.
9) Regardless of equipment used to check alignment, vehicle must be on a level surface both fore and aft and
transversely.
TOE ADJUSTMENT
Toe is adjusted by changing tie rod length. Loosen right and left tie
rod end lock nuts first and then rotate right and left tie rods by the
same amount to align toe-in to specification.
In this adjustment, right and left tie rods should become equal in
length.
After adjustment, tighten lock nuts to specified torque.
Tightening Torque
(a): 65 N
.m (6.5 kg-m, 47.0 lb-ft)
CAMBER AND CASTER ADJUSTMENT
Should camber or caster be found out of specifications upon in-
spection, locate its cause first. If it is in damaged, loose, bent,
dented or worn suspension parts, they should be replaced. If it is
in body, repair it so as to attain specifications.
To prevent possible incorrect reading of camber or caster, vehicle
front end must be moved up and down a few times before inspec-
tion.
Page 203 of 801

YH4
GRAND
VITARA
3D
FRONT SUSPENSION 3D-1
GENERAL DESCRIPTION3D- 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
DIAGNOSIS3D- 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Diagnosis Table 3D- 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Stabilizer Bar and Bushing Check 3D- 3. . . . . .
Strut Damper and / or Coil Spring Check 3D- 3. .
Suspension Arm / Knuckle Check 3D- 3. . . . . . . .
Suspension Control Arm Joint Check 3D- 4. . . .
Suspension Control Arm Bushing Check 3D- 4.
Wheel Disc, Nut & Bearing Check 3D- 4. . . . . .
ON-VEHICLE SERVICE3D- 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stabilizer Bar / Bushings 3D- 5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Strut Damper 3D- 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Coil Spring 3D- 8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bump Stopper / Spring Rubber Seat 3D-11. . . . .
Wheel Hub (Included Wheel Bearing) 3D-12. . .
Knuckle / Wheel Spindle 3D-17. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Suspension Control Arm / Bushings 3D-21. . . . . .
TIGHTENING TORQUE
SPECIFICATIONS3D-23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
REQUIRED SERVICE MATERIALS3D-24 . . . . . .
SPECIAL TOOLS3D-25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SECTION 3D
FRONT SUSPENSION
CAUTION:
All front suspension fasteners are an important attaching part in that it 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.
Never attempt to heat, quench or straighten any front suspension part. Replace it with a new part or
damage to the part may result.
CONTENTS
Page 204 of 801
YH4
GRAND
VITARA
1. Body
2. Strut assembly
3. Steering knuckle
4. Suspension control arm
(Lower arm)
5. Ball stud
6. Wheel bearing
7. Axle shaft drive flange
8. Wheel
2WD
4WD
3D-2 FRONT SUSPENSION
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The front suspension is the strut type independent suspension. The upper end of a strut is anchored to the body
by a strut support. The strut and strut support are isolated by a rubber mount.
The lower end of the strut is connected to the upper end of a steering knuckle and lower end of knuckle is attached
to the stud of a ball joint which is incorporated in a unit with a suspension control arm. And this steering knuckle
is connected to the tie rod end.
Thus, movement of the steering wheel is transmitted to the tie rod end and then to the knuckle, eventually causing
the wheel-and-tire to move.
Page 205 of 801

YH4
GRAND
VITARA
FRONT SUSPENSION 3D-3
DIAGNOSIS
DIAGNOSIS TABLE
Refer to Section 3.
STABILIZER BAR AND BUSHING CHECK
BAR
Inspect for damage or deformation. If defective, replace.
BUSHING
Inspect for damage, wear or deterioration. If defective, replace.
STRUT DAMPER AND / OR COIL SPRING
CHECK
1) Inspect strut for oil leakage. If strut is found faulty, replace it as
an assembly unit, because it can not be disassembled.
2) Strut function check
Check and adjust tire pressures as specified.
Bounce body three or four times continuously by pushing front
end on the side with strut to be checked. Apply the same amount
of force at each push and note strut resistance both when
pushed and rebounding.
Also, note how many times vehicle body rebounds before com-
ing to stop after hands are off. Do the same for strut on the other
side.
Compare strut resistance and number of rebound on the right
with those on the left.
And they must be equal in both. With proper strut, body should
come to stop the moment hands are off or after only one or two
small rebounds. If struts are suspected, compare them with
known good vehicle or strut.
3) Inspect for damage or deformation.
4) Inspect strut boot for damage or crack.
5) Inspect for cracks or deformation in spring seat.
6) Inspect for deterioration of bump stopper.
7) Inspect strut mount for wear, cracks or deformation.
Replace any parts found defective in steps 2) ± 7).
SUSPENSION ARM / KNUCKLE CHECK
Inspect for cracks, deformation or damage.
Page 206 of 801
YH4
GRAND
VITARA
3D-4 FRONT SUSPENSION
SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM JOINT CHECK
1) Check for smoothness of rotation.
2) Inspect ball stud for damage.
3) Inspect dust cover for damage.
Replace any parts found defective in steps 1) ± 3).
SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM BUSHING
CHECK
Inspect for damage, wear or deterioration.
WHEEL DISC, NUT & BEARING CHECK
1) Inspect each wheel disc for dents, distortion and cracks.
Disc in badly damaged condition must be replaced.
2) Check wheel nuts for tightness and retighten them to specifica-
tion as necessary.
Tightening Torque
(a): 100 N
.m (10.0 kg-m, 72.5 lb-ft)
3) Check wheel bearing for wear. After retightening lock nut to spe-
cified torque, apply dial gauge to wheel hub center and measure
thrust play.
Thrust play limit: 0.05 mm (0.002 in.)
When measurement exceeds limit, replace bearing.
4) By rotating wheel actually, check wheel bearing for noise and
smooth rotation. If defective, replace bearing.
Page 207 of 801

YH4
GRAND
VITARA
FRONT SUSPENSION 3D-5
1. Suspension control arm
2. Stabilizer bar
3. Stabilizer ball joint
4. Ball joint bushings
5. Ball joint washers
6. Ball joint nuts
7. Bracket bolts
1. Painted
2. Mount bush bracket
3. Mount bush
ON-VEHICLE SERVICE
STABILIZER BAR / BUSHINGS
REMOVAL
1) Hoist vehicle.
2) Remove stabilizer bar mount bush bracket bolts.
3) Remove stabilizer ball joint nuts, washers and bushings.
4) Remove stabilizer bar with its ball joints.
5) Disconnect stabilizer ball joints from stabilizer bar.
INSTALLATION
NOTE:
For correct installation of stabilizer bar, side-to-side, be sure
that color paint on stabilizer bar aligns with mount bush, both
right and left, as shown.
1) Connect stabilizer ball joints and stabilizer bar.
2) Install stabilizer ball joints to control arms.
NOTE:
Do not tighten stabilizer ball joint nuts completely.
3) Install stabilizer bar mount bush brackets.
4) When installing stabilizer, loosely assemble all components
while insuring that stabilizer is centered, side-to-side.
Check that ball joint is set at neutral position seeing from body
upper side.
5) Tighten stabilizer bracket bolts and stabilizer ball joint nuts to
specified torque.
Tightening Torque
(a): 29 N
.m (2.9 kg-m, 21.0 lb-ft)
(b): 50 N
.m (5.0 kg-m, 36.5 lb-ft)
(c): 23 N
.m (2.3 kg-m, 17.0 lb-ft)
Page 208 of 801
YH4
GRAND
VITARA
3D-6 FRONT SUSPENSION
1. Strut tower bar
1. E-ring
1. Front wheel speed sensor harness clamp bolt
1. Strut bracket bolts
2. Lower arm
3. Jack
1. Strut support nuts
STRUT DAMPER
REMOVAL
1) Remove strut tower bar (if equipped).
2) Hoist vehicle, allowing front suspension to hang free.
3) Remove wheel.
4) Remove E-ring securing brake hose and take brake hose off
strut bracket as shown.
5) If equipped with ABS, remove front wheel speed sensor harness
clamp bolt.
6) Remove strut bracket bolts, then support lower arm with jack.
7) Remove strut support nuts.
Hold strut by hand so that it will not fall off.
8) Remove strut.
Page 209 of 801
YH4
GRAND
VITARA
FRONT SUSPENSION 3D-7
1. E-ring
2. Bracket end surface
INSTALLATION
1) Install strut by reversing removal steps 1) ± 8). Insert bolts in
such a direction as shown.
2) Torque all fasteners to specifications.
Tightening Torque
(a): 55 N
.m (5.5 kg-m, 40.0 lb-ft)
(b): 95 N
.m (9.5 kg-m, 69.0 lb-ft)
(c): 50 N
.m (5.0 kg-m, 36.5 lb-ft)
NOTE:
Brake hose installation.
Don't twist hose when installing it. Install E-ring as far as
bracket end surface as shown.