1999 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA ball joint

YH4
GRAND
VITARA
0B-18 MAINTENANCE AND LUBRICATION
ITEM 6-8
Suspension System Inspection
Check suspension bolts and nuts for tightness and retighten them
as necessary.
Repair or replace defective parts, if any.
NOTE:
For details of check points, refer to tables of Tightening Torque
Specification in Section 3D and 3E.
Front
1) Check stabilizer bar for damage or deformation.
2) Check bushing for damage, wear or deterioration.
3) Inspect strut for damage, deformation, oil leakage and opera-
tion. If strut is found faulty, replace it as an assembly unit, be-
cause it can not be disassembled.
Refer to strut check Section 3D for operation check.
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.
8) Check ball joint stud dust seal (boot) for leaks, detachment,
tear or other damage. Check suspension arm bushing for dam-
age, wear or deterioration.
Rear
9) Check shock absorber for damage, deformation, oil leakage
and operation.
10) Check bushings for wear and damage.

YH4
GRAND
VITARA
3-2 STEERING, SUSPENSION, WHEELS AND TIRES
ConditionPossible CauseCorrection
Abnormal or
Excessive Tire Wear
Sagging or broken springs.

Tire out of balance.

Disturbed front end alignment.

Faulty shock absorber.

Hard driving.

Overloaded vehicle.

Tires not rotating.

Worn or loose road wheel bearings.

Wobbly wheel or tires.

Tires not adequately inflated.Replace spring.
Adjust balance or replace tire.
Check front end alignment.
Replace shock absorber.
Replace tire.
Replace tire.
Replace or rotate tire.
Replace wheel bearing.
Replace wheel or tire.
Adjust the pressure.
Wheel Tramp
Blister or bump on tire.

Improper shock absorber action.Replace tire.
Replace shock absorber.
Shimmy, Shake or
Vibration
Tire or wheel out of balance.

Loose wheel bearings.

Worn tie rod ends.

Worn lower ball joints.

Excessive wheel runout.

Blister or bump on tire.

Excessively loaded radial runout of
tire / wheel assembly.

Disturbed front end alignment.

Loose or worn tie-rod end.

Loose steering gear case bolts.Balance wheels or replace tire and /
or wheel.
Replace wheel bearing.
Replace tie rod end.
Replace front suspension control
arm.
Repair or replace wheel and / or tire.
Replace tire.
Replace tire or wheel.
Check front end alignment.
Tighten or replace tie-rod end.
Tighten case bolts.
Hard Steering
Bind in tie rod end ball studs or
lower ball joints.

Disturbed front end alignment.

Rack and pinion not properly adjusted.
(if equipped with manual steering gear
case)

Tire not adequately inflated.

Bind in steering column.

Low fluid level, loose drive belt or
malfunction of power steering system.
(if equipped with P / S)Replace tie rod end or front
suspension control arm.
Check front end alignment.
Check and adjust steering gear box.
Inflate tires to proper pressure.
Repair or replace.
Check and correct.

YH4
GRAND
VITARA
STEERING, SUSPENSION, WHEELS AND TIRES 3-3
ConditionPossible CauseCorrection
Too Much Play in
Steering
Wheel bearings worn.

Loose steering gear case bolts.

Rack and pinion not properly adjusted.
(if equipped with manual steering gear
case)

Worn steering shaft joints.

Worn tie rod ends or tie rod
inside ball joints.

Worn lower ball joints.Replace wheel bearing.
Tighten.
Check and adjust rack and pinion
torque.
Replace joint.
Replace tie rod end or steering
gear case.
Replace front suspension control
arm.
Poor Returnability
Bind in tie rod end ball studs.

Bind in ball joints.

Bind in steering column.

Poorly lubricated rack and pinion.
(if equipped with manual steering gear
case)

Disturbed front end alignment.

Rack and pinion not properly adjusted.
(if equipped with manual steering gear
case)

Tires not adequately inflated.Replace tie rod end.
Replace ball joint.
Repair or replace.
Check, repair or lubricate rack and
pinion.
Check and adjust front end
alignment.
Check and adjust rack and pinion
torque.
Adjust pressure.
Steering Noise
(Rattle or Chuckle)
Loose bolts and nuts.

Broken or otherwise damaged wheel
bearings.

Worn or sticky tie rod ends.

Rack and pinion not properly adjusted.
(if equipped with manual steering gear
case)Retighten.
Replace.
Replace.
Check and adjust rack and pinion
torque.
Abnormal Noise,
Front End
Worn, sticky or loose tie rod
ends, lower ball joints, tie rod
inside ball joints or drive shaft
joints.

Damaged shock absorbers, struts
or mountings.

Worn control arm bushings.

Loose stabilizer bar.

Loose wheel nuts.

Loose suspension bolts or nuts.

Broken or otherwise damaged
wheel bearings.

Broken suspension springs.

Poorly lubricated or worn strut
bearings.Replace tie rod end, control arm,
steering gear case or drive shaft
joint.
Replace or repair.
Replace.
Tighten bolts or replace bushes.
Tighten wheel nuts.
Tighten suspension bolts or nuts.
Replace wheel bearing.
Replace spring.
Lubricate or replace strut bearing.

YH4
GRAND
VITARA
3-4 STEERING, SUSPENSION, WHEELS AND TIRES
ConditionPossible CauseCorrection
Wander or Poor
Steering Stability
Mismatched or uneven tires.

Loose ball joints and tie rod
ends.

Faulty shock absorbers / struts or
mounting.

Loose stabilizer bar.

Broken or sagging springs.

Rack and pinion not properly adjusted.
(if equipped with manual steering
gear case)

Disturbed front end alignment.Replace tire or inflate tires to
proper pressure.
Replace suspension control arm or
tie rod end.
Replace absorber / strut or repair
mounting.
Tighten or replace stabilizer bar or
bushes.
Replace spring.
Check or adjust rack and pinion
torque.
Check and adjust front end alignment.
Erratic Steering when
Braking
Worn wheel bearings.

Broken or sagging springs.

Leaking wheel cylinder or caliper.

Warped discs.

Badly worn brake linings.

Drum is out of round in some brakes.

Wheel tires are inflated unequally.

Defective wheel cylinders.

Disturbed front end alignment.Replace wheel bearing.
Replace spring.
Repair or replace wheel cylinder or
caliper.
Replace brake disc.
Replace brake shoe lining.
Replace brake drum.
Inflate tires to proper pressure.
Replace or repair wheel cylinder.
Check front end alignment.
Low or Uneven Trim
Height
Right-to-left trim height
(H) difference should be
within 15 mm (0.6 in.)
with curb weight.
*Same with rear side.
Broken or sagging springs.

Overloaded.

Incorrect springs.Replace spring.
Check loading.
Replace spring.
Ride Too Soft
Faulty shock absorber or struts.Replace shock absorber or strut.
Suspension Bottoms
Overloaded.

Faulty shocks or struts.

Incorrect broken or sagging springs.Check loading.
Replace shock absorber or strut.
Replace spring.

YH4
GRAND
VITARA
STEERING, SUSPENSION, WHEELS AND TIRES 3-5
ConditionPossible CauseCorrection
Body Leans or Sways
in Corners
Loose stabilizer bar.

Faulty shock absorbers, struts
or mounting.

Broken or sagging springs.

Overloaded.Tighten stabilizer bar bolts or
replace bushes.
Replace shock absorber, strut or
tighten mounting.
Replace spring.
Check loading.
Cupped Tires
Front struts defective.

Worn wheel bearings.

Excessive tire or wheel run-out.

Worn ball joints.

Tire out of balance.Replace strut.
Replace wheel bearing.
Replace tire or wheel disc.
Replace front suspension control
arm.
Adjust tire balance.

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.

YH4
GRAND
VITARA
POWER STEERING (P / S) SYSTEM 3B1-5
DIAGNOSIS
GENERAL DIAGNOSIS TABLE
ConditionPossible CauseCorrection
Steering wheel
feels heavy
(at low speed)
Fluid deteriorated, low viscosity, different
type of fluid mixed

Pipes or hoses deformed, air entering
through joint

Insufficient air purging from P / S circuit

P / S belt worn, lacking in tension

Tire inflation pressure excessively low

Front end alignment out of order

Steering wheel installed improperly (twisted)

Bind in tie rod or tie rod end ball joint

P / S pump hydraulic pressure fails to increase

P / S pump hydraulic pressure increases
but slowly

Steering gear box malfunctionReplace fluid.
Replace defective part.
Purge air.
Adjust belt tension or replace
belt as necessary.
Inflate tire.
Check and adjust front end
alignment.
Install steering wheel correctly.
Replace defective part.
Check pressure and repair or
replace defective part.
Check pressure and repair or
replace defective part.
Replace gear box.
Steering wheel
feels heavy
momentarily when
turning it to the
left or right
Air drawn in due to insufficient amount
of fluid

Slipping P / S belt

P / S pump hydraulic pressure fails to
increase

P / S pump hydraulic pressure increases
but slowly

Steering gear box malfunctionAdd fluid and purge air.
Adjust belt tension or replace
belt as necessary.
Check pressure and repair or
replace defective part.
Check pressure and repair or
replace defective part.
Replace gear box.
Poor recovery
from turnsNOTE:
To check steering wheel for recovery, with vehicle running at 22 mile / h (35 km / h),
turn steering wheel 90 and let it free. It should return more than 60.

Deformed pipes or hoses

Steering column installed improperly

Front end alignment out of order

Ball joints binding

P / S pump hydraulic pressure fails to
increase

P / S pump hydraulic pressure increases
but slowly

Steering gear box malfunctionReplace defective part.
Install steering column correctly.
Check and adjust front end
alignment.
Replace defective part.
Check pressure and repair or
replace defective part.
Check pressure and repair or
replace defective part.
Replace gear box.

YH4
GRAND
VITARA
POWER STEERING (P / S) SYSTEM 3B1-7
STEERING WHEEL
STEERING WHEEL PLAY CHECK
Check steering wheel for looseness or rattle by trying to move it in
its shaft direction and lateral direction.
If found defective, repair or replace.
Check steering wheel for play, holding car in straight forward condi-
tion on the ground and with engine stopped.
Steering wheel play ªaº: 0 ± 30 mm (0 ± 1.2 in.)
If steering wheel play is not within specification, inspect as follows
and replace if found defective.

Tie-rod end ball stud for wear

Lower ball joint for wear

Steering shaft joint for wear

Steering pinion or rack gear for wear or breakage

Each part for looseness
STEERING FORCE CHECK
1) Place vehicle on level road and set steering wheel at straight-
ahead position.
2) Check that tire inflation pressure is as specified. (Refer to tire
placard.)
3) Start engine and keep it running till power steering fluid is
warmed to 50 to 60C (122 to 140F).
4) With engine idling, measure steering force by pulling spring ba-
lancer hooked on steering wheel in tangential direction.
Steering force: Less than 50 N (5.0 kg, 11.0 lb)
POWER STEERING FLUID
POWER STEERING FLUID LEVEL CHECK
With engine stopped, check fluid level indicated on P / S fluid reser-
voir, which should be between ªMAXº and ªMINº marks. If it is lower
than ªMINº mark, fill fluid up to ªMAXº mark.
NOTE:

Be sure to use an specified power steering fluid.

Fluid level should be checked when fluid is cool.