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VITARA
STEERING, SUSPENSION, WHEELS AND TIRES 3-5
ConditionPossible CauseCorrection
Body Leans or Sways
in CornersLoose 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 TiresFront 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.
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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.
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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 rightAir 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.
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3B1-6 POWER STEERING (P / S) SYSTEM
ConditionPossible CauseCorrection
Vehicle pulls to
one side during
straight drivingMismatched or uneven tire
Low or uneven tire inflation pressure
Brake dragging in one wheel
Front end alignment out of order
Rear end alignment out of order
Malfunction of control valve in gear boxReplace tire.
Inflate tires to proper pressure or
adjust right & left tires inflation
pressure.
Repair.
Check and adjust front end
alignment.
Check and adjust rear end
alignment.
Replace gear box.
Steering wheel
play is large and
vehicle wandersRefer to ªDiagnosisº in Section 3.
Fluid leakageLoose joints of (hydraulic pressure)
pipes and hoses
Deformed or damaged pipes or hosesRetighten.
Replace defective part.
Abnormal noiseAir drawn in due to insufficient amount of fluid
Air mixed into fluid from pipes or hoses
Slipping (loose) P / S belt
Worn P / S belt
Loose gear box fastening bolt
Loose linkage or joints
Pipes or hoses in contact with part of
vehicle body
Vanes of P / S pump defective
Malfunction of control valve in gear box
Bearing of P / S pump shaft defectiveAdd fluid and purge air.
Replace pipes or hoses.
Adjust belt tension.
Replace belt.
Retighten bolts.
Retighten.
Install pipes and hoses correctly.
Replace defective part.
Replace gear box.
Replace bearing.
No idle upPower steering pressure switch defectiveReplace power steering
pressure switch.
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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.
Page 153 of 801
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VITARA
POWER STEERING (P / S) SYSTEM 3B1-9
IDLE UP SYSTEM
IDLE UP SYSTEM CHECK
1) Warm up engine to normal operating temperature.
2) Turn A / C switch OFF, if equipped.
3) Turn steering wheel fully and check idle speed.
Engine idle speed drops a little momentarily when steering
wheel is turned fully but returns to its specified level immediately.
If power steering pressure switch connector is connected, check
the same with that connector disconnected. Momentary drop of
engine idle speed should be less when it is connected than when
disconnected.
FLUID
FLUID LEAKAGE CHECK
Start engine and turn steering wheel fully to the right and left so that maximum hydraulic pressure is provided. Then
visually check gear box, P / S pump and P / S fluid reservoir themselves and each joint of their connecting pipes for
leakage.
CAUTION:
Never keep steering wheel turned fully for longer than 10 seconds.
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VITARA
1. P / S fluid reservoir
2. Attachment
3. Gasket4. Union bolt
5. High pressure side
6. Low pressure side
1. P / S fluid reservoir
2. Gauge valve (open)
3. P / S pump4. P / S gear box
5. High pressure side
6. Low pressure side
3B1-10 POWER STEERING (P / S) SYSTEM
HYDRAULIC PRESSURE IN P / S CIRCUIT
HYDRAULIC PRESSURE CHECK
1) After cleaning joint of high pressure hose and P / S pump thor-
oughly, disconnect hose from pump and install special tool (oil
pressure gauge, attachment and hose).
Tighten each flare nut to specified torque.
CAUTION:
Take care not to cause damage to A / C condenser during
service operation, if equipped.
Special Tool
(A): 09915-77410 (Oil pressure gauge)
(B): 09915-77420
2) Check each connection for fluid leakage and bleed air.
Refer to ªAIR BLEEDING PROCEDUREº in this section.
3) With engine idling, turn steering wheel and warm up engine till
temperature of fluid in P/S fluid reservoir rises to 50 ± 60C (122
± 140F).
4) Check back pressure by measuring hydraulic pressure with en-
gine idling and hands off steering wheel.
Back pressure: Lower than 1000 kPa (10 kg / cm
2, 142 psi)
When back pressure is higher than specified values, check con-
trol valve and piping for clogging.
Page 157 of 801
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VITARA
1. Tie-rod end
2. Knuckle
3. Nut
1. Tie-rod
2. Mark
3. Lock nut
4. Tie-rod end
1. Tie-rod end ball joint
1. Tie-rod
2. Mark
3. Lock nut
4. Tie rod end
5. Knuckle
6. Nut6, (a)
POWER STEERING (P / S) SYSTEM 3B1-13
ON-VEHICLE SERVICE
TIE-ROD END
REMOVAL
1) Hoist vehicle and remove wheel.
2) Remove tie-rod end nut.
3) Disconnect tie-rod end by using puller.
4) To facilitate adjustment after installation, put a mark on tie-rod
thread indicating position of tie-rod end lock nut. Then loosen
lock nut and remove tie rod end from tie rod.
INSPECTION
Tie-rod End Ball Joint
Inspect for play in tie-rod end ball joint. If found defective, replace.
INSTALLATION
1) Install tie-rod end lock nut and tie rod end to tie-rod. Tighten lock
nut to mark on tie-rod thread.
2) Install tie-rod end to knuckle. Tighten tie-rod end nut to specified
torque.
Tightening Torque
(a): 48 N
.m (4.8 kg-m, 35.0 lb-ft)