2003 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA ball stud

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
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.

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.

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.

YH4
GRAND
VITARA
FRONT SUSPENSION 3D-9
1. Coil spring
8) Remove stabilizer bar, refer to steps 2) to 5) of item STABILIZ-
ER BAR / BUSHINGS REMOVAL in this section.
9) Disconnect tie rod end from knuckle by using puller.
10) Support lower arm, using jack as shown.
11) Remove strut bracket bolts.
12) Remove ball stud castle nut.
13) Using puller, disconnect knuckle from ball stud.
14) Remove knuckle and wheel hub comp, while lowering jack.
15) Remove coil spring.

YH4
GRAND
VITARA
3D-10 FRONT SUSPENSION
ªaº < ªbº
1. Circlip
2. Large diameter
1. Axle shaft drive flange
2. Bolt 1. Spring seat
Bottom
INSTALLATION
Reverse removal procedure to install coil spring.
NOTE:
Upper and lower diameters of coil spring are different.
Bring larger diameter end at bottom and set its open end in
place on spring seat.

Be sure to use specified torque for tightening each fastener.

Refer to torque specification chart at the end of this section.

As for ball stud nut, be sure to insert split pin and bend it after tight-
ening it.

Tighten tie-rod end nut with pushing ball stud to upper side so as
not ball stud to be rotated.

For 4WD vehicle
Apply lithium grease to front drive shaft washer and front wheel
spindle outer.
ªAº: Grease 99000-25010

For 4WD vehicle
When installing circlip to drive shaft, utilize screw hole in drive
shaft to pull it out and bring large diameter of circlip at right as
shown.

For 4WD vehicle
When installing axle shaft drive flange to wheel hub, apply sealant
to mating surface of axle shaft drive flange and tighten flange bolt
to specified torque.
ªAº: Sealant 99000-31090
Tightening Torque
(a): 50 N
.m (5.0 kg-m, 36.5 lb-ft)