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Action
Possible Sources
Symptom
• Vehicles without load levellingshock absorbers, CHECK for
abnormal loading, spring sag
or non-standard springs.
• Vehicles with load levelling shock absorbers, GO to
Pinpoint Test C.
• Vehicle attitude incorrect (front
or rear is high or low).
• Steering wheel off center
• CHECK the steering system.REFER to: Steering System
(211-00 Steering System -
General Information,
Diagnosis and Testing).
• Steering gear or linkage worn
or damaged.
• CARRY OUT the Ball JointInspection Component Test in
this procedure.
• Suspension lower arm ball joint.
• ADJUST the wheel alignment.REFER to: Front Toe Adjust-
ment (204-00 Suspension
System - General Informa-
tion, General Procedures)
/ Rear Toe Adjustment (204-00
Suspension System - General
Information, General Proced-
ures).
• Incorrect wheel alignment.
• CARRY OUT the Strut orShock Absorber Testing
component test in this
procedure.
• CHECK and INSTALL new suspension components as
necessary.
REFER to: Front Strut and
Spring Assembly (204-01
Front Suspension, Disas-
sembly and Assembly).
• Front strut and spring assem-
blies.
• Rough ride
• CHECK and INSTALL newsuspension components as
necessary. REFER to:
Front Strut and Spring Assembly (204-01 Front
Suspension, Disassembly
and Assembly),
Rear Stabilizer Bar (204-02
Rear Suspension, Removal
and Installation).
• Front or rear stabilizer bar
connecting links or bushings.
G1080717en2008.50 Kuga8/2011
204-00- 3
Suspension System - General Information
204-00- 3
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Action
Possible Sources
Symptom
• INSTALL a new lower arm.REFER to: Lower Arm (204-01
Front Suspension, Removal
and Installation).
• Front suspension lower arm
bushings.
• CHECK and INSTALL newcomponents as necessary.
REFER to: Rear Stabilizer Bar
Bushing (204-02 Rear
Suspension, Removal and
Installation).
• Rear suspension arm bushings.
• CARRY OUT the Strut orShock Absorber Testing
component test in this
procedure.
• CHECK and INSTALL new suspension components as
necessary.
• Rear shock absorbers.
• GO toPinpoint Test B.
• Front strut and spring assembly
or rear shock absorber and
spring upper mounting bolts or
nuts loose or broken.
• Excessive noise
• GO toPinpoint Test B.
• Shock absorbers leaking.
• GO toPinpoint Test B.
• Shock absorbers performance
incorrect.
• GO toPinpoint Test B.
• Stabilizer bar components.
• GO toPinpoint Test B.
• Strut and spring assembly and
springs.
• GO toPinpoint Test B.
• Springs moving on springs
upper or lower seats.
• GO toPinpoint Test B.
• Suspension bushings.
• GO toPinpoint Test B.
• Lower arm ball joint.
• GO toPinpoint Test B.
• Worn front wheel bearings
• GO toPinpoint Test B.
• Wheels and tires.
• CHECK and INSTALL newsuspension components as
necessary.
• Front or rear suspension
damage.
• Incorrect tire wear
• ADJUST the wheel alignment.REFER to: Front Toe Adjust-
ment (204-00 Suspension
System - General Informa-
tion, General Procedures)
/ Rear Toe Adjustment (204-00
Suspension System - General
Information, General Proced-
ures).
• Incorrect wheel alignment.
G1080717en2008.50 Kuga8/2011
204-00-
4
Suspension System - General Information
204-00- 4
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Action
Possible Sources
Symptom
• CHECK the front wheel bear-ings.
• Damaged or worn front wheel
bearings.
• Vibration
• CHECK the tires. BALANCE orINSTALL new tires as neces-
sary.
• Wheels and tires.
• CHECK the steering system.REFER to: Steering System
(211-00 Steering System -
General Information,
Diagnosis and Testing).
• Steering gear or linkage worn
or damaged.
• CARRY OUT the Strut orShock Absorber Testing
component test in this
procedure.
• CHECK and INSTALL new suspension components as
necessary.
REFER to: Front Strut and
Spring Assembly (204-01
Front Suspension, Removal
and Installation).
• Front strut and spring assem-
blies.
• CHECK and INSTALL newsuspension components as
necessary.
REFER to: Lower Arm (204-01
Front Suspension, Removal
and Installation).
• Damaged front suspension
lower arm(s).
• GO toPinpoint Test C.
• Load-levelling shock absorbers.
• Vehicle lean
Pinpoint Tests
PINPOINT TEST A : DRIFT LEFT OR RIGHT
DETAILS/RESULTS/ACTIONS
TEST CONDITIONS
WARNING: To avoid personal injury due to the loss of vehicle control, the inspection should
be carried out by two people to maintain safe driving conditions. Adequate grip should
G1080717en2008.50 Kuga8/2011
204-00- 5
Suspension System - General Information
204-00- 5
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DETAILS/RESULTS/ACTIONS
TEST CONDITIONS
A6: SWAP THE FRONT RIGHT-HAND WHEEL AND TIRE ASSEMBLY
1 Raise and support the vehicle. REFER to: (100-
02 Jacking and Lifting)
Jacking (Description and Operation),
Lifting (Description and Operation).
– Swap the front right-hand wheel and tire assembly with the rear left-hand wheel and
tire assembly.
– Road test the vehicle.
• Does the vehicle drift?
zYe s GO to A7.
zNoThe concern has been corrected.
A7: INSTALL NEW TIRES
NOTE: Install new tires only once.
1Install new tires to the four road wheels. TEST
the system for normal operation.
• Does the vehicle drift?
zYe s Verify possible sources, refer to the Symptom
Chart.
zNoThe concern has been corrected.
PINPOINT TEST B : EXCESSIVE NOISE
DETAILS/RESULTS/ACTIONS
TEST CONDITIONS
B1: INSPECT ALL STRUT AND SPRING ASSEMBLY AND SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNTING BOLTS
AND NUTS
1 Inspect the strut and spring assembly and shock
absorber mounting bolts and nuts.
• Are the mounting bolts or nuts loose or broken?
zYe s TIGHTEN or INSTALL new suspension
mounting bolts.
REFER to: Specifications (204-01 Front
Suspension, Specifications).
zNo
GO to B2.
G1080717en2008.50 Kuga8/2011
204-00- 8
Suspension System - General Information
204-00- 8
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DETAILS/RESULTS/ACTIONS
TEST CONDITIONS
B2: INSPECT THE STRUT AND SPRING ASSEMBLIES AND SHOCK ABSORBERS FOR LEAKS
NOTE:Make sure that the oil is not from another
source.
1 Inspect the strut and spring assemblies and
shock absorbers for signs of oil weepage or
leaks. Refer to weepage and leakage conditions
in the Strut or Shock Absorber Testing
component test in this procedure.
• Are the struts or shock absorbers leaking?
zYe s INSTALL new struts or shock absorbers as
necessary.
REFER to: Front Strut and Spring Assembly
(204-01 Front Suspension, Removal and
Installation).
zNo
GO to B3.
B3: INSPECT THE SPRINGS AND STABILIZER BAR(S)
1 Inspect the springs and stabilizer bar(s) for
damage.
• Are the springs or stabilizer bar(s) damaged?
zYe s INSTALL new springs or stabilzer bar(s).
REFER to:
Front Strut andSpring Assembly (204-01 Front
Suspension, Removal and Installation),
Front Stabilizer Bar (204-01 Front Suspension,
Removal and Installation),
Rear Stabilizer Bar Link (204-02 Rear Suspen-
sion, Removal and Installation).
zNo
GO to B4.
G1080717en2008.50 Kuga8/2011
204-00- 9
Suspension System - General Information
204-00- 9
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DETAILS/RESULTS/ACTIONS
TEST CONDITIONS
B4: INSPECT THE SUSPENSION BUSHINGS
1 Inspect the suspension bushings for excessive
wear or damage.
• Are the bushings worn or damaged?
zYe s INSTALL new components as necessary.
REFER to:
Lower Arm (204-01 Front Suspension, Removal
and Installation),
Front Strut and Spring Assembly (204-01 Front
Suspension, Removal and Installation),
Front Stabilizer Bar (204-01 Front Suspension,
Removal and Installation),
Rear Stabilizer Bar Link (204-02 Rear Suspen-
sion, Removal and Installation).
zNo
GO to B5.
B5: INSPECT THE SUSPENSIONS LOWER ARM BALL JOINTS
1 Carry out the Ball Joint Inspection component
test in this procedure.
• Is the lower arm ball joint or gaiter damaged?
zYe s INSTALL new lower arm.
REFER to: Lower Arm (204-01 Front
Suspension, Removal and Installation).
TEST the system for normal operation.
zNo
GO to B6.
B6: INSPECT THE WHEEL BEARINGS
1 Check the wheel bearings.
• Are the wheel bearings damaged?
zYe s INSTALL a new wheel hub(s).
REFER to: Wheel Hub (204-01 Front
Suspension, Removal and Installation).
zNo
GO to B7.
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204-00- 10
Suspension System - General Information
204-00- 10
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DETAILS/RESULTS/ACTIONS
TEST CONDITIONS
B7: INSPECT THE WHEEL AND TIRES
1 Inspect the tires for uneven wear.
• Is there uneven wear?
zYe s REFER to the symptom chart.
zNoGO to B8.
B8: INSPECT THE STRUT AND SPRING ASSEMBLY AND REAR SUSPENSION SPRING INTERFACE
1 Loosen the strut and spring assemblies and
shock absorbers top and bottom mounting bolts
and nuts. Tighten the mounting bolts and nuts.
REFER to:
Specifications (204-01 Front Suspension,
Specifications),
Specifications (204-02 Rear Suspension,
Specifications).
• Is the concern still evident?
zYe s GO to B9.
zNoVehicle condition corrected.
B9: INSPECT THE STRUT AND SPRING ASSEMBLIES AND SHOCK ABSORBER COMPONENTS
1 Check that the spring is correctly located on the
spring seat and has not moved.
2Disassemble the strut and spring and assembly
and inspect the individual components.
REFER to:
Front Strut and Spring Assembly
(204-01 Front Suspension, Removal and
Installation).
3 Inspect the shock absorber top mount for wear
or damage.
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204-00-
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Suspension System - General Information
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DETAILS/RESULTS/ACTIONS
TEST CONDITIONS
4 Carry out the Strut or Shock Absorber Testing
component test in this procedure.
• Are any of the strut and spring assemblies or shock absorber components damaged?
zYe s
INSTALL new components as necessary.
REFER to:
Front Strut and Spring Assembly (204-01 Front
Suspension, Removal and Installation),
Spring (204-02 Rear Suspension, Removal and
Installation).
zNo
REINSTALL the strut and spring assemblies
or shock absorbers. GO to C1.
PINPOINT TEST C : VEHICLE LEAN
DETAILS/RESULTS/ACTIONS
TEST CONDITIONS
C1: VEHICLE LEAN
1 Detach the load levelling shock absorbers from
the wheel knuckles.
• Does the vehicle lean?
zYe s Install new rear springs.
REFER to: Spring(204-02 Rear Suspension,
Removal and Installation).
TEST the system for normal operation.
zNo
CARRY OUT the Load-Levelling Shock
Absorber Component Test in this section.
Component Tests
Raise and support the vehicle. REFER to: (100-02
Jacking and Lifting)
Jacking (Description and Operation),
Lifting (Description and Operation).
Ball Joint Inspection
1. Firmly grasp the outer end of the suspension
lower arm and try to move it up and down,
watching and feeling for any movement. Free
movement will usually be accompanied by an
audible "click''. There should be no free
movement. 2. If there is any free movement install a new lower
arm.
REFER to: Lower Arm (204-01 Front
Suspension, Removal and Installation).
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204-00- 12
Suspension System - General Information
204-00- 12
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