2. Inspect rubber ball joint boots and steering gear boots for cracks, tears, and wear. Any damage to these parts leads to loss of lubrication, the ingress of dirt and water, which leads to accelerated wear of the hinges and parts of the steering mechanism.
3. On cars with hydraulic booster, check the condition of the hydraulic steering hoses, the presence of signs of aging and wear on them, also check the tightness of all tubes and hoses at the junctions with fittings. Also check for leaks of pressurized fluid from under the steering gear rubber boot. Traces of a leak indicate a failure of the steering gear oil seals.
4. Rock the wheel in a vertical plane, holding the top and bottom edges. Barely perceptible movement of the wheel is allowed, however, if the play is noticeable, then the cause should be found. Ask an assistant to press the brake pedal and again shake the wheel in a vertical plane.
5. If the play disappears or decreases significantly, then the cause of it is the failure of the hub bearings. If the play when rocking the wheel while pressing the brake changes slightly, then the ball joints of the suspension are worn out, or the parts for attaching the suspension arms to the body.
6. Rock the wheel horizontally. Any appreciable play in this plane can be caused by worn hub bearings or tie rod ends. If the inner or outer tips are worn, there will be noticeable wheel play.
7. To check the wear of the front suspension bushings, shake the part into which the bushing is pressed with a large screwdriver or pry bar. A small play is allowed due to the elasticity of the rubber. Significant play in the bushings will be easily noticeable. Also check the condition of any visible rubber bushings for cracks, delamination or swelling of the rubber.
8. Lower the vehicle and have an assistant turn the steering wheel one-eighth of a turn in both directions. Steering wheel play should be absent altogether, let's also say a barely noticeable play. Otherwise, carefully check all suspension joints, in addition, check the wear of the universal joint of the steering column, as well as the wear of the steering gear parts.
Checking the shock absorber struts of the front suspension
1. Check for signs of fluid leakage on the shock strut housing, or on the edges of the rubber boot of the rod. Any traces of a leak indicate internal defects in the rack and the need to replace this unit.
Attention! Suspension struts should only be replaced in pairs (to the right and left side).
2. The serviceability of the shock absorbers of the struts can be checked by sharply pressing the front of the fender of the car. After releasing the body should return to its original position without oscillating.
3. Weak vibrations of the body after pressing indicate a possible malfunction of the racks. Check for wear on the upper and lower strut mounts.