Acura RL. Manual - part 369

SUSPENSION TROUBLE SHOOTING

BASIC SUSPENSION TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART

NOTE:

This is GENERAL information. This article is not intended to be specific to
any unique situation or individual vehicle configuration. The purpose of this
Trouble Shooting information is to provide a list of common causes to
problem symptoms. For model-specific Trouble Shooting, refer to SUBJECT,
DIAGNOSTIC, or TESTING articles available in the section(s) you are
accessing.

CONDITION & POSSIBLE CAUSE

CORRECTION

Front End Noise

Loose or worn wheel

See Wheel Bearing

Adjustment in SUSPENSION

Worn shocks or shock mountings

Replace struts or strut

mountings

Worn struts or strut mountings

Replace struts or strut

mountings

Loose or worn lower control arm

See SUSPENSION

Loose steering gear-to-frame bolts

See STEERING

Worn control arm bushings

See SUSPENSION

Ball joints not lubricated

Lubricate ball joints & see

Ball Joint Checking in

SUSPENSION

Front Wheel Shake, Shimmy, or Vibration

Tires or wheels out of balance

Check tire balance

Incorrect wheel alignment

See WHEEL ALIGNMENT

Drive shaft unbalanced

Check drive shaft balance

Loose or worn wheel bearings

See WHEEL ALIGNMENT

Loose or worn tie rod ends

See SUSPENSION

Worn upper ball joints

See Ball Joint Checking in

SUSPENSION

Worn shock absorbers

Replace shock absorbers

Worn strut bushings

Replace strut bushings

Car Pulls to One Side

Mismatched or uneven tires

Check tire condition

Broken or sagging springs

See SUSPENSION

Loose or worn strut bushings

See SUSPENSION

Improper wheel alignment

See WHEEL ALIGNMENT

Improper rear axle alignment

Check rear axle alignment

Power steering gear unbalanced

See STEERING

Front brakes dragging

See BRAKES

Abnormal Tire Wear

Unbalanced tires

Check tire balance & rotation

Sagging or broken springs

See SUSPENSION

Incorrect front end alignment

See WHEEL ALIGNMENT

2007 Acura RL

GENERAL INFORMATION Trouble Shooting - Basic Procedures

Friday, June 05, 2009 2:26:48 PM

Page 55

WHEEL ALIGNMENT TROUBLE SHOOTING

BASIC WHEEL ALIGNMENT TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART

Faulty shock absorbers

Replace chock absorbers

Scuffed Tires

Toe-In incorrect

See WHEEL ALIGNMENT

Suspension arm bent or twisted

See appropriate

SUSPENSION article

Springs Bottom or Sag

Bent or broken springs

See SUSPENSION

Leaking or worn shock absorbers

Replace shock absorbers

Frame misalignment

Check frame for damage

Spring Noises

Loose "U" Bolts

See SUSPENSION

Loose or worn bushings

See SUSPENSION

Worn or missing interliners

See SUSPENSION

Shock Absorber Noise

Loose shock mountings

Check & tighten mountings

Worn bushings

Replace bushings

Air in system

Bleed air from system

Undercoating on shocks

Remove undercoating

Car Leans or Sways on Corners

Loose stabilizer bar

See SUSPENSION

Faulty shocks or mountings

Replace shocks or mountings

Broken or sagging springs

See SUSPENSION

Shock Absorbers Leaking

Worn seals or reservoir tube crimped

See SUSPENSION

Broken Springs

Loose "U" bolts

See SUSPENSION

Inoperative shock absorbers

Replace shock absorbers

NOTE:

CONDITION & POSSIBLE CAUSE

CORRECTION

Premature Tire Wear

Improper tire inflation

Check tire pressure

Front alignment out of tolerance

See ALIGNMENT SPECS in

WHEEL ALIGNMENT

section

Suspension components worn

See SUSPENSION section

2007 Acura RL

GENERAL INFORMATION Trouble Shooting - Basic Procedures

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Page 56

Steering system components worn

See STEERING section

Improper standing height

See WHEEL ALIGNMENT

Uneven or sagging springs

See SUSPENSION section

Bent wheel

See WHEEL ALIGNMENT

Improper torsion bar adjustment

See SUSPENSION section

Loose or worn wheel bearings

See WHEEL BEARING ADJ.

in SUSPENSION section

Worn or defective shock

Replace shock absorbers

Tires out of balance

Check tire balance

Pulls to One Side

Improper tire inflation

Check tire pressure

Brake dragging

See BRAKE section

Mismatched tires

See WHEEL ALIGNMENT

Broken or sagging spring

See SUSPENSION section

Broken torsion bar

See SUSPENSION section

Power steering valve not centered

See STEERING section

Front alignment out of tolerance

See WHEEL ALIGNMENT

section

Defective wheel bearing

See WHEEL BEARINGS in

SUSPENSION section

Uneven sway bar links

See SUSPENSION section

Frame bent

Check for frame damage

Steering system bushing worn

See STEERING section

Hard Steering

Idler arm bushing too tight

See STEERING LINKAGE in

STEERING section

Ball joint tight or seized

See SUSPENSION section

Steering linkage too tight

See STEERING LINKAGE in

STEERING section

Power steering fluid low

Add proper amount of fluid

Power steering drive belt loose

See STEERING section

Power steering pump defective

See STEERING section

Steering gear out of adjustment

See STEERING section

Incorrect wheel alignment

See WHEEL ALIGNMENT

Damaged steering gear

See STEERING section

Damaged suspension

See SUSPENSION section

Bent steering knuckle or supports

See SUSPENSION section

Vehicle "Wanders"

Strut rod or control arm bushing worn

See SUSPENSION section

Loose or worn wheel bearings

See WHEEL BEARINGS in

SUSPENSION section

Improper tire inflation

Check tire pressure

Stabilizer bar missing or defective

See SUSPENSION section

Wheel alignment out of tolerance

See Adjustment in WHEEL

ALIGNMENT section

2007 Acura RL

GENERAL INFORMATION Trouble Shooting - Basic Procedures

Friday, June 05, 2009 2:26:49 PM

Page 57

Broken spring

See SUSPENSION section

Defective shock absorber

Replace shock absorbers

Worn steering & suspension components

See SUSPENSION section

Front End Shimmy

Tire out of balance/round

Check tire balance

Excessive wheel runout

See WHEEL ALIGNMENT

Insufficient or improper caster

See WHEEL ALIGNMENT

section

Worn suspension or steering components

See SUSPENSION section

Defective shock absorbers

Replace shock absorber

Wheel bearings worn or loose

See WHEEL BEARING ADJ.

in SUSPENSION section

Power steering reaction Bracket loose

See STEERING section

Steering gear box (rack) mounting loose

See STEERING section

Steering gear adjustment loose

See STEERING section

Worn spherical joints

See SUSPENSION section

Toe-In Not Adjustable

Lower control arm bent

See SUSPENSION section

Frame bent

Check frame for damage

Camber Not Adjustable

Control arm bent

See SUSPENSION section

Frame bent

Check frame for damage

Hub & bearing not seated properly

See SUSPENSION section

2007 Acura RL

GENERAL INFORMATION Trouble Shooting - Basic Procedures

Friday, June 05, 2009 2:26:49 PM

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