Chassis parts
are all the components that attach the wheels to the rest of the
vehicle, and help support the vehicle’s weight. These include such
things as ball joints, control arms, bushings, sway bars, springs,
shocks and struts. Most of these components are supposed to last a long
time, but often don’t because of the pounding they take from everyday
driving. Corrosion also can shorten the service life of chassis parts.
Some chassis parts can also be damaged by hitting a curb or pothole
with sufficient force.
Tie-rod ends, tie rods and idler arms are
other chassis parts that can wear out, too. But these parts are
technically part of the steering linkage, not the suspension. Even so,
most people lump them into the general category of chassis parts.
Worn
chassis parts often pass unnoticed until they cause noticeable problems
such as road noise, uneven or rapid wear on one or more tires, or a
steering or handling problem. Worn tie rods are the most common culprit
for causing rapid tire wear, but worn control arm bushings or ball
joints can also contribute to tire wear, too.
Suspension noise
such as clunks, squeaks or groans when passing over bumps or dips in
the road, can often be traced to loose ball joints, bad control arm
bushings or even worn upper bearings plates on MacPherson struts.
On
cars and trucks that have short long arm (SLA) suspensions, there are
four ball joints: one upper and one lower on each side. The load
bearing joint (which may be the upper or lower depending on where the
spring is located) is the one that experiences the most wear.
On
cars with strut suspensions, there are no upper ball joints. The weight
is supported by the strut and spring. Lower ball joints are still used,
but these are “follower” joints that carry no weight.
Worn ball
joints upset camber alignment, causing a wheel to lean in. This can
cause a steering pull to one side, and/or increased tread wear on the
inside shoulder of the tire.
Many load-carrying lower ball joints
on General Motors and Ford rear-wheel drive cars and trucks have a
built-in “wear indicator.” This same type of joint is also used in the
rear suspension on some of GM’s big front-wheel drive cars (Cadillac,
Buick and Oldsmobile). The wear indicator is the shoulder on the grease
fitting. As the joint wears and the stud sinks deeper into the housing,
the grease fitting recedes into the housing. Joint wear is considered
acceptable as long as some shoulder protrudes above the face of the
housing. But once the shoulder becomes flush with the housing, it’s
time to replace the joint.
Wear-indicating ball joints should not
be checked with the wheels raised off the ground because the weight of
the tire, wheel, steering knuckle, brake rotor and caliper are not
supported and push down on the joint. This can push the indicator out
giving the false impression that the joint is not worn.
On ball
joints that do not have built-in wear indicators, joint wear and play
is measured using a dial indicator. On vehicles with SLA suspensions,
the lower load bearing joints are checked with the weight of the
vehicle off the wheels while supporting the lower control arms. On
vehicles with strut suspensions, the non-load bearing lower joints are
checked with the wheels off the ground and the suspension hanging free.
If joint play exceeds specifications (which varies depending on the
application), the joint is worn out and needs to be replaced.
If
one ball joint is worn out, chances are the ball joint on the opposite
side is also near the end of the road, even if it is still marginally
within specifications. Many technicians recommend replacing both joints
at the same time.
Tire wear, steering and handling can also be
affected by ride height. If the chassis is sagging on one side, or in
the front or back, weak springs are the likely cause. Weak springs can
affect both camber and caster, which may result in a steering pull, a
change in steering effort or return, and/or uneven tire wear.
Weak
springs are also more likely to fail. The springs on many late model
vehicles are thinner to reduce weight, and have an outer plastic
coating to protect the metal from corrosion. If this outer coating is
cracked or damaged, corrosion can form a hot spot that eats into the
spring, weakens it and eventually causes the spring to break.
Vehicles
today use a wide variety of spring types, including coil springs,
tapered springs, variable rate coil springs, flat springs, composite
springs, even air springs. The latter often develop air leaks after
five or six years of service due to pin holes or cracks in the rubber
air bladder.
This can cause the compressor to work overtime and
burn out. Leaky air springs can be replaced with new rubber springs, or
they can be removed altogether and replaced with less expensive and
simpler conventional springs. Bushings are another chassis part that
often fail with age. Most original equipment control arm bushings are
made of synthetic rubber or urethane.