Steering and suspension security check (12 000 Mile (20 000 Km) / 12 Month Service)
1 Check the shock absorbers by bouncing the vehicle up and down at each corner in turn. When released, it should come to rest within one complete oscillation. Continued movement, or squeaking and groaning noises from the shock absorber suggests that renewal is required.
2 With the weight of the vehicle on its roadwheels, inspect all of the suspension flexible bushes for wear and check the torque wrench settings of all bolts and nuts.
3 Raise and support the vehicle. Examine all steering and suspension components for wear, damage and fluid leakage. Pay particular attention to dust covers and gaiters,
Inspect the steering rack bellows
which if renewed promptly when damaged can save further damage to the component protected.
4 At the same intervals, check the front suspension lower arm balljoints for wear by levering up the arms.
Apply leverage to check for excessive balljoint wear
Balljoint free movement must not exceed 0.5 mm. The track rod end balljoints can be checked in a similar manner, or by observing them whilst an assistant rocks the steering wheel back and forth. If the lower arm balljoint is worn, the complete lower arm must be renewed.
5 Wheel bearings can be checked for wear by spinning the relevant roadwheel. Any roughness or excessive noise indicates worn bearings, which must be renewed, as no adjustment is possible. It is unlikely that any wear will be evident unless the vehicle has covered a very high mileage. It should be noted that it is normal for the bearings to exhibit slight endfloat, which is perceptible as wheel rock at the wheel rim.