Car Wanders - Pontiac FIREBIRD 1972 Service Manual

FRONT SUSPENSION 3-5
TROUBLE DIAGNOSIS (Continued)
CAR WANDERS
Follow steps below. If first step is O.K., proceed down list until problem
is corrected.
CAUSE
a. Low or uneven tire pressure.
b. Steering gear or connections adjusted
too loose or worn.
c. Steering gear or connections adjusted
too tight.
d. Stabilizer shaft inoperative.
e. Bind in upper control arm shaft.
f. Front suspension control arm or
steering knuckle bent.
g. Incorrect or uneven caster or camber.
h. Toe-in incorrect.
i. Rear axle shifted.
j. Frame bent or broken.
CORRECTION
a. Inflate tires to recommended pressure.
b. Adjust or install new parts as necessary.
c. Test steering system for bind with front
wheels off floor. Refer to Section 9 for
steering system diagnosis.
d. Inspect bushings and links and replace worn
parts.
e. Free up or replace parts.
f. Check steering axis inclination. If it is in-
correct, control arm or steering knuckle is bent
and damaged parts must be replaced.
g. Check caster and camber and correct by
adjusting or by replacing worn or faulty parts.
h. Adjust toe-in as required.
i. Check entire rear suspension.
j. Check frame for proper alignment and repair
or replace frame as necessary.
SHOCK ABSORBER DIAGNOSIS
still new (under 5,000 miles), owner should be ad-
vised to have ride rechecked after 7,000 to 8,000
Shock absorber diagnostic procedures are divided into two
miles.
sections:
A.
-
On Car Checks
B.
-
Bench Checks
A. ON C A R CHECKS
Follow the Procedures Outlined Below in the Order In-
dicated
I. Preliminary lnspection and Ride Test
a. Tire Pressure
Check tire pressure to vehicle specifications and ad-
just as required. Poor vehicle control and ride com-
plaints are caused in many cases by improper tire
inflation.
b. Special Suspension Equipment
Check with owner for any special suspension equip-
ment; such as, a ride and handling package, heavy
duty suspension, etc. Cars equipped with this type of
option may have a somewhat stiffer ride, and this
should be kept in mind during the following tests. If
a complaint about stiffness should occur while car is
c. Vehicle Load Conditions
Note any exceptional load conditions under which
the car normally operates, such as, large tool boxes
full of tools, trunk full of books, etc. If exceptional
loading is apparent, check the distribution of this
weight. Note if it is all toward one side of the vehicle
or at the extreme rear of the trunk. Reposition load
as required to obtain a more uniform weight distribu-
tion.
d. Check Vehicle Ride and Handling
After completing previous checks, ride vehicle with
owner to determine if problem has been corrected or
to definitely establish type of problem that still exists.
If problem still exists (poor handling, bottoming,
noise, ride sway, etc.), proceed to Step 11.
41. lnspection and Testing the Shocks
Three procedures are included in this step. They are
(a) Bounce Test, (b) Inspecting Shock Mountings for
Noise (Looseness) and (c) Manually Operating
Shocks to Determine if Shocks are Weak, Leaking
Hydraulic Fluid, and/or if Shocks have an Internal
Noise Condition.