Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
31 00 ... Instructions (Damage To Suspension)
Substandard roadholding, atypical noises, tires worn on one side, camber and toe-in values which deviate from nominal value and mis-shaped components are all indicators of damage to the suspension caused by road traffic accidents or similar impacts.
To repair vehicle correctly, depending on condition of vehicle, perform the following troubleshooting procedure:
You must also follow the rules and guidelines for accident-related repairs to the steering gear. See 32 00 ... INFORMATION ON REPLACING STEERING GEAR AFTER ACCIDENT DAMAGE .
Troubleshooting
| Vehicle condition | Possible cause | Remedy |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Camber inside/toe-in outside the nominal value, adjustment of track alignment possible | a) Screw connection not OK | a) Check screw connections: Tie rod end to swivel bearing Tie rod to power steering gear Power steering gear to front axle carrier |
| b) Tie rod or journal of tie rod end is deformed | b) Replace tie rod, tension strut and swivel bearing
IMPORTANT:
If the journal of the tie rod end is deformed, the power steering gear must also be replaced
|
|
| c) One or both tension struts is/are deformed | c) Replace tension strut and swivel bearing | |
| d) Control arm deformed | d) Replace control arm, tension strut and swivel bearing | |
| 2 Camber inside/toe-in outside the nominal value, adjustment of track alignment possible | Powerful forces acting on steering/front axle components | Replace tie rods
. See 21 STEERING ARMS, TIE ROD
. Replace swivel bearing . See 31 21 090 REPLACING (REMOVING AND INSTALLING) LEFT OR RIGHT SWIVEL BEARING . Replace power steering gear . See 13 STEERING GEAR WITH SER . Replace tension strut . See 31 12 080 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING BOTH TENSION STRUTS . Replace control arms . See 31 12 000 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING LEFT OR RIGHT CONTROL ARM . |
| 3 Camber/toe-in outside the nominal value, adjustment of track alignment not possible | Powerful forces acting on front axle with distortion of: | |
| a) Screw connections b) Front axle support c) See Pt. 1b) to d) f) Spring strut/piston rod |
a) Check screw connections, replace the relevant part if necessary b) Replace front axle carrier . See 31 11 001 REPLACING FRONT AXLE CARRIER . c) See Pt. 1b) to d) d) Replace spring strut . See 31 31 031 REPLACING FRONT LEFT OR RIGHT SPRING STRUT (SPORT SUSPENSION) . |
NO RELATED
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.