steering FORD MUSTANG 2003 Owner's Guide

PINPOINT TEST I: REAR SUSPENSION NOISE z
WARNING: The electrical power to the air
suspension system must be shut off prior to hoisting,
jacking or towing an air suspension vehicle. This can
be accomplished by turning off the air suspension
switch. Failure to do so can result in unexpected
inflation or deflation of the air springs, which can result
in shifting of the vehicle during these operations.
z Raise and support the vehicle.
z Check the steering system for wear or damage. Carry out a
steering linkage test. Refer Section 211 - 00 .
z Inspect the tire wear pattern. Refer to Tire Wear Patterns
chart in this section.
z Are the steering components worn or damaged? REPAIR the steering
system. INSTALL new
components as necessary.
TEST the system for normal
operation.
No
GO to
H3 .
H3 FRONT SHOCK ABSORBER/STRUT CHECK
z
Check the front shock absorbers/strut mounts for loose
bolts or nuts.
z Check the front shock absorbers/struts for wear or damage.
Carry out a "bounce test".
z Are the front shock absorbers/struts loose or
damaged? Yes
TIGHTEN to specifications if
loose. INSTALL new front
shock absorbers/struts if
damaged. TEST the system
for normal operation.
No
GO to
H4 .
H4 CHECK THE FRONT SPRINGS
z
Check the front spring and front spring mounts/brackets for
wear or damage.
z Are the front springs or spring mounts/brackets worn
or damaged? Yes
REPAIR or INSTALL new
components as necessary.
TEST the system for normal
operation.
No
GO to
H5 .
H5 CHECK THE CONTROL ARMS/RADIUS ARMS
z
Inspect the control arm bushings for wear or damage.
z Inspect for twisted or bent control/radius arm.
z Are the control/radius arms damaged or worn? Yes
REPAIR or INSTALL new
components as necessary.
TEST the system for normal
operation.
No
GO to
H6 .
H6 CHECK THE STABILIZER BAR/TRACK BAR
z
Check the stabilizer bar/track bar bushings and links for
damage or wear.
z Check the stabilizer bar/track bar for damage.
z Check for loose or damaged stabilizer bar isolators or
brackets.
z Are the stabilizer bar/track bar components loose, worn
or damaged? Yes
REPAIR or INSTALL new
components as necessary.
TEST the system for normal
operation.
No
Suspension system OK.
CONDUCT diagnosis on
other suspect systems.
Test Step Result / Action to Take Klj . 54 ba
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Take
J1 ROAD TEST THE VEHICLE
z
NOTE: Wheel or tire vibrations felt in the steering wheel are most
likely related to the front wheel or tire. Vibration felt through the
seat are most likely related to the rear wheel or tire. This may not
always be true, but it can help to isolate the problem to the front
or rear of the vehicle.
z Test drive the vehicle at different speed ranges.
z During the road test, if the vibration can be eliminated by placing
the vehicle in neutral or is affected by the speed of the engine,
the cause is not the wheels or tires.
z Is there a vibration and noise? Yes
GO to
J2 .
No
The wheel and tires
are OK. CONDUCT a
diagnosis on other
suspect systems. J2 CHECK THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS
z
Check the front wheel bearings. Refer to Wheel Bearing Check in
this section.
z Are the wheel bearings OK? Yes
GO to
J3 .
No
INSPECT the wheel
bearings. ADJUST or
REPAIR as necessary.
TEST the system for
normal operation. J3 INSPECT THE TIRES
z
Check the tires for missing weights.
z Check the wheels for damage.
z Inspect the tire wear pattern. Refer to the Tire Wear Patterns
chart in this section.
z Do the tires have an abnormal wear pattern? Yes
CORRECT the
condition that caused
the abnormal wear.
INSTALL new tire(s).
TEST the system for
normal operation.
No
GO to
J4 .
J4 TIRE ROTATION
z
Spin the tires slowly and watch for signs of lateral runout.
z Spin the tires slowly and watch for signs of radial runout. Yes
GO to
J5 .
No
CHECK the wheel and
tire balance.
CORRECT as
necessary. TEST the
system for normal
operation. Klj . 56 ba
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4. While the noise is occurring, either place an EngineEAR probe near the IAC valve and the inlet
tube, or create a 6.35 mm (0.25 in)- 12.7 mm (0.50 in) air gap between the inlet tube and the
clean air tube. If the IAC valve is making the noise, install a new IAC valve.
5. Test the vehicle for normal operation.
Steering Gear Grunt/Shudder Test
1. Start and run the vehicle to operating temperature.
2. Set engine idle speed to 1200 rpm.
3. CAUTION: Do not hold the steering wheel against the stops for more than three to
five seconds at a time. Damage to the power steering pump will occur.
Rotate the steering wheel to the RH stop, then turn the steering wheel 90° back from that
position. Turn the steering wheel slowly in a 15° to 30° arc.
4. Turn the steering wheel another 90°. Turn the steering wheel slowly in a 15° to 30° arc.
5. Repeat the test with power steering fluid at different temperatures.
6. If a light grunt is heard or a low (50- 200 Hz) shudder is present, this is a normal steering system
condition.
7. If a loud grunt is heard, or a strong shudder is felt, fill and purge the power steering system.
Checking Tooth Contact Pattern and Condition of the Ring and Pinion
There are two basic types of conditions that will produce ring and pinion noise. The first type is a howl
or chuckle produced by broken, cracked, chipped, scored or forcibly damaged gear teeth and is
usually quite audible over the entire speed range. The second type of ring and pinion noise pertains to
the mesh pattern of the gear pattern. This gear noise can be recognized as it produces a cycling pitch
or whine. Ring and pinion noise tends to peak in a narrow speed range or ranges, and will tend to
remain constant in pitch.
1. Raise and support the vehicle. For additional information, refer to Section 100 - 02 .
2. Drain the axle lubricant. Refer to Section 205 - 02A for Ford 7.5 rear axles or
Section 205 - 02B for
Ford 8.8 integral axles.
3. Remove the carrier assembly or the axle housing cover depending on the axle type. Refer to Section 205 - 02A for Ford 7.5 rear axles or
Section 205 - 02B for Ford 8.8 integral axles.
4. Inspect the gear set for scoring or damage. Klj . 64 ba
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Wheel and tire NVH concerns are directly related to vehicle speed and are not generally affected by
acceleration, coasting or decelerating. Also, out-of-
balance wheel and tires can vibrate at more than
one speed. A vibration that is affected by the engine rpm, or is eliminated by placing the transmission
in NEUTRAL is not related to the tire and wheel. As a general rule, tire and wheel vibrations felt in the
steering wheel are related to the front tire and wheel assemblies. Vibrations felt in the seat or floor are
related to the rear tire and wheel assemblies. This can initially isolate a concern to the front or rear.
Careful attention must be paid to the tire and wheels. There are several symptoms that can be caused
by damaged or worn tire and wheels. Carry out a careful visual inspection of the tires and wheel
assemblies. Spin the tires slowly and watch for signs of lateral or radial runout. Refer to the tire wear
chart to determine the tire wear conditions and actions. Klj . 68 ba
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DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION
Wheel Alignment Angles
Camber and toe are adjustable on the front suspension systems. Front camber is adjusted by moving
the top of the strut and spring assembly. Rear camber is adjusted by means of eccentric cams on the
rear upper arms. Caster is preset at the factory and should only be adjusted after all other possible
sources have been inspected and corrected as necessary. Front toe is adjusted by the use of the front
wheel spindle tie rod (3280).
Camber
Negative and Positive Camber
Camber is the vertical tilt of the wheel (1007) when viewed from the front. Camber can be positive or
negative and has a direct effect on tire wear.
Caster
Caster is the deviation from vertical of an imaginary line drawn through the ball joints when viewed
from the side. Caster specifications in this section will give the vehicle the best directional stability
characteristics when loaded and driven. Caster setting is not related to tire wear.
SECTION 204-
00: Suspension System — General Information 2003 Mustang Workshop Manual Item Part Number Description
1 — Positive caster
2 — True vertical
3 — Steering axis Klj . 1 ba
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Wheel Track
Dogtracking
Dogtracking or thrust angle is the condition in which the rear axle is not square to the chassis. Heavily
crowned roads can give the illusion of dogtracking.
Wander
Wander is the tendency of the vehicle to require frequent, random left and right steering wheel (3600)
corrections to maintain a straight path down a level road. Item Description
1 Body reinforcement
2 Ride height (shortest distance)
3 Rear axle
Item Part Number Description
1 — Front track
2 — Rear track
Item Part Number Description
1 — Vehicle centerline
2 — Axle centerline
3 — Thrust angle Klj . 4 ba
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Shimmy
Shimmy, as observed by the driver, is large, consistent, rotational oscillations of the steering wheel
resulting from large, side-
to-side (lateral) tire/wheel movements.
Shimmy is usually experienced near 64 km/h (40 mph), and can begin or be amplified when the tire
contacts pot holes or irregularities in the road surface.
Nibble
Sometimes confused with shimmy, nibble is a condition resulting from tire interaction with various road
surfaces and observed by the driver as small rotational oscillations of the steering wheel.
Poor Returnability/Sticky Steering
Poor returnability and sticky steering is used to describe the poor return of the steering wheel to center
after a turn or steering correction is completed.
Drift/Pull
Pull is a tugging sensation, felt in the steering wheel, that must be overcome to keep the vehicle going
straight.
Drift describes what a vehicle with this condition does with hands off the steering wheel.
zDrift/pull may be induced by conditions external to the vehicle (i.e., wind, road camber).
Poor Groove Feel
Poor groove feel is characterized by little or no buildup of turning effort felt in the steering wheel as the
wheel is rocked slowly left and right within very small turns around center or straight- ahead (under 20
degrees of steering wheel turn). Efforts may be said to be "flat on center."
zUnder 20 degrees of turn, most of the turning effort that builds up comes from the mesh of gear
teeth in the steering gear (3504). In this range, the steering wheel is not yet turned enough to
feel the effort from the self- aligning forces at the road wheel or tire patch.
z In the diagnosis of a handling problem, it is important to understand the difference between
wander and poor groove feel. Klj . 5 ba
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DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING
Suspension System
Inspection and Verification
1. Road test. zVerify the customer's concern by performing a road test on a smooth road.
2. Inspect tires. zCheck the tire pressure with all normal loads in the vehicle and the tires cold. For
additional information, refer to the vehicle certification (VC) label.
z Verify that all tires are sized to specification.
z Inspect the tires for incorrect wear and damage.
3. Inspect chassis and underbody. zRemove any excessive accumulation of mud, dirt or road deposits from the chassis and
underbody.
4. Inspect for aftermarket equipment. zCheck for aftermarket changes to the steering, suspension, wheel and tire components
(such as competition, heavy duty, etc.) The specifications shown in this manual do not
apply to vehicles equipped with aftermarket equipment.
5. Inspect shock absorbers. All vehicles are equipped with gas- pressurized hydraulic shock absorbers. These shock
absorbers are not adjustable or refillable and cannot be repaired.
zOil Leak: A light film of oil (weepage) on the upper portion of the shock absorber is
permissible and is a result or correct shock lubrication. Weepage is a condition in which a
film of oil accumulates on the thin tube (body) and is normally noticed due to the
collection of dust in this area. If shock absorbers exhibit this weepage condition, they are
functional units and new shock absorbers should not be installed. Leakage is a condition
in which the entire shock absorber body is covered with oil and the oil will drip from the
shock absorber onto the pavement. If condition exists:
„Make sure fluid observed is not from sources other than the shock absorber.
„ Install a new shock absorber, if necessary.
z Vehicle Sag: Many times new shock absorbers are installed in an effort to solve a vehicle
sag concern. Shock absorbers by design are hydraulic damping units only and, unlike
suspension springs, do not support any suspension loads. Therefore, installing a new
shock absorber will not correct a vehicle sag concern.
z Installment in Pairs: In the past it was recommended that new shock absorbers be
installed in pairs if one unit became unrepairable. New shock absorbers no longer need
to be installed in pairs when only one unit is not repairable.
SECTION 204-
00: Suspension System — General Information 2003 Mustang Workshop Manual Visual Inspection Chart
Mechanical Klj . 1 ba
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6. If an obvious cause for an observed or reported condition is found, correct the cause (if
possible) before proceeding to the next step.
7. If the fault is not visually evident, determine the symptom and GO to Symptom Chart .
Symptom Chart z
Front wheel bearing(s)
z Loose or damaged front or rear suspension components
z Loose, damaged or missing suspension fastener(s)
z Damaged spring(s)
z Damaged or leaking strut and spring assemblies
z Damaged or leaking shock absorber(s)
z Worn or damaged suspension bushing(s)
z Loose, worn or damaged steering system components
z Damaged axle components
Symptom Chart Condition
Possible Sources Action
z Dogtracking zExcessive rear
thrust angle. z
CHECK the wheel alignment.
ADJUST as necessary.
z Front or rear
suspension
components. z
INSPECT the front and rear
suspension system. REPAIR
or INSTALL new suspension
components as necessary.
REFER to Section 204 - 01 or
Section 204 - 02 .
z Drive axle
damaged. z
REPAIR as necessary. Refer
to the appropriate section in
Group 205 for the procedure..
z Drift/pull zUnequal tire
pressure. z
ADJUST tire pressure.
z Excessive side-to-
side difference in
caster or camber. z
CHECK the wheel alignment.
ADJUST as necessary.
z Tire forces. zROTATE tires front to rear.
z Unevenly loaded or
overloaded vehicle. z
NOTIFY the customer of
incorrect vehicle loading.
z Steering
components. z
REFER to Section 211 - 00 .
z Brake drag. zREFER to Section 206 - 00 .
z Front bottoming
or riding low z
Strut(s). zINSTALL new strut(s) as
necessary. REFER to Section 204 - 01 .
z Front coil springs
(5310). z
CHECK ride height. INSTALL
new springs as necessary.
REFER to Section 204 - 01 .
z Incorrect tire
wear z
Incorrect tire
pressure (rapid
center rib or inner
and outer edge
wear). z
ADJUST tire pressure. Klj . 2 ba
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z
Excessive front or
rear toe (rapid inner
or outer edge
wear). z
CHECK the wheel alignment.
ADJUST as necessary.
z Excessive negative
or positive camber
(rapid inner or outer
edge wear). z
CHECK the wheel alignment.
ADJUST as necessary.
z Tires out of balance
(tires cupped or
dished). z
BALANCE tires.
z Rough ride zStrut(s). zINSTALL new strut(s) as
necessary. REFER to Section 204 - 01 .
z Shock absorber(s). zINSTALL new shock absorber
(s) as necessary.
z Front coil springs or
rear springs (5560). z
INSTALL new front coil
springs or rear springs as
necessary. REFER to Section 204 - 01 or
Section 204 - 02 .
z Shimmy or
wheel tramp z
Loose wheel nut(s). zTIGHTEN to specification.
REFER to Section 204 - 04 .
z Loose front
suspension
fasteners. z
TIGHTEN to specification.
REFER to Section 204 - 01 .
z Front wheel bearing
(s). z
REFER to Wheel Bearing Inspection in this section.
z Wheel or tire
runout. z
REFER to Section 204 - 04 .
z Tire flatspotting. zREFER to Section 204 - 04 .
z Shock absorber(s). zINSTALL new shock absorber
(s) as necessary.
z Loose, worn or
damaged ball joint
(s). z
GO to the Ball Joint Inspection
component test in this section.
z Loose, worn or
damaged steering
components. z
REFER to Section 211 - 00 .
z Front wheel
alignment. z
CHECK the wheel alignment.
ADJUST as necessary.
z Sticky steering,
poor returnability z
Ball joints. zGO to the Ball Joint Inspection
component test in this section.
z Steering
components. z
REFER to Section 211 - 00 .
z Steering wheel
off- center z
Unequal front or
rear toe settings
(side-to- side). z
CHECK the wheel alignment.
ADJUST as necessary.
z Steering
components. z
REFER to Section 211 - 00 .
z Sway or roll zOverloaded,
unevenly or
incorrectly loaded
vehicle. z
NOTIFY the customer of
incorrect vehicle loading.
z Loose wheel nut(s). zTIGHTEN to specification. Klj . 3 ba
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