suspension ASTON MARTIN V8 VANTAGE 2010 User Guide

Road Wheel Alignment (04.00)
Suspension (04.00)1-1-2 Workshop Manual Issue 6, May 2010
Suspension (04.00)
Road Wheel Alignment (04.00)
Specifications
V8 Models up to 09MY (not SportsPack)
V8 SportsPack Models from 8.5MY
All V8 Models from 09MY (4.7 Litre)
Maintenance
All Wheel Alignment
Refer to the geometry setup tool manufacture operating
instructions.
Check vehicle geometry in the following order:
1 Caster Angle
2 Camber Angle
3Toe
Adjustments to caster, camber and toe settings may impact
each other. After checking / adjusting each setting, minor
adjustments to caster, camber and toe may have to be made
to reach the correct set up for the vehicle.
Both LH and RH Toe need to be adjusted when adjusting
caster and camber.
Front Rear
Toe
(individual) 3’ (±2’) 10’ (+5’/-0’)
Total Toe 6’ (±4’) 20’ (+10’/-0’)
Camber -30’ (±5’) -105’ (-1° 45’) (±5’)
Cross Camber 0’ (±10’) 0’ (±10’)
Castor 5° (+0.5°/-0.25°) N/A
Cross Castor 0° (±0.25°) N/A
Normal Ride
Height 37.5kg in each front seat, and a full fuel
tank.
Front Rear
Toe (in) -4

Front Suspension (04.01)
Suspension (04.00)
November 2008 Workshop Manual 4-1-1
Suspension (04.00)
Front Suspension (04.01)
Description
Suspension Arms
The upper suspension arm is attached to the body structure.
The lower suspension arm is attached to the front subframe.
Each upper suspension arm has a press-fit ball-joint, and two
interleaved rubber bushes. Two bolts attach the upper
suspension arm to the body structure.
Each lower suspension arm has a press fit ball-joint and
metal-to-rubber bonded bushes which are attached to the
front subframe by two eccentric cam bolts (Camber and
castor settings).
Anti-roll Bar
The anti-roll bar, is attached to the subframe in two positions
by rubber bushes and clamps. The outer ends of the anti-roll
bar are attached to the lower suspension arms by drop links.
The anti-roll bar provides the required stiffness to control
body roll.
Vertical link
The Vertical link (Knuckle Joint) swivels on the upper and
lower suspension arms via ball-joints, and carries the hub, a
unit 3 wheel bearing (including the ABS encoder ring), the
wheel speed sensor, the brake caliper, and the brake disc
and shield. The position of the Vertical link is determined by
the movement of the steering rack, which is connected to
the Vertical link by the steering track rod.
Specifications
Upper Arm Ball Joint
and Bushes
Ball Joint
and Bushes Verticle
Link
Bolts to Body
Lower Arm
Anti-roll Bar Drop Links
Eccentric
Cam Bolts
04-01-003
Torque Figures
DescriptionNmlb. / ft.
Brake dust shield. 9 7
Bearing Assembly to the Vertical
link. 55 41
Vertical Link to the Lower
Suspension Arm. 90 66.5
Vertical Link to the Upper
Suspension Arm. 90 66.5
Track-rod End Lock Nut. 70 52
Vehicle Ride Height Sensor. M8 M522.5
9 17
7
Anti-roll Bar Link Nuts 110 81.5
Anti-roll Bar Mounting Bolts
Torque bolt 1, then bolt 2, then
bolt 1 again (to allow for rubber
compression) 22.5 17
Torque the following suspensi on fixings with the vehicle
at normal ride height
Lower Suspension Arm front
bush to the Subframe M14 185 137
Lower Suspension Arm rear
bush to the Subframe. M12 115 85
Upper Suspension Arm to the
Front Structure 115 85
Spring and Damper Bolts Top Lower22.5
175 17
129.5
Normal ride height 2 x 37.5kg in front seats (37.5kg in
each seat) plus a full fuel tank.

Front Suspension (04.01)
Suspension (04.00)4-1-2 Workshop Manual November 2008
Symptoms
SymptomPossible CauseAction
Crabbing Front or rear suspension components/road
wheel alignment Inspect front and rear suspension systems.
Check / adjust road wheel alignment
Drive axle damaged New drive axle.
Front ‘Bottoming’
or Riding Low Spring(s)
Dampers Check ride height.
Check dampers.
Drift/Pull Unequal tyre pressure Check / adjust tyre pressures.
Inspect tyre for excessive wear.
Incorrect road wheel alignment Check / adjust road wheel alignment.
Tyres Check / adjust tyre pressu res. Inspect tyre for excessive
wear.
Unevenly loaded or overloaded vehicle Not ify customer of incorrect vehicle loading .
Damaged steering components Check steering sy stem for mechanical or hydraulic bias.
Brake drag Check brakes.
Check steering system for mechanical or hydraulic bias.
Rough Ride Spring(s) Check springs.
Shock absorber(s) Check shock absorbers.
Incorrect Tyre
Wear Incorrect tyre pressure Check and adju
st tyre pressure. Inspect tyre for
excessive wear.
Excessive front or rear Toe (rapid inner or
outer edge wear) Check and adjust road wheel alignment (Refer to ’Road
Wheel Alignment (04.00)’, page 4-0-2).
Excessive negative or positive camber
(rapid or outer edge wear) Check and adjust road wheel alignment (Refer to ’Road
Wheel Alignment (04.00)’, page 4-0-2).
Tyres out of balance (tyres cupped or
dished) Balance tyres.
‘Shimmy’ or ‘Road
Wheel Tramp’ Loose road wheel nut(s) Check and tighten road wheel nuts to specification.
Loose front suspension Check and tighten
suspension fixings to specification.
Front road wheel bearing(s) Check road wheel bearings.
Road wheel / tyres Check road wheels / tyres.
Shock absorber(s) Check shock absorbers.
Spring(s) Check springs.
Loose, worn or damaged ball -joint(s) Check ball-joint(s).
Loose, worn or damaged steering
components Check components.
Front road wheel alignment Check and adjust road wheel alignment (Refer to ’Road Wheel Alignment (04.00)’, page 4-0-2).
Worn or damaged suspension bushes Check suspension bushes
Poor ‘Return
ability’ of Steering ball-joints Check ball-joint(s).
Steering components Check for excessive friction in steering system.
Check tyre pressures
Steering Wheel
Off-Centre Unequal front or rear Toe settings Check and adjust road wheel alignment.
Steering components Check and install new components as required.
Sway or Roll Overloaded, unevenly or incorrectly
loaded vehicle Notify customer of incorrect vehicle loading
Loose road wheel nut(s) Check. Tighten road wheel nut(s) to specification
Spring(s) Check. Install new springs as required.
Shock absorber(s) Check. Install new shock absorbers as required.
Loose front stabilizer bar or rear stabilizer
bar Check. Tighten anti-roll bar to specification.

Front Suspension (04.01)
Suspension (04.00)
November 2008 Workshop Manual 4-1-3
Maintenance
RH/LH Front Hub and Bearing Assembly
- Renew
Removal
1. Raise vehicle on ramp.
2. Remove road wheel(s).
3. Release pad wear sensor harness clips (x2) from upper suspension arm.
4. Disconnect multiplug from wheel speed sensor.
5. Ease caliper pistons to release pads.
6. Remove caliper Allen bolts (x2), release caliper and tie
aside.
7. Remove retaining screws (x2) and disc.
8. Remove Torx securing wheel speed sensor to vertical link, remove sensor.
9. Remove Allen bolts (x4) securing hub bearing assembly to vertical link. 10. Release/remove hub bearing assembly from vertical link.
Installation
1. Clean hub bearing carrier and mating face on vertical
link.
2. Install hub bearing assembly, install and torque tighten Allen bolts (x4).
3. Clean wheel speed sensor.
4. Install wheel speed sensor, install and torque tighten Torx screw.
5. Clean disc.
6. Install disc, install and torque tighten retaining screws (x2).
7. Connect multiplug to wheel speed sensor.
8. Install caliper, install and to rque tighten Allen bolts (x2).
9. Install pad wear sensor harness clips (x2) in upper suspension arm.
10. Pump brake pedal.
11. Install road wheel(s).
12. Lower vehicle on ramp.
Vibration/Noise
Tyres/road wheel
Road wheel bearing assemblies
Brake components
Suspension components
Spring and damper units
Steering components Check. Install new components as required.
Vehicle Leans to
One Side Unevenly loaded or overloaded vehicle Notif
y customer of incorrect vehicle loading .
Front or rear suspension components Inspect front and rear suspension systems.
Spring and damper assemblies Check spring and damper assemblies.
Incorrect ride height. Lateral tilt out of
specification
Suspension bushes not torqued at ride
height Check ride height.
Check / adjust suspension bushes torque.
Wander Unevenly loaded or overloaded vehicle Notif y customer of incorrect vehicle loading .
ball-joint(s) Check ball-joint(s).
Front road wheel bearing(s) Check road wheel bearings.
Loose, worn or damaged suspension
components Check suspension components.
Loose suspension fasteners Check and tighten suspension fasteners to specification.
Steering components Check steering components for wear and / or free play.
Road wheel alignment (excessive total
front Toe-out) Check / adjust road wheel alignment

(Refer to ’Road Wheel Alignment (04.00)’, page 4-0-2).
SymptomPossible CauseAction
Caution
Be careful with the suspension components. The
suspension components can be damaged if hit, for example, with a metal faced hammer.
Repair Operation Time (ROT)

Front Suspension (04.01)
Suspension (04.00)4-1-4 Workshop Manual November 2008
RH/LH Lower Front Suspension Arm
Assembly - Renew
Removal
1. Raise vehicle on ramp.
2. Remove road wheel(s).
3. Remove nut/washer securing anti-roll bar link to lower suspension, release link from arm.
4. Remove nut/bolt securing damper to lower suspension arm, release damper from mounting.
5. Remove nut securing lower suspension arm ball-joint to vertical link.
6. Install tool (204 - 523) ba ll-joint remover and release
lower suspension ball-joi nt from vertical link.
7. Mark fitted positions of cam washers on lower suspension arm inner fixings to aid assembly purpose.
8. Remove nuts/bolts, cam washers (x2), securing lower suspension arm to subframe.
9. Release/remove lower suspension arm from subframe and vertical link.
Installation
1. Clean lower suspension arm and mating faces on vertical link and subframe
2. Install lower suspension arm in subframe.
3. Install cam washers, bolts/nuts (x2). Align cam washers to marks. Do not torque tighten at this stage.
4. Install lower suspension arm ball-joint in vertical link. Install and torque tighten nut.
5. Align damper to mounting, install bolt/nut. Do not torque tighten at this stage.
6. Install anti-roll bar link, install washer/nut. Do not torque tighten at this stage.
7. Final tightening of suspen sion components must be
carried out with the suspensi on arms at normal ride
height.
8. Install road wheel(s).
9. Lower vehicle on ramp.
10. Torque tighten suspension nuts/bolts.
11. 4 wheel alignment - check/adjust (see Workshop Manual procedure 04.00.AD 4 Wheel Alignment -
Check and Adjust).
RH/LH Upper Front Suspension Arm
Assembly - Renew
Removal
1. Raise the vehicle and make it safe.
2. Remove the road wheel for the applicable suspension arm.
3. Disconnect the electrical connector from the ABS sensor.
4. Release the three sensor harness clips from the upper suspension arm and the vertical link.
5. Remove the two Torx screws that attach the engine cross brace to the mounting.
6. Remove the two nuts and two bolts that attach the upper suspension arm to the body.
7. Release the suspension arm from the body.
8. Remove the three nuts that attach the damper top mounting.
9. Remove the mounting for the engine cross brace.
10. Remove the nut and bolt that attaches the damper to its lower mounting.
11. Remove spring/damper assembly.
12. Remove the nut that attaches the ball-joint for the upper suspension arm to the vertical link.
13. Install tool (204 - 523 - ball-joint remover) and release the ball-joint from vertical link.
14. Remove the upper suspension arm assembly.
Installation
1. Clean the upper suspension arm and the mating faces on the body and the vertical link.
2. Install the upper suspension arm to vertical link. Install the nut but do not torque tighten at this step.
3. Install spring/damper assembly.
4. Install the cross-brace support.
5. Install the three nuts but do not torque tighten at this step.
6. Align the damper to the lower mounting, install bolt/nut. Do not torque tighten at this step.
7. Put the upper suspension arm in positionon the body.
8. Install bolts and nuts but do not torque tighten at this step.
9. Connect the electrical connector to the ABS sensor.
Repair Operation Time (ROT)Repair Operation Time (ROT)
ItemCode
Upper Front Suspension Arm
Assembly-Renew RH
04.01.AE
Upper Front Suspension Arm
Assembly-Renew LH
04.01.AF
Caution
Be carefulthat you do not damage the ball-joint rubber
boot when you use the special tool.

Front Suspension (04.01)
Suspension (04.00)
November 2008 Workshop Manual 4-1-5
10. Install the three sensor harness clips in the upper suspension and the vertical link.
11. Install the road wheel.
12. Lower the vehicle on ramp.
13. Do an all-wheel alignment procedure (Refer to ’All
Wheel Alignment’, page 4-0-2).
14. Torque tighten suspension nuts and bolts.
15. Align engine cross brace to support, install and torque tighten Torx bolts (x2).
Front Anti-Roll Bar - Renew
Removal
1. Raise vehicle on ramp.
2. Remove road wheel(s).
3. Remove front undertray (see Workshop Manual procedure 01.02.NB Undertray - Front - Renew).
4. Remove nuts and washers (x2), anti-roll bar to drop links.
5. Remove bolts (x4), straps (x2).
6. Remove anti-roll bar.
7. Remove bushes (x2) from anti-roll bar.
Installation
1. Clean anti-roll bar, bushes and straps.
2. Install bushes (x2) on anti-roll bar.
3. Position anti-roll bar, align bushes (x2), install straps (x2), install bolts (x4). Do not torque tighten.
4. Install drop links to anti-roll bar, install nuts/washers (x2).
Do not torque tighten.
5. Install front undertray (see Workshop Manual procedure 01.02.NB Undertray - Front - Renew).
6. Lower vehicle in ramp.
7. Torque tighten link nuts (x4).
8. Torque tighten bush strap bolts (x4).
Front Pair Anti-Roll Bar Bushing - Renew
Removal
1. Raise vehicle on ramp.
2. Remove front undertray (see Workshop Manual procedure 01.02.NB Undertray - Front - Renew).
3. Remove bolts (x4) securing anti-roll bar bush straps to subframe.
4. Release/remove bush straps.
5. Remove bushes (x2) from anti-roll bar.
Installation
1. Clean anti-roll bar and bush straps.
2. Install bushes on to anti-roll bar.
3. Install bush straps (x2), install bolts (x4). Do not torque tighten at this stage.
4. Install front undertray (see Workshop Manual procedure 01.02.NB Undertray - Front - Renew).
5. Lower vehicle on ramp.
6. Torque tighten all suspension nuts/bolts.
RH/LH Front Anti-Roll Bar Link - Renew
Removal
1. Raise vehicle on ramp.
2. Remove road wheel(s).
3. Remove nut/bolt securing damper to lower suspension
arm.
4. Release damper from mounting sufficient to remove top anti-roll bar link.
5. Remove nuts and washers (x2) , link to lower suspension
arm and anti-roll bar.
6. Release and remove anti-roll bar link.
Installation
1. Clean anti-roll bar link and mating faces on lower suspension arm and anti-roll bar.
2. Install link to anti-roll bar and lower suspension arm.
3. Install washers (x2) and nuts (x2). Do not torque tighten.
Caution
Do not fully tighten the nuts and bolts on the suspension
components. Only tighten the nuts and bolts of the
suspension components when the suspension arms are
at their usual ride-height and you have adjusted the
geometry. If you do not do this, the suspension bushes
will have too much stress when the suspension is moved
to its maximum upward travel.
Repair Operation Time (ROT)
Repair Operation Time (ROT)
Repair Operation Time (ROT)

Front Suspension (04.01)
Suspension (04.00)4-1-6 Workshop Manual November 2008
4. Align damper to lower mounting, install bolt/nut. Do not torque tighten at this stage.
5. Install road wheel(s).
6. Lower vehicle in ramp.
7. Torque tighten link nuts (x2).
8. Torque tighten lower damper bolt.RH/LH Front Hub Vertical Link - Renew
Removal
1. Raise vehicle on ramp.
2. Remove road wheel(s).
3. Install tool (204 - 524) on front hub, install and tighten wheel nuts.
4. Lower vehicle to raise suspension sufficient to install ball-joint removing tool (204 - 523).
5. Remove track rod end from vertical link (using tool 204- 523).
6. Remove pad wear sensors.
7. Remove ABS sensor multiplug.
8. Remove Torx screw securing ABS sensor, remove sensor.
9. Ease caliper pistons to release pads.
10. Remove caliper Allen bolts (x2), release caliper and tie caliper aside.
11. Remove brake disc Torx screws (x2), remove disc.
12. Release lower suspension arm from vertical link (using tool 204-523).
13. Release vertical link from upper suspension arm (using tool 204-523). Remove vertical link assembly.
14. Remove Allen bolts (x4) se curing hub bearing assembly
to vertical link.
15. Release/remove hub bearing a ssembly from vertical link.
16. Remove Torx screws (x4), di sc shield to vertical link.
Remove shield.
Installation
1. Clean vertical link, hub bearing carrier and disc shield.
2. Position disc shield to vertical link, install and torque tighten Torx screws (x4).
3. Install hub bearing assembly in vertical link, install Allen
bolts (x4) and tighten.
4. Install vertical link assembly to upper suspension arm. Install and torque tighten nut.
5. Install vertical link in lowe r suspension arm. Install and
torque tighten nut.
6. Clean brake disc.
7. Install brake disc. Install an d torque tighten Torx screws
(x2).
Caution
Do not fully tighten the nuts and bolts on the suspension
components. Only tighten th e nuts and bolts of the
suspension components when the suspension arms are
at their usual ride-height and you have adjusted the
geometry. If you do not do this, the suspension bushes
will have too much stress when the suspension is moved
to its maximum upward travel.
Repair Operation Time (ROT)
ItemCode
Front Hub Vertical Link-Renew RH04.01.CB
Front Hub Vertical Link-Renew LH04.01.DB
Caution
Do not fully tighten the nuts and bolts on the suspension
components. Only tighten the nuts and bolts of the
suspension components when the suspension arms are
at their usual ride-height and you have adjusted the
geometry. If you do not do this, the suspension bushes
will have too much stress when the suspension is moved
to its maximum upward travel.

Front Suspension (04.01)
Suspension (04.00)
November 2008 Workshop Manual 4-1-7
8. Install caliper and Allen bolts (x2) and tighten.
9. Install ABS speed sensor, install and torque tighten.
10. Install sensor multiplug.
11. Install pad wear sensors.
12. Install track rod end to vertical link, install and torque tighten nut.
13. Install road wheel(s).
14. Pump brake pedal.
15. Lower vehicle on ramp.
16. 4 wheel alignment - check/adjust (see Workshop Manual procedure 04.00.AD 4 Wheel Alignment -
Check & Adjust).
Front Suspension Sensor Assembly-
Renew
Removal
1. Raise vehicle on ramp
2. Remove nut/bolt securing ride height sensor link to
lower suspension arm (see Figure 1).
3. Remove nut/Torx bolt, ride height sensor to subframe.
4. Disconnect ride heig ht sensor multiplug.
5. Remove bolts (x2) securing sensor to sensor bracket.
Installation
1. Align sensor to bracket and install bolts (x2).
2. Connect ride height sensor multiplug.
3. Position sensor to subframe, install and torque tighten nut/Torx bolt.
4. Align sensor link to lower suspension arm, install and torque tighten nut/bolt.
5. Lower vehicle on ramp.
Repair Operation Time (ROT)

Front Suspension (04.01)
Suspension (04.00)4-1-8 Workshop Manual November 2008

Rear Suspension (04.02)
Suspension (04.00)
May 2007 Workshop Manual 4-2-1
Suspension (04.00)
Rear Suspension (04.02)
Description
Anti-roll Bar
An anti-roll bar, mounted on the rear subframe connects to
the LH and RH lower suspension arms via drop links. The
drop links, with a ball joint at either end, transmit vertical
movement of the rear suspension to the anti-roll bar,
minimising body roll.
Vertical Link
The vertical link carries the hub, the cartridge wheel bearing,
the ABS rotor, the wheel speed sensor, the brake caliper, the
hand brake caliper and the brake disc and shield.
A toe control (track-rod) arm secures the rear of the vertical
link to the subframe. The toe control arm is adjustable, on
an eccentric cam, to alter the rear road wheel toe alignment.
04-02-001
Upper Wishbone
Rear Hub Assy
Rear Subframe Lower WishboneAnti Roll Bar LinkAnti Roll Bar
Track Control Arm
Track Control Arm