Section 04-00: Suspension—Service
1994 Mustang Workshop Manual
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING

Symptom Chart — Suspension

ConditionPossible SourceAction
  • Wander/Pull/Drift
  • Excessive side-to-side difference in caster or camber.
  • Check the alignment and if incorrect, adjust the caster/camber if needed. Inspect the related components for wear or damage.
 
  • Vehicle attitude incorrect (front or rear, high or low).
  • Check for abnormal loading, spring sag, or non-standard springs.
 
  • Steering gear or linkage worn or damaged.
 
  • Tire conicity.
  • Inspect the tire for excessive wear.
 
  • Unequal toe setting wheel to wheel.
  • Check and adjust the tire air pressure.
  • Rotate the tires and check the caster angle.

    NOTE: Excessively worn or uneven tires can cause pull/drift.

  • Hard Steering
  • Excessive positive caster.
  • Check the caster and if incorrect, inspect the related components for wear or damage.
 
  • Vehicle attitude incorrect (front high or rear low).
  • Check for abnormal loading, rear spring sag, or non-standard springs.
 
  • Power steering gear or linkage worn, damaged, or improperly adjusted.
 
  • Wear of lower ball joint.
  • Replace the front suspension lower arm ball joint if necessary.
 
  • Improper wheel alignment.
  • Adjust the wheel alignment.
 
  • Damaged tires or unbalanced wheels.
  • Check the tires. Refer to Section 04-04. Replace the tires if necessary. Balance the wheels if necessary.
  • Brake Pull
  • Unequal tire pressure.
  • Inflate the tires to correct and uniform pressure. Refer to Section 04-04.
 
  • Brake drag or brake system.
 
  • Excessive negative caster.
  • Check the caster and if incorrect, inspect the related components for wear or damage. Adjust the caster/camber if needed.
  • Shimmy
  • Wheel/tire imbalance or runout.
 
  • Excessive positive caster or side-to-side caster difference.
  • Check the caster and if incorrect, inspect the related components for wear or damage.
 
  • Driveline vibration.
  • Check for worn steering gear bushings and brackets.
  • Check the driveline for imbalance or misalignment. Refer to Section 00-04.
 
  • Damaged tires, unbalanced or damaged wheels.
  • Check the tires. Refer to Section 04-04. Replace the tires if necessary. Balance or replace the wheels if necessary.
 
  • Improper wheel alignment.
  • Adjust the wheel alignment.
 
  • Steering system malfunction.
  • Check the steering system. If necessary, refer to Section 11-00.
 
  • Strut malfunction.
  • Replace the strut if necessary.
 
  • Loose strut mounting.
  • Tighten the strut mounting.
 
  • Damaged front suspension lower arm ball joint .
  • Replace the lower arm bushing.
 
  • Damaged or worn lower arm bushings.
  • Replace the lower suspension arm stabilizer bar insulator .
 
    • Replace the front suspension lower arm ball joint .
     
    • Damaged or worn lower suspension arm stabilizer bar insulators .
       
      • Damaged or worn stabilizer control link insulators.
      • Replace the stabilizer control link.
       
      • Damaged rear spring upper retaining seat .
      • Replace the rear spring upper retaining seat .
       
      • Damaged or worn front wheel bearing .
      • Replace the front wheel bearing .
      • Dog-tracking
      • Rear suspension damage.
      • If the caster is uniform, check and compare the wheelbase at the right and left sides. If different, inspect the suspension components for wear or damage.
      • Bump Steer
      • Worn steering gear mounting bushings.
      • Replace the steering gear mounting bushings.
       
      • Bent steering gear mounting brackets.
      • Replace the steering gear mounting brackets.
       
      • Steering gear not level.
      • Adjust the steering gear mounting.
      • Uneven Tire Wear: Outer or Inner Shoulder
      • Excessive toe on radial tires.
      • Check the toe and Adjust if needed.
       
      • Excessive positive or negative camber.
      • Check the camber and if incorrect, inspect the related components for wear or damage. Adjust the camber if needed.
       
      • Incorrect tire pressure.
      • Sawtooth Pattern or Excessive Tire Wear
      • Excessive toe-in (high edges inboard) or toe-out (high edges outboard).
      • Check and adjust the toe-in to specification as outlined.
      • Cupping, Dishing or Excessive Tire Wear
      • Lack of proper tire rotation.
      • Rotate the tires every 7500 miles (12,000 km). If necessary, refer to Section 04-04.
       
      • Wheel/tire imbalance or runout.
       
      • Strut.
      • Replace the strut if needed.
       
      • Improper tire pressure.
      • Front/Rear Suspension Noises
      • Loose/broken strut mount bolts.
       
      • Loose/missing strut mounting block.
      • Tighten/replace the strut mounting block. Refer to Section 04-01.
       
      • Loose/missing strut bolts to lower control arm.
       
      • Dry or rough brake cable holders.
       
      • Rear wheels .
      • Inspect the rear wheel hub bearings.
      • Body "Rolls"
      • Weak front stabilizer bar .
      • Replace the front stabilizer bar .
       
      • Damaged or worn stabilizer bushings.
      • Replace the stabilizer bushings.
       
      • Damaged or worn stabilizer bar link .
      • Replace the stabilizer bar link .
       
      • Damaged or worn lower suspension arm stabilizer bar insulator .
      • Replace the lower suspension arm stabilizer bar insulator .
       
      • Strut malfunction.
      • Replace the strut if necessary.
      • Body Leans
      • Damaged or worn stabilizer bushings.
      • Replace the stabilizer bushings.
       
      • Damaged or worn lower suspension arm stabilizer bar insulator .
      • Replace the lower suspension arm stabilizer bar insulator .
      • Poor Riding Comfort
      • Strut malfunction.
      • Replace the strut if necessary.
      • General Driving Instability
      • Damaged tires or unbalanced wheels.
      • Check the tires. Refer to Section 04-04. Replace the tires if necessary. Balance the wheels if necessary.
       
      • Improper wheel alignment.
      • Adjust the wheel alignment.
       
      • Steering system malfunction.
       
      • Damaged front suspension lower arm ball joint .
      • Replace the front suspension lower arm ball joint .
       
      • Strut malfunction.
      • Replace the strut if necessary.
       
      • Damaged or worn rear spring upper retaining seat .
      • Replace the rear spring upper retaining seat .
       
      • Damaged or worn stabilizer bar link .
      • Replace the stabilizer bar link .
       
      • Damaged or worn stabilizer bushings.
      • Replace the stabilizer bushings.
      • Steering Wheel Does Not Return Properly
      • Damaged tires or unbalanced wheels.
      • Check the tires. Refer to Section 04-04. Replace the tires if necessary. Balance the wheels if necessary.
       
      • Improper wheel alignment.
      • Adjust the wheel alignment.
       
      • Steering system malfunction.
      • Check the steering system. If necessary, refer to Section 11-00.
       
      • Damaged or stuck front suspension lower arm ball joint .
      • Replace the front suspension lower arm ball joint .
      • Steering Wheel Pulls to One Side
      • Damaged tires or unbalanced wheels.
      • Check the tires. Refer to Section 04-04. Replace the tires if necessary. Balance the wheels if necessary.
       
      • Braking system malfunction.
       
      • Steering system malfunction.
       
      • Improper wheel alignment.
      • Adjust the wheel alignment.
       
      • Damaged front suspension lower arm ball joint .
      • Replace the front suspension lower arm ball joint .
       
      • Damaged or worn rear spring upper retaining seat .
      • Replace the rear spring upper retaining seat .
       
      • Damaged or worn stabilizer bushings.
      • Replace the stabilizer bushings.
       
      • Damaged or worn stabilizer bar link .
      • Replace the stabilizer bar link .
      • Abnormal Noise From Suspension System
      • Poor lubrication/wear of thrust bearing.
      • Replace the thrust bearing.
       
      • Poor lubrication/wear of lower arm ball joint.
      • Replace the front suspension lower arm ball joint if necessary.
       
      • Damaged or worn stabilizer.
      • Replace the stabilizer.
       
      • Damaged or worn stabilizer control link.
      • Replace the stabilizer control link.
       
      • Damaged or worn stabilizer bracket.
      • Replace the stabilizer bracket.
       
      • Looseness of suspension connections.
      • Tighten the connection.
       
      • Damaged or worn lower arm bushings.
      • Replace the lower arm bushing.
       
      • Shock absorber malfunction.
      • Replace the strut if necessary.