DPE 4020 - Suspension and Steering

Students will:

• Identify and practice general shop safety rules and procedures.
• Utilizing safe procedures for handling of tools and equipment.
• Identifying and using proper placement of floor jacks and jack stands.
• Identifying and using proper procedures for safe lift operation.
• Utilizing proper ventilation procedures for working within the lab/shop area.
• Identifying marked safety areas.
• Identifying the location and the types of fire extinguishers and other fire safety equipment.
• Demonstrating knowledge of the procedures for using fire extinguishers and other fire safety equipment.
• Identifying the location and use of eye wash stations.
• Identifying the location of the posted evacuation routes.
• Complying with the required use of safety glasses, ear protection, gloves, and shoes during lab/shop activities.
• Identifying and wearing appropriate clothing for lab/shop activities.
• Securing hair and removing jewelry for lab/shop activities.
• Demonstrating awareness of the safety aspects of supplemental restraint systems (SRS), electronic brake control systems, and hybrid vehicle high voltage circuits.
• Demonstrating awareness of the safety aspects of high voltage circuits (such as high intensity discharge (HID) lamps, ignition systems, injection systems, etc.).
• Locating and demonstrating knowledge of material safety data sheets (MSDS).

Tools and Equipment

• Identify tools and their usage in automotive applications.
• Identifying standard and metric designation.
• Demonstrating safe handling and use of appropriate tools.
• Demonstrating proper cleaning, storage, and maintenance of tools and equipment.
• Demonstrating proper use of precision measuring tools Examples: micrometer, dial-indicator, dial-caliper

Steering Column

• Identify causes of fixed and driver adjustable steering column and shaft noise, looseness, and binding problems; determine needed action.
• Inspect and service steering shaft U-joint(s), slip joints, bearings, bushings, and seals; phase shaft.
• Check cab mounting and adjust ride height.
• Remove the steering wheel (includes steering wheels equipped with electrical/electronic controls and components); install and center the steering wheel. Inspect, test, replace and calibrate steering angle sensor.
• Disable and enable supplemental restraint system (SRS) in accordance with manufacturers’ procedures.

Steering Units

• Identify causes of power steering system noise, steering binding, darting/oversteer, reduced wheel cut, steering wheel kick, pulling, non-recovery, turning effort, looseness, hard steering, overheating, fluid leakage, and fluid aeration problems; determine needed action.
• Determine recommended type of power steering fluid; check level and condition; determine needed action.
• Flush and refill power steering system; purge air from system.
• Perform power steering system pressure, temperature, and flow tests; determine needed action.
• Inspect, service, or replace power steering reservoir including filter, seals, and gaskets.
• Inspect power steering pump drive gear and coupling; replace as needed.
• Inspect, adjust, or replace power steering pump, mountings, and brackets.
• Inspect and replace power steering system cooler, lines, hoses, clamps/mountings, hose routings, and fittings.
• Inspect, adjust, repair, or replace integral type power steering gear(s) (single and/or dual) and mountings.

Steering Linkage

• Inspect and align pitman arm; replace as needed.
• Check and adjust steering (wheel) stops; verify relief pressures.
• Inspect and lubricate steering components.

Suspension Systems

• Inspect front axles and attaching hardware; determine needed action.
• Inspect and service kingpins, steering knuckle bushings, locks, bearings, seals, and covers; determine needed action.
• Inspect shock absorbers, bushings, brackets, and mounts; replace as needed.
• Inspect leaf springs, center bolts, clips, pins and bushings, shackles, U-bolts, insulators, brackets, and mounts; determine needed action.
• Inspect axle aligning devices such as radius rods, track bars, stabilizer bars, torque arms, related bushings, mounts, shims, and cams; determine needed action.
• Inspect tandem suspension equalizer components; determine needed action.
• Inspect and test air suspension pressure regulator and height control valves, lines, hoses, dump valves, and fittings; adjust, repair or replace as needed.
• Inspect air springs, mounting plates, springs, suspension arms, and bushings; replace as needed.
• Measure and adjust ride height; determine needed action.
• Identify rough ride problems; determine needed action.

Wheel Alignment Diagnosis, Adjustment and Repair

• Identify causes of vehicle wandering, pulling, shimmy, hard steering, and off-center steering wheel problems; adjust or repair as needed.
• Check camber; determine needed action.
• Check caster; adjust as needed.
• Check and adjust toe settings.
• Check rear axle(s) alignment (thrust line/centerline) and tracking; adjust or repair as needed.
• Identify turning/Ackerman angle (toe-out-on-turns) problems; determine needed action.
• Check front axle alignment (centerline); adjust or repair as needed.

Wheels and Tires

• Identify tire wear patterns; check tread depth and pressure determine needed action.
• Identify wheel/tire vibration, shimmy, pounding, hop (tramp) problems; determine needed action.
• Remove and install steering and drive axle wheel/tire assemblies; torque mounting hardware to specifications with torque wrench.
• Inspect tire for proper application, (size, load range, position, and tread design); determine needed action.
• Inspect wheel/rims for proper application, hand hold alignment, load range, size, and design; determine needed action.
• Check operation of tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS); determine needed action if applicable.

Frame and Coupling Devices

• Inspect, service, and/or adjust fifth wheel, pivot pins, bushings, locking mechanisms, and mounting hardware.
• Inspect and service sliding fifth wheel, tracks, stops, locking systems, air cylinders, springs, lines, hoses, and controls.
• Inspect frame and frame members for cracks, breaks, corrosion, distortion, elongated holes, looseness, and damage; determine needed repairs.
• Inspect, install, or repair frame hangers, brackets, and cross members in accordance with manufacturers’ recommended procedures.
• Inspect, repair, or replace pintle hooks and draw bars, if applicable.