10602187Technical Suspension & Alignment
Course Information
Description
Principles of suspension designs, wheel alignment angles, inspection procedures, parts replacement, steering systems, shock absorbers/struts, sway bars, and frame design. On-the-job experiences include inspecting and correcting suspension angles, parts replacement, adjusting steering gears. Covers four-wheel alignment.
Total Credits
3
Course Competencies
  1. Examine steering system design
    Assessment Strategies
    on quizzes
    by completing job sheets
    Criteria
    you demonstrate safety
    you protect self
    you protect tools
    you protect equipment
    you protect reference materials
    you protect school models
    you protect customers' property
    you maintain clean work areas
    you maintain organized work areas
    you demonstrate conservative use of shop supplies

  2. Repair suspension and steering systems
    Assessment Strategies
    in lab
    Criteria
    you inspect short- and long-arm suspension systems to determine necessary action
    you inspect strut suspension systems to determine necessary action
    you remove, inspect, and install upper and lower control arm bushings, shaft, strut rods and bushings
    you remove and install upper and lower ball joints
    you install steering knuckle
    you remove and install coil springs and spring insulators, long- and short-arm
    you remove and install torsion bars and mounts
    you remove and install stabilizer bar bushing, brackets, and links
    you remove and install strut cartridges or assemble strut coil springs, insulators and upper bearing plates
    you replace shock absorbers
    you remove leaf springs, spring silencers, shackles, brackets, bushing and mounts
    you test and diagnose components of electronically controlled suspension systems

  3. Repair steering systems
    Assessment Strategies
    on written test
    on lab projects
    on performance test
    Criteria
    you inspect pitman arm
    you inspect relay (centerlink/intermediate) rod
    you inspect idler arm and mountings
    you inspect steering damper
    you replace pitman arm
    you replace relay (centerlink/intermediate) rod
    you replace idler arm and mountings
    you replace steering damper
    you inspect power steering hoses
    you inspect power steering pumps and pulleys
    you replace power steering hoses
    you replace power steering pumps and pulleys
    you flush hydraulic system
    you diagnose power steering gear binding
    you diagnose power steering uneven turning effort
    you diagnose power steering loose steering concerns
    you diagnose power steering hard steering concerns
    you diagnose power steering fluid leakage concerns
    you determine necessary action for power steering problems
    you diagnose rack and pinion binding
    you diagnose rack and pinion uneven turning effort
    you diagnose rack and pinion looseness concerns
    you diagnose rack and pinion hard steering concerns
    you diagnose rack and pinion fluid leakage concerns
    you determine necessary action for rack and pinion problems
    you adjust manual or power non-rack and pinion worm bearing preload and sector lock
    you diagnose steering column noises
    you diagnose steering looseness concerns
    you diagnose steering binding concerns
    you determine necessary action for steering problems

  4. Wheel alignment diagnosis, adjustment and repair
    Assessment Strategies
    in lab
    Criteria
    you differentiate between steering and suspension concerns using principles of steering geometry (caster, camber, toe, etc)
    you perform prealignment inspection; perform necessary action
    you diagnose vehicle wander, drift, pull, hard steering, bump steer, memory steer, torque steer to determine necessary action
    you check and adjust front and rear wheel camber
    you check and adjust caster; perform necessary action
    you check and adjust rear and front toe
    you center steer wheel
    you check turning radius, steering axis inclination and included angle to determine necessary action
    you check thrust angle, wheel setback and cradle alignment to determine necessary action