Steering
- Ask your assistant to turn the steering wheel all the way, first in one direction and then in the other direction. Make sure. that the steering operates smoothly and that no part of the steering gear, including the wheel or tire, rubs against any brake hose or line or against any part of the body.
- Inspect the steering rack boots for cracks, grease leaks, or loose clamps. If power steering is installed, additionally check for damage to its hoses, pipes or connections. Make sure that there is no steering binding throughout the entire range, that there are cotter pins and clamps, that there is no significant corrosion of the body within 30 cm from the steering control mounting points.
Front and rear suspension and wheel bearings
- Starting at the right front wheel of the car, grasp it at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions and shake vigorously. Check for play or looseness in wheel bearings, ball joints, rubber bushings, mountings and suspension connections.
- Now grasp the wheel at the 12 and 6 o'clock points and repeat the previous check. Rotate the wheel and check the ease and uniformity of its bearings.
- If you suspect play in any connection, this can be checked by pressing with a large screwdriver (or something similar) between this connection and its support. In this case, it will become clear where the wear has occurred: in the connection sleeve, fastening bolts or in the support (bolt holes often become elongated).
- Perform all of the above checks on the other front wheel and then on both rear wheels.
Springs and dampers
- Check suspension struts for significant leaks, corrosion, or body damage. Check the security of all attachment points.
- Check the position of the extreme turns of the suspension springs in their supports, as well as the absence of cracks, breakage and corrosion of the springs.
- Inspect the shock absorbers and make sure there are no major leaks. Check the bushings and fasteners for wear and make sure that the housings are not damaged.
Drive shafts
- Rotate each front wheel in turn and check the driveshaft pivot boot for cracks or damage. Also check that the drive shafts are not bent or damaged.
Brake system
- If this can be done without dismantling, check the wear of the brake pads and the condition of the discs. Make sure the material of the brake pads (A) not worn to the limit and what's on the disks (IN) there are no cracks, pitting, scratches and they are not worn too much.
- Inspect all rigid brake lines under the vehicle and flexible hose (And) in the back. Look for signs of significant corrosion, chafing, or loose fittings in the lines, as well as signs of pressure swelling, chafing, cracks, or wear in the flexible hoses.
- Check for signs of fluid leakage on the brake calipers or brake shields. Repair or replace elements that are leaking.
- Slowly turn each wheel, asking your assistant to depress and release the brake pedal at this time. Make sure all brakes are working and the wheels can turn freely when the brake pedal is released.
- Check the parking brake actuator for frayed or broken cables, excessive corrosion, wear and loose fittings. Check the braking of each wheel and make sure that when the brake is released, the rear wheels turn freely without binding.
- Without special equipment, it is not possible to test the effectiveness of the brakes, but later road tests can be carried out to check whether the car will move in a straight line when braking.
Fuel system and exhaust system
- Inspect the fuel tank (including filler cap), fuel lines, hoses and connections. All elements must be securely fastened and must not show signs of leakage.
- Inspect the exhaust system along its entire length, checking for damage. broken or missing fasteners, the reliability of the pipe retaining clips, and the condition of the system with respect to rust and corrosion.
Wheels and tires
- Inspect the sidewalls and tread of each tire in turn. Check for cuts, abrasions, bulges, tread peeling, and areas where wear or damage exposes cord or carcass. Also check that the tire bead is properly seated on the wheel rim, that the valve is intact and properly installed, and that the wheel is not deformed or damaged.
- Make sure. that tires of the required size for this vehicle, their size and type are installed on all wheels (or at least on the wheels of each bridge) the same and that the tires are inflated to the required pressure.
- Check the tread depth. At the time of preparation of this Manual for printing, a depth of at least 1.6 mm was allowed in an area occupying at least 3/4 of the tread width. Abnormal tread wear may indicate incorrect front wheel alignment.
Body corrosion
- Check the condition of the entire vehicle body, looking for signs of corrosion on all load-bearing components. These elements include all box sections of the body, side sills, cross members, pillars and all suspension, steering, brake and seat belt attachments. Any corrosion that significantly reduces the thickness of the metal in the load-bearing area will likely prevent the vehicle from passing inspection. If this type of corrosion is found, a professional repair will likely be required.
- Damage to the body or corrosion that has led to the formation of sharp or otherwise dangerous edges is also the basis for recognizing the vehicle as technically defective.