Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra. Manual — part 1233

BASIC SUSPENSION TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART

The purpose of this Trouble Shooting information is to provide a list
of common causes to problem symptoms. For model-specific
Trouble Shooting, refer to SUBJECT, DIAGNOSTIC, or TESTING
articles available in the section(s) you are accessing.

CONDITION & POSSIBLE CAUSE

CORRECTION

Front End Noise

Loose or worn wheel

See Wheel Bearing

Adjustment in

SUSPENSION

Worn shocks or shock mountings

Replace struts or strut

mountings

Worn struts or strut mountings

Replace struts or strut

mountings

Loose or worn lower control arm

See SUSPENSION

Loose steering gear-to-frame bolts

See STEERING

Worn control arm bushings

See SUSPENSION

Ball joints not lubricated

Lubricate ball joints & see

Ball Joint Checking in

SUSPENSION

Front Wheel Shake, Shimmy, or Vibration

Tires or wheels out of balance

Check tire balance

Incorrect wheel alignment

See WHEEL

ALIGNMENT

Drive shaft unbalanced

Check drive shaft balance

Loose or worn wheel bearings

See WHEEL

ALIGNMENT

Loose or worn tie rod ends

See SUSPENSION

Worn upper ball joints

See Ball Joint Checking in

SUSPENSION

Worn shock absorbers

Replace shock absorbers

Worn strut bushings

Replace strut bushings

Car Pulls to One Side

Mismatched or uneven tires

Check tire condition

Broken or sagging springs

See SUSPENSION

2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

GENERAL INFORMATION Trouble Shooting - Basic Procedures

Loose or worn strut bushings

See SUSPENSION

Improper wheel alignment

See WHEEL

ALIGNMENT

Improper rear axle alignment

Check rear axle alignment

Power steering gear unbalanced

See STEERING

Front brakes dragging

See BRAKES

Abnormal Tire Wear

Unbalanced tires

Check tire balance &

rotation

Sagging or broken springs

See SUSPENSION

Incorrect front end alignment

See WHEEL

ALIGNMENT

Faulty shock absorbers

Replace chock absorbers

Scuffed Tires

Toe-In incorrect

See WHEEL

ALIGNMENT

Suspension arm bent or twisted

See appropriate

SUSPENSION article

Springs Bottom or Sag

Bent or broken springs

See SUSPENSION

Leaking or worn shock absorbers

Replace shock absorbers

Frame misalignment

Check frame for damage

Spring Noises

Loose "U" Bolts

See SUSPENSION

Loose or worn bushings

See SUSPENSION

Worn or missing interliners

See SUSPENSION

Shock Absorber Noise

Loose shock mountings

Check & tighten

mountings

Worn bushings

Replace bushings

Air in system

Bleed air from system

Undercoating on shocks

Remove undercoating

Car Leans or Sways on Corners

Loose stabilizer bar

See SUSPENSION

Faulty shocks or mountings

Replace shocks or

mountings

2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

GENERAL INFORMATION Trouble Shooting - Basic Procedures

WHEEL ALIGNMENT TROUBLE SHOOTING

BASIC WHEEL ALIGNMENT TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART

Broken or sagging springs

See SUSPENSION

Shock Absorbers Leaking

Worn seals or reservoir tube crimped

See SUSPENSION

Broken Springs

Loose "U" bolts

See SUSPENSION

Inoperative shock absorbers

Replace shock absorbers

NOTE:

This is GENERAL information. This article is not intended to be
specific to any unique situation or individual vehicle configuration.
The purpose of this Trouble Shooting information is to provide a list
of common causes to problem symptoms. For model-specific
Trouble Shooting, refer to SUBJECT, DIAGNOSTIC, or TESTING
articles available in the section(s) you are accessing.

CONDITION & POSSIBLE CAUSE

CORRECTION

Premature Tire Wear

Improper tire inflation

Check tire pressure

Front alignment out of tolerance

See ALIGNMENT

SPECS in WHEEL

ALIGNMENT section

Suspension components worn

See SUSPENSION

section

Steering system components worn

See STEERING section

Improper standing height

See WHEEL

ALIGNMENT

Uneven or sagging springs

See SUSPENSION

section

Bent wheel

See WHEEL

ALIGNMENT

Improper torsion bar adjustment

See SUSPENSION

section

Loose or worn wheel bearings

See WHEEL BEARING

ADJ. in SUSPENSION

section

2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

GENERAL INFORMATION Trouble Shooting - Basic Procedures

Worn or defective shock

Replace shock absorbers

Tires out of balance

Check tire balance

Pulls to One Side

Improper tire inflation

Check tire pressure

Brake dragging

See BRAKE section

Mismatched tires

See WHEEL

ALIGNMENT

Broken or sagging spring

See SUSPENSION

section

Broken torsion bar

See SUSPENSION

section

Power steering valve not centered

See STEERING section

Front alignment out of tolerance

See WHEEL

ALIGNMENT section

Defective wheel bearing

See WHEEL BEARINGS

in SUSPENSION section

Uneven sway bar links

See SUSPENSION

section

Frame bent

Check for frame damage

Steering system bushing worn

See STEERING section

Hard Steering

Idler arm bushing too tight

See STEERING

LINKAGE in STEERING

section

Ball joint tight or seized

See SUSPENSION

section

Steering linkage too tight

See STEERING

LINKAGE in STEERING

section

Power steering fluid low

Add proper amount of

fluid

Power steering drive belt loose

See STEERING section

Power steering pump defective

See STEERING section

Steering gear out of adjustment

See STEERING section

Incorrect wheel alignment

See WHEEL

ALIGNMENT

2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

GENERAL INFORMATION Trouble Shooting - Basic Procedures