Chabot College
Fall 2012
Course Outline for Automotive Technology 4
Automotive Suspension and Steering
Catalog Description:
4 – Automotive Suspension and Steering
3.0 Units
Automotive Suspension and Steering fundamentals including: Diagnosis, inspection, repair, and
adjustment of modern automotive steering, suspension, supplemental restraint, tire pressure
monitoring, and alignment systems, theory of operation, common automotive steering and
suspension systems, wheel alignment principles, methods of diagnosis, adjustment and repair,
suspension service equipment. Prerequisite: Automotive Technology 50 (may be taken
concurrently) or equivalent. 1.5 hours lecture, 5.0 hours laboratory.
[Typical contact hours: Lecture 26.25; Laboratory 87.50]
Prerequisite Skills:
Before entering the course, the student should be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
demonstrate safe working conditions and practices;
use common automotive shop equipment safely;
identify and recognize common automotive tools and equipment;
identify fasteners;
discuss automotive engine fundamentals;
perform vehicle fluid services;
access and use service information;
demonstrate proper use of metric and standard micrometers;
demonstrate proper use of a volt/ohmmeters;
select the appropriate automotive fluid for the selected application;
use appropriate methods for hazardous waste handling and disposal;
identify potential areas of employment in the automotive industry;
describe basic electricity;
complete work orders to meet industry and Bureau of Automotive Repair standards;
perform basic vehicle maintenance.
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course the student should be able to:
1. identify and interpret suspension and steering concern, and determine necessary action;
2. disable and enable supplemental restraint system (SRS);
3. remove and replace steering wheel, center/time supplemental restraint system (SRS) coil
(clock spring);
4. diagnose steering column noises, looseness, and binding concerns (including tilt
mechanisms) and determine necessary action;
5. inspect steering shaft universal-joint(s), flexible coupling(s), collapsible column, lock
cylinder mechanism, and steering wheel, and perform necessary action;
6. remove and replace manual or power rack and pinion steering gear, and inspect
mounting bushings and brackets;
7. inspect and replace manual or power rack and pinion steering gear inner and outer tie
rod ends (sockets) and bellows boots;
8. inspect power steering fluid levels and condition, flush, fill, and bleed power steering
system;
9. diagnose power steering fluid leakage, inspect and replace power steering hoses and
fittings;
10. remove, inspect, replace, and adjust power steering pump belt;
Chabot College
Course Outline for Automotive Technology 4, Page 2
Fall 2012
11. inspect and replace pitman arm, relay (centerlink/intermediate) rod, idler arm and
mountings, and steering linkage damper;
12. inspect, replace, and adjust tie rod ends (sockets), tie rod sleeves, and clamps;
13. diagnose short and long arm and strut suspension system noises, body sway, and
uneven riding height concerns, and determine necessary action;
14. remove, inspect and install strut rods and bushings, upper and/or lower ball joints,
steering knuckle assemblies, short/long arm coil springs and insulators;
15. remove, inspect, and install stabilizer bar bushings, brackets, transverse links, control
arms, bushings, mounts and links;
16. remove, inspect, and install strut cartridge or assembly, strut coil spring, insulators
(silencers), and upper strut bearing mount, and shock absorbers;
17. lubricate suspension and steering systems;
18. remove, inspect, and service or replace front and rear wheel bearings;
19. differentiate between steering and suspension concerns using principles of steering
geometry (caster, camber, toe, SAI, IA, turning radius, thrust angle, and set back);
20. diagnose vehicle wander, drift, pull, hard steering, bump steer, memory steer, torque
steer, and steering return concerns, and determine necessary action;
21. perform pre-alignment inspection, measure vehicle riding height, and determine
necessary action;
22. check and adjust front and rear wheel camber, caster, and toe, center steering wheel,
check toe-out-on-turns, SAI and included angle, and rear wheel thrust angle;
23. inspect and diagnose tire wear patterns, wheel/tire vibration, shimmy, noise, tire pull
(lead) problems check and determine necessary action;
24. rotate and balance wheel and tire assemblies and adjust air pressure according to
manufacturer’s recommendations;
25. measure wheel, tire, axle, and hub runout, and determine necessary action;
26. dismount, inspect, repair, and remount tire on wheel, balance assembly, reinstall wheel,
and torque lug nuts;
27. test and diagnose components of electronically controlled suspension systems using a
scan tool, and determine necessary action;
28. inspection and calibration of tire pressure monitoring systems.
Course Content (Lecture)
1. Automotive safety and shop practices
2. Proper care and manipulation of basic hand and specialty tools
3. Front and rear suspension types, fundamentals, operating, inspection and service
procedures
4. Wheel and tire fundamentals, operating, inspection and service procedures
5. Wheel bearings, theory, inspection and service procedures
6. Springs, struts, and shock absorber fundamentals, operating and service procedures
7. Steering system types, steering gears, manual and power assisted, fundamentals,
inspection and service procedures
8. Wheel alignment fundamentals, angles, inspection and service procedures
9. Laboratory practice in the inspection, diagnosis, adjustment and repair of automotive
steering and suspension systems
10. Noise, vibration, harshness, electronic steering suspension fundamentals and diagnosis
11. Tire pressure monitoring
12. Hazardous waste handling
Course Content (Laboratory)
1. Demonstrate proper shop safety and working practices, including tools and equipment,
and hazardous waste handling
Chabot College
Course Outline for Automotive Technology 4, Page 3
Fall 2012
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Diagnose, service, and repair suspension system components
Perform tire and wheel diagnosis, service and repair
Service wheel bearings
Diagnose, service, and repair of steering system components
Perform 4 wheel alignments
Perform tire pressure servicing and monitoring calibration
Methods of Presentation:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Lecture (utilization of multimedia)
Demonstration
Guest speakers
Laboratory
Field trips
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1. Typical Assignments
a. Read chapter on Wheel Alignment Principles
b. Complete review quiz at the end of chapter
c. Complete laboratory assignments using service information, lecture materials, and
text
2. Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
a. Class participation
b. Performance on the laboratory projects
c. Homework
d. Quizzes
e. Midterm exam
f. Final examination
g. Practical examination
Textbook(s) (Typical):
Automotive Steering, Suspension and Alignment, 5th edition, James Halderman, Prentice
Hall 2010
Special Student Materials:
1. Safety glasses
2. Shop/safety clothing
KWS09282011
ATEC 4 course outline.doc