Polaris GEM e4 - suspension and steering diagnosis and testing

SUSPENSION AND STEERING 2 - 3
November 2007 GEM Service Manual
SUSPENSION AND STEERING DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING
Condition Possible Causes Correction
Front end noise
• Loose or worn wheel bearing
• Loose or worn steering or suspension
components
• Replace front knuckle assembly
• Tighten or replace components as
necessary
Excessive play in
steering
• Loose or worn wheel bearing
• Loose or worn steering or suspension
components
• Loose or worn steering gear
• Replace front knuckle assembly
• Tighten or replace components as
necessary
• Tighten or replace steering gear
Front wheels
shimmy
• Loose or worn wheel bearing
• Loose or worn steering or suspension
components
• Tires worn or out of balance
• Replace front knuckle assembly
• Tighten or replace components as
necessary
• Replace or balance tires
Vehicle instability
• Loose or worn wheel bearing
• Loose or worn steering or suspension
components
• Tire pressure
• Alignment
• Replace front knuckle assembly or rear
drum brake assembly
• Tighten or replace components as
necessary.
• Adjust tire pressure
• Align vehicle to specifications
Excessive
steering effort
• Loose or worn steering gear
• Steering column u-joints binding
• Tire pressure
• Alignment
• Replace steering gear
• Replace steering column
• Adjust tire pressure
• Align vehicle to specifications
Vehicle pulls to
one side
• Tire pressure
• Tire
• Worn wheel bearings
• Loose or worn ball joints
• Weak or broken spring/shock absorber
assembly
• Adjust tire pressure
• Rotate front tires side to side
• Replace front knuckle assembly
• Replace ball joints as necessary
• Replace spring/shock/absorber
• Check for proper front end alignment
Vehicle pulls to
one side while
braking
• Brakes worn or out of adjustment
• Air in brake lines
• Loose or worn steering or suspension
components
• Worn wheel bearings
• Wheel cylinder leaking (rear only)
• Adjust or replace brake components
• Bleed brakes
• Tighten or replace components as
necessary
• Replace front knuckle assembly
• Replace wheel cylinder
Excessive tire
wear at center of
tire
• Toe out of specification
• Tires over-inflated
• Reset toe to proper specification
• Release park brake or adjust park brake
cable tension
• Repair or replace brakes
Vehicle cannot
reach top speed
• Toe out of specification
• Park brake on or cables tensioned too
tight
• Brakes binding
• Reset toe to proper specification
• Release park brake or adjust park brake
cable tension
• Repair or replace brakes
Vehicle will not
coast
• Toe out of specification
• Park brake on or cables tensioned too
tight
• Brakes binding
• Reset toe to proper specification
• Release park brake or adjust park brake
cable tension
• Repair or replace brakes
Vehicle makes
thumping sound
on tight turns
• Toe out of specification.
• CV boot cut or torn.
• Reset toe to proper specification
• Replace CV boot