Suzuki Grand Vitara JB416 / JB420. Manual - part 263

6A-1 Steering General Diagnosis: 

Steering

Steering General Diagnosis

Diagnostic Information and Procedures

Steering Symptom Diagnosis

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Since the problems in steering involve several systems, they must all be considered when diagnosing a complaint. To 
avoid using the wrong symptom, always road test the vehicle first.
Proceed with the following preliminary inspections and correct any defects which are found.

1) Inspect tires for proper pressure and uneven wear.
2) Raise vehicle on a hoist and inspect steering system for loose or damaged parts.
3) Spin front wheels. Inspect for out-of-round tires, out-of-balance tires, bent rims, loosen and/or rough wheel 

bearings.

Condition

Possible cause

Correction / Reference Item

Hard steering

Bind in tie rod end ball studs or lower 
ball joints

Replace tie rod end or front suspension control 
arm.

Disturbed front end alignment

Check front end alignment.

Tire not adequately inflated

Inflate tires to proper pressure.

Bind in steering column

Repair or replace.

Low fluid level, loose drive belt or 
malfunction of power steering system

Check and correct. Refer to “P/S System 
Symptom Diagnosis in Section 6C”.

Too much play in steering Wheel bearings worn

Replace wheel bearing.

Loose steering gear case bolts

Tighten.

Faulty steering gear case

Replace steering gear case assembly.

Worn steering shaft joints

Replace joint.

Worn tie rod ends or tie rod inside ball 
joints

Replace tie rod end or steering gear case.

Worn lower ball joints

Replace front suspension control arm.

Poor return ability

Bind in tie rod end ball studs

Replace tie rod end.

Bind in ball joints

Replace ball joint.

Bind in steering column

Repair or replace.

Disturbed front end alignment

Check and adjust front end alignment.

Malfunction of power steering system

Check and correct. Refer to “P/S System 
Symptom Diagnosis in Section 6C”.

Tires not adequately inflated

Adjust pressure.

Steering noise (rattle or 
chuckle)

Loose bolts and nuts

Retighten.

Broken or otherwise damaged wheel 
bearings

Replace.

Worn or sticky tie rod ends

Replace.

Malfunction of power steering system

Check and correct. Refer to “P/S System 
Symptom Diagnosis in Section 6C”.

Wander or poor steering 
stability

Mismatched or uneven tires

Replace tire or inflate tires to proper pressure.

Loose ball joints and tie rod ends

Replace suspension control arm or tie rod end.

Faulty shock absorbers / struts or 
mounting

Replace absorber / strut or repair mounting.

Loose stabilizer bar

Tighten or replace stabilizer bar or bushes.

Broken or sagging springs

Replace spring.

Faulty steering gear case

Replace steering gear case assembly.

Front end alignment

Check front end alignment.

Erratic steering when 
braking

Worn wheel bearings

Replace wheel bearing.

Broken or sagging springs

Replace spring.

Leaking wheel cylinder or caliper

Repair or replace wheel cylinder or caliper.

Warped discs

Replace brake disc.

Badly worn brake linings

Replace brake shoe lining.

Drum is out of round in some brakes

Replace brake drum.

Wheel tires are inflated unequally

Inflate tires to proper pressure.

Defective wheel cylinders

Replace or repair wheel cylinder.

Disturbed front end alignment

Check front end alignment.

Steering Wheel and Column:  6B-1

Steering

Steering Wheel and Column

Precautions

Service Precautions of Air Bag Steering Wheel and Column

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For service precautions, refer to “Precautions on Service and Diagnosis of Air Bag System in Section 8B”.

Precautions on Handling and Storage of Air Bag Steering Wheel and Column

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For handling and storage, refer to “Precautions on Handling and Storage of Air Bag System Components in Section 
8B”.

Precautions on Disposal of Air Bag Steering Wheel and Column

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For disposal, refer to “Precautions on Disposal of Air Bag and Seat Belt Pretensioner in Section 8B”.

General Description

Steering Wheel and Column Construction

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This double tube type steering column has the following three important features in addition to the steering function:
• The column is energy absorbing, designed to compress in a front-end collision.
• The ignition switch and lock are mounted conveniently on this column.
• With the column mounted lock, the ignition and steering operations can be locked to inhibit theft of the vehicle.
To insure the energy absorbing action, it is important that only the specified screws, bolts and nuts be used as 
designated, and that they are tightened to the specified torque. When the column assembly (6) is removed from the 
vehicle, special care must be taken in handling it. Use of a steering wheel puller or a sharp blow on the end of the 
steering shaft, leaning on the assembly, or dropping the assembly could shear the plastic shear pins which maintain 
column length and position.
The driver air bag (inflator) module is one of the supplemental restraint (air bag) system components and is mounted 
to the center of the steering wheel (1). During certain frontal crashes, the air bag system supplements the restraint of 
the driver’s and passenger’s seat belts by deploying the air bags. The air bag (inflator) module should be handled with 
care to prevent accidental deployment. When servicing, be sure to observe “Precautions on Service and Diagnosis of 
Air Bag System in Section 8B”.

6B-2 Steering Wheel and Column: 

16

10

(b)

17

(b)

9

8

4

6

7

15

(c)

14

(c)

12

(b)

2

(a)

5

1

11

(b)

13

3

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1. Steering wheel

8. Steering upper shaft assembly 

15. Steering upper shaft mounting bolt

2. Steering shaft nut

9. Steering column lower seal

16. Steering lower shaft assembly lower joint bolt

3. Contact coil cable assembly

10. Steering lower shaft assembly

17. Steering lower shaft assembly upper joint bolt

: After tightening all mounting bolts and nuts and all joint 
bolts and nuts, tighten lower shaft lower joint bolt.

4. Steering column upper cover

11. Steering column assembly mounting bolt

: 33 N

⋅m (3.3 kgf-m, 24.0 lb-ft)

5. Steering column lower cover

12. Steering column assembly mounting nut

: After tightening column mounting nut, tighten 
column mounting bolt. 

: 25 N

⋅m (2.5 kgf-m, 18.0 lb-ft)

6. Steering column assembly

13. Steering upper shaft assembly upper joint bolt

: 23 N

⋅m (2.3 kgf-m, 17.0 lb-ft)

7. Steering lock assembly

14. Steering upper shaft assembly upper joint nut

: After tightening upper shaft mounting bolts, 
tighten upper shaft joint nut. 

: Do not reuse.

Steering Wheel and Column:  6B-3

Diagnostic Information and Procedures

Air Bag Steering Wheel and Column Symptom 
Diagnosis

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For diagnosis of the steering wheel and steering column, 
refer to “Steering Symptom Diagnosis in Section 6A”. 
For diagnosis of the air bag system, refer to “Air Bag 
Diagnostic System Check in Section 8B”.

Air Bag Steering Wheel and Column Inspection 
and Repair Required after Accident

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After accident, whether the air bag has been deployed or 
not, be sure to checks, inspections and repairs 
described under “Checking Steering Column for 
Accident Damage” as well as “Repair and Inspection 
Required after Accident in Section 8B”.

Diagnosis and Servicing of Air Bag Steering 
Wheel and Column

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For diagnosis and servicing, refer to “Precautions on 
Service and Diagnosis of Air Bag System in Section 8B”.

Repair Instructions

Checking Steering Column for Accident 
Damage

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NOTE
Vehicles involved in accidents resulting in 
body damage, where steering column has 
been impacted or air bag deployed, may have 
a damaged or misaligned steering column.

 

• Check that 2 capsules (1) are attached to steering 

column bracket (2) securely. Check clearance 
between capsules and steering column bracket. 
Clearance should be 0 mm (0 in.) on both sides. If 
found loose or clearance, replace steering column 
assembly.

• Check two rivets (1) of steering column assembly for 

loose, crack and breakage. If found loose, crack and 
breakage, replace steering column assembly with 
new one.

• Take measurement “a” and “b” as shown in the figure. 

If it is shorter than specified length, replace column 
assembly with a new one.

Steering column assembly length
“a”: 471.0 

± 1.0 mm (18.54 ± 0.04 in.)

“b”: 423.9 

± 1.0 mm (16.69 ± 0.04 in.)

• Check steering shaft for smooth rotation.

If found defective, replace as column assembly.

• Check steering shaft and column for bend, cracks or 

deformation.
If found defective, replace as column assembly.

• Check steering upper shaft lower seal for breakage or 

deformation.
If found defective, replace.

• Check steering shaft joints and shaft for any damages 

such as crack, breakage, malfunction or excessive 
play.
If anything is found faulty, replace steering upper shaft 
assembly, steering lower shaft assembly or steering 
column assembly.

1

2

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“a”

“b”

1

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