Opel Frontera UE. Manual - part 56

FRONT SUSPENSION

3C–3

Shimmy, Shake or Vibration

Tire or wheel out of balance.

Balance wheels or replace tire/or 
wheel.

Loose wheel bearings.

Replace wheel bearing.

Worn steering linkage ball joints.

Replace ball joints.

Worn upper or lower end ball joints.

Replace ball joints.

Excessive wheel runout.

Repair or replace wheel and/or tire.

Blister or bump on tire.

Replace tire.

Excessive loaded radial runout of 
tire/wheel assembly.

Replace tire or wheel.

Improper wheel alignment.

Check wheel alignment.

Loose or worn steering linkage.

Tighten or replace steering linkage.

Loose steering unit.

Tighten steering unit.

Tires not adequately inflated.

Adjust tire pressure.

Loose, bent or broken front or rear 
suspension parts.

Tighten or replace the appropriate 
suspension parts.

Faulty shock absorber.

Replace shock absorber.

Hub bearing preload misadjustment.

Adjust preload.

Parts in power steering valve 
defective.

Replace power steering unit.

Hard Steering

Bind in steering linkage ball studs, 
upper or lower ball joint.

Replace ball joint.

Improper wheel alignment.

Check wheel alignment.

Tire not adequately inflated.

Inflate tires to proper pressure.

Bind in steering column or shaft.

Repair or replace.

Improper power steering system 
operation.

Repair or replace. Refer to Steering 
section.

Too Much Play In Steering

Wheel bearings worn.

Replace wheel bearings.

Loose steering unit or linkage.

Retighten or repair.

Worn or loose steering shaft 
universal joint.

Retighten or replace steering shaft.

Worn steering linkage ball joints.

Replace ball joints.

Worn upper or lower end ball joints.

Replace ball joints.

Poor Steering Wheel Returnability

Bind in steering linkage ball joints.

Replace ball joints.

Bind in upper or lower ball joints.

Replace ball joints.

Bind in steering column and shaft.

Repair or replace.

Bind in steering gear.

Check and repair steering gear.

Improper wheel alignment.

Adjust wheel alignment.

Tires not adequately inflated.

Adjust pressure.

Loose steering wheel nut.

Retighten.

Worn wheel bearing.

Replace.

Condition

Possible cause

Correction

3C–4

FRONT SUSPENSION

Abnormal Noise

Worn, sticky or loose upper or lower 
ball joint, steering linkage ball joi nts 
or drive axle joints.

Replace.

Faulty shock absorbers.

Replace.

Worn upper or lower control arm 
bushing.

Replace.

Loose stabilizer bar.

Retighten bolts or replace bushings.

Loose wheel nuts.

Tighten nuts. Check for elongated 
wheel nut holes. Replace wheel if 
required.

Loose suspension bolts or nuts.

Retighten suspension bolts or nuts.

Broken or otherwise damaged wheel 
bearings.

Replace wheel bearing.

Broken suspension springs. 

Replace spring.

Loose steering unit. 

Retighten mounting bolt.

Faulty steering unit.

Replace steering unit.

Wandering or Poor Steering Stability

Mismatched or unevenly worn tires.

Replace tire or inflate tires to proper 
pressure.

Loose steering linkage ball joints.

Replace ball joints.

Faulty shock absorbers.

Replace shock absorber.

Loose stabilizer bar.

Tighten or replace stabilizer bar or 
bushings.

Broken or sagging springs.

Replace spring (pairs).

Improper wheel alignment.

Adjust wheel alignment.

Erratic Steering When Braking

Worn wheel bearings.

Replace wheel bearings.

Broken or sagging springs.

Replace spring (pairs).

Leaking caliper.

Repair or replace caliper.

Warped discs.

Replace brake disc.

Badly worn brake pads.

Replace brake pads.

Tires are inflated unequally.

Inflate tires to proper pressure.

Low or Uneven Trim Height

Broken or sagging springs.

Replace springs (In pairs).

Vehicle overloaded.

Reduce load.

Incorrect springs.

Adjust or replace torsion bar.

Suspension Bottoms

Vehicle overloaded. 

Reduce load.

Faulty shock absorber.

Replace shock absorber.

Incorrect, broken or sagging springs.

Replace springs.

Body Leans

Loose stabilizer bar.

Tighten stabilizer bar bolts or 
replace bushings.

Faulty shock absorber, struts or 
mounting.

Replace shock absorber.

Broken or sagging springs.

Replace springs (In pairs).

Vehicle overloaded.

Reduce load.

Cupped Tires

Worn wheel bearings.

Replace wheel bearing.

Excessive tire or wheel run out.

Replace tire or wheel.

Worn ball joints.

Replace ball joints.

Tire out of balance.

Adjust tire balance.

Condition

Possible cause

Correction

FRONT SUSPENSION

3C–5

Shock Absorber

Shock Absorber and Associated Parts

450RW009

Legend

EndOFCallout

Removal

1. Raise the vehicle and support it with suitable safety 

stands.

2. Remove wheel and tire assembly. Refer to Wheel 

Replacement in this section.

3. Remove bolt and nut.

4. Remove nut.

5. Remove rubber bushing and washer.

6. Remove shock absorber.

7. Remove rubber bushing and washer.

Inspection and Repair

Make necessary correction or parts replacement if 
wear, damage,  corrosion or any other abnormal 
condition are found through inspection.
Check the following parts :

• Shock absorber

• Rubber  bushing

Installation

1. Install rubber bushing and washer.

2. Install shock absorber.

3. Install rubber bushing and washer.

4. Install nut, then tighten it to the specified torque.

Torque: 20N·m (2.0kg·m/14lbft)

5. Install bolt and nut, then tighten to the specified 

torque.

Torque: 93N·m (9.5kg·m/69lbft)

(1) Nut
(2) Rubber Bushing and Washer
(3) Bolt and Nut

(4) Shock Absorber
(5) Rubber Bushing and Washer

3C–6

FRONT SUSPENSION

Stabilizer Bar

Stabilizer Bar and Associated Parts

410RW007

Legend

EndOFCallout

Removal

1. Raise the vehicle and support the frame with 

suitable safety stands.

2. Remove the stone guard.

3. Remove wheel and tire assembly. Refer to Wheel 

Replacement in this section.

4. Remove nut.

CAUTION:  Be careful not to break the ball joint 
boot. 

5. Remove link.

6. Remove bracket.

7. Remove stabilizer bar.

8. Remove rubber bushing.

Inspection and Repair

Make necessary correction or parts replacement if 
wear, damage,  corrosion or any other abnormal 
condition are found through inspection.
Check the following parts :

• Stabilizer bar

• Rubber bushing

• Link ball joint 

Installation

1. Install rubber bushing.

2. Install stabilizer bar.

3. Install bracket, then tighten it to the specified torque.

Torque: 25N·m (2.6kg·m/18lbft)

4. Install link.

5. Install nut, then tighten it to the specified torque.

Torque: 50N·m (5.1kg·m/37lbft)

(1) Rubber Bushing
(2) Bracket
(3) Link

(4) Nut
(5) Stabilizer Bar