Opel Frontera UE. Manual - part 1270

3C–2

FRONT SUSPENSION

General Description

The front suspension is designed to allow each wheel to
compensate for changes in the road surface level
without greatly affecting the opposite wheel.  Each
wheel is independently connected to the frame by a
steering knuckle, ball joint assemblies,  and upper and
lower control arms.  The front wheels are held in proper
relationship to each other by two tie-rods which are
connected to steering arms on the knuckles,  and to a
steering unit.
All models have a front suspension system consisting of
control arms, stabilizer bar,  shock absorber and a
torsion bar.  The front end of the torsion bar is attached
to the lower control arm.  The rear of the torsion bar is
mounted into a height control arm at the crossmember.
Vehicle trim height is controlled by adjusting this arm.
Shock absorbers are mounted between the brackets on

the frame and the lower control arms. The lower portion
of each shock absorber is attached to the lower control
arm. The upper portion of each shock absorber extends
through a frame bracket and is secured with two rubber
bushings,  two retainers and a nut.
Ball joint assemblies are bolted to the outer end of the
upper and lower control arm and are attached to the
steering knuckle.
The inner ends of the upper control arm have pressed in
bushings. Bolts, passing through the bushing, attach the
control arm to the frame.  The inner ends of the lower
control arm are attached to the frame by bolts passing
through the bushings.
Side roll of the front suspension is controlled by a spring
steel stabilizer bar.  It is mounted in rubber bushings,
which are held to the frame by brackets.  The ends of
the stabilizer bar are connected to the lower control
arms by links.

Diagnosis

Condition

Possible cause

Correction

Vehicle Pulls

Mismatched or uneven tires.

Replace tire.

Tires not adequately inflated.

Adjust tire pressure.

Broken or sagging springs.

Replace spring.

Radial tire lateral force.

Replace tire.

Improper wheel alignment.

Adjust wheel alignment.

Brake dragging in one wheel.

Repair brake.

Loose, bent or broken front or rear 
suspension parts.

Tighten or replace the appropriate 
suspension part(s).

Faulty shock absorbers.

Replace shock absorber.

Parts in power steering valve 
defective.

Replace power steering unit.

Abnormal or Excessive Tire Wear

Sagging or broken spring.

Replace spring.

Tire out of balance.

Balance or replace tire.

Improper wheel alignment.

Check front end alignment.

Faulty shock absorber.

Replace shock absorber.

Hard driving.

Replace tire.

Overloaded vehicle.

Replace tire and reduce load.

Tires not rotated periodically.

Replace or rotate tire.

Worn or loose road wheel bearings.

Replace wheel bearing.

Wobbly wheel or tires.

Replace wheel or tire.

Tires not adequately inflated.

Adjust the pressure.

Wheel Hop

Blister or bump on tire.

Replace tire.

Improper shock absorber operation.

Replace shock absorber.

SECTION

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.

Misassemble Transfer Gear ASM.

Reassemble Transfer Gear to proper 
portion.

Condition

Possible cause

Correction

SECTION

3C–4

FRONT SUSPENSION

Abnormal Noise

Worn, sticky or loose upper or lower 
ball joint, steering linkage ball joints 
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.

Trim Height out of Spec.

Adjust Trim Height.

Suspension Bottoms

Vehicle overloaded. 

Reduce load.

Faulty shock absorber.

Replace shock absorber.

Incorrect, broken or sagging springs.

Replace springs.

Tires are inflated unequally.

Inflate tires to proper pressure.

Body Leans

Trim Height out of Spec.

Adjust Trim Height.

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.

Condition

Possible cause

Correction

SECTION

FRONT SUSPENSION

3C–5

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

SECTION