Opel Frontera UE. Manual - part 671

3E–4

WHEEL AND TIRE SYSTEM

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.

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.

Condition

Possible cause

Correction

WHEEL AND TIRE SYSTEM

3E–5

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

3E–6

WHEEL AND TIRE SYSTEM

Irregular and Premature Wear

480RS001

Irregular and/or premature wear has many causes.   
Some of them are incorrect inflation pressures, lack of 
tire rotation, poor driving habits or improper wheel 
alignment.  Incorrect inflation is common cause of tire 
premature wear.

NOTE:  Due to their design, radial tires tend to wear 
faster in the shoulder area, particularly on the front tires.   
This makes regular rotation especially necessary.  After 
rotation, be sure to check wheel nut torque, and set tire 
pressures. 

Tire Rotation

Tire rotation is recommended to equalize wear for 
longer tire life.

480RS002

Legend

EndOFCallout

If the following conditions are noted, rotate the tires:

• Front tire wear is different from rear.

• Uneven wear exists across the tread of any tire.

• Left and right front tire wear is unequal.

• Left and right rear tire wear is unequal.
Check wheel alignment if the following conditions are 
noted:

• Left and right front tire wear is unequal.

• Wear is uneven across the tread of any front tire.

• Front tire treads have a scuffed appearance with 

“feather" edges on one side of the tread ribs or 
blocks.

Tread Wear Indicators

480RS006

The original equipment tires have built-in tread wear 
indicators(1) to show when tires need replacement.   
These indicators may appear as wide bands.   When the 
indicators appear in two or more grooves at three 
locations, tire replacement is recommended. 

(1) Spare Tire

WHEEL AND TIRE SYSTEM

3E–7

Inflation of Tires

710RX004

Tire pressure, in cold condition (after vehicle has set for 
three hours or more, and driven less than one mile),  
should be checked monthly or before any extended trip.  
Tire pressure increases approximately 15% when the 
tires become hot during driving.   Tire pressure 
specification is shown on the label located on the left 
door lock pillar.

NOTE:  Check the tire pressure whenever irregular wear 
is found.  Tire inflation greatly affects tire wear.   If the 
alignment check does not reveal any alignment 
problems, check the condition of the shock absorbers 
and wheel/tire balance.

Diagnosis List

If the following conditions are noted, rotation is required.

1. Front tire wear is different from rear.

2. Uneven wear exists across the tread of any tire.

3. Left and right front tire wear is unequal.

4. Left and right rear tire wear is unequal. 

If the following conditions are noted, check the wheel 
alignment.

1. Left and right front tire wear is unequal.

2. Uneven wear exists across the tread of any tire.

3. Front tire treads have scuffed appearance with 

“feather" edges on one side of tread ribs or blocks.

4. There is cupping, flat spotting etc. 

Higher than recommended pressure can cause:

1. Hard ride.

2. Poor steering stability.

3. Rapid and uneven wear at center of the tread.

Lower than recommended pressure can cause:

1. Tire squeal on turns.

2. Hard steering.

3. Rapid and uneven wear on the edges of the tread.

4. Tire rim bruises and rupture.

5. Tire cord breakage.

6. High tire temperatures.

7. Reduced handling.

8. Reduced fuel economy.

Unequal pressure on same axle can cause:

1. Uneven braking.

2. Steering lead.

3. Reduced handling.

4. Swerve on acceleration.

Radial Tire Waddle

480RW011

Waddle is side-to-side movement at the front and/or 
rear of the car.  It can be caused by the steel belt not 
being straight within the tire, or by excessive lateral 
runout of the tire or wheel.  It is most noticeable at low 
speed, about 8 to 48 km/h (5 to 30 mph).  It may also 
cause rough ride at 80 to 113 km/h (50 to 70 mph).
The car can be road tested to see which end of the car 
has the faulty tire.  If  the tire causing the waddle is on 
the rear, the rear end of the car will “waddle". From the 
driver's seat, it feels as if someone is pushing on the 
side of the  car.
If the faulty tire is on the front, the waddle is more easily 
seen. The front sh eet metal appears to be moving back 
and forth. It feels as if the driver's seat  is the pivot point 
in the car.
Another more time-consuming method of determining 
the faulty tire is substituting tire and wheel assemblies 
that are known to be good. Follow these steps:

1. Drive the car to determine if the waddle is coming 

from the front or rear.

2. Install tire and wheel assemblies known to be good 

(from a similar car) in place of those on the end of 
the car which is waddling. If the waddle cannot be 
isolated to front or rear,  start with the rear tires.