MacPherson Strut

Completing a road test over various road conditions, what symptoms would be classed as abnormal?

• Abnormal noises during operation

• Multiple vehicle body oscillations after moving over a road deviation

• Body roll around corners plus excessive diving under braking

• Knocking noise when driving over road deviations

• Wandering over the road, poor handling and poor stopping performance

Suspension systems must be able to deal with many different forces acting upon the system. Which of the following are examples of those forces?

• Driving thrust

• Electro mechanical

• Cornering force

• Braking reaction

Liquid leaks on a MacPherson strut are acceptable as long as they are not leaking onto the brakes.

• True

• False

Suspension rubber bushes can have superficial crazing. Which of the following statements are true?

• This would not be deemed as a fault if there is not excessive movement.

• Excessive movement is the only reason to replace rubber bushes

• Some rubber bushes can have a designed amount of movement even when new, as per the manufacturer specification

• Even when new, this effect can be visible on the suspension rubber bushes

What are the components that make up the MacPherson Strut?

• Control Arm

• Spring

• Sway bar

  (if fitted)

• Shock Absorber/Damper

• Ball Joints

To Inspect the vehicles Suspension springs for working condition, which of the following methods are correct?

• Take a measurement of the vehicles ride height to identify if there are any issues or changes to the spring

• Ensure the vehicle is loaded fully before conducting the ride height measurement to ensure the spring is under the correct load

• Visually inspect the spring for mechanical faults such as cracks and wear

• Bounce test the vehicle

When servicing and diagnosing faults in the suspension system, what should be the first priority?

• Pre Load the ball joints and inspect for movement

• Stress test the suspension bushes for excessive movement

• Conduct a visual inspection of the vehicle to identify if there are any obvious signs of issues with the suspension

• Place the vehicle on the hoist and check for any damage or worn components

There are two types of ball joints used in automotive, Loaded and Non-Loaded ball joints. Which type is used on a MacPherson strut system and how are these tested?

• Compression loaded keeper ball joint: It must be removed from the vehicle and bench tested.

• Non-Loaded follower ball joint: It must be removed from the vehicle and bench tested.

• Non-Loaded follower ball joint: It needs to be loaded and then inspected for wear/ excessive movement

• Compression Loaded ball joint: it needs to be loaded and then inspected for wear/excessive movement

When inspecting the suspension system for correct operation, what procedures should you follow?

• Load the ball joint at the bottom of the MacPherson strut and then check for wear

• Check the bends, cracks and distortions in the control arms

• Use a pry bar to carefully inspect the components for excessive wear

• Visually inspect the components for wear and excessive movement

At the top of the MacPherson strut is a strut top mount. How should these be inspected for wear?

• Remove the strut and disassemble the components to measure the tolerances for wear

• Bounce test the vehicle and watch for vertical movement in the strut top

• With the vehicle in the air, apply a back and forth force to the wheel while watching for movement in the strut top

• With the vehicle on the ground, check the wheel tension while watching the top of the strut for excessive movement