Visual and safety checks

VISUAL AND SAFETY CHECKS

WARNING: Before taking vehicle out on the public highway for road test, it is important that the following basic visual checks are carried out to ensure that the vehicle complies with legal requirements.

Tyres and wheel rims

1. Check and adjust tyre pressures See GENERAL SPECIFICATION DATA, Information, Tyre Pressures. Note that this information refers to standard tyres fitted as original equipment.
2. Check condition of tyres. Inspect for signs of uneven wear, damage and feathering. Check tread depth.
3. Ensure that the tyre make, type and general condition are common across each axle.
4. Check wheel rims for signs of damage and excessive run out.
5. Carry out road test See Road Test Procedure.

ROAD TEST PROCEDURE

General steering/handling problems can usually be classified into one of the categories listed and ARE GENERALLY RELATED TO THE AGE, CONDITION AND USE OF THE VEHICLE. If the symptom described by the customer is stiff

WARNING: Ensure that all road tests are

steering or steering niggle, carry out stiff steering

conducted by suitably qualified drivers in

procedure See

a safe and legal manner, and where local traffic conditions allow.

If not, proceed with basic checks and adjustments See Visual Check and Basic Adjustments .

1. Carry out visual and safety checks See Visual and Safety Checks .

Confirm general nature of complaint with customer, simulating where possible the conditions under which the problem occurs. Carry out following road test procedure to establish the problem.

2. Steering load assessment - drive at 15 km/h, 10 mph. Put 90°turn input into steering wheel, check self centering. The self centering should be equal on each lock but not necessarily return to exactly straight ahead without assistance from the driver.
3. Steering assessment - drive at 65 km/h, 40 mph on a staight FLAT road (no camber), check for steering veer. The vehicle should follow a straight path with NO tendency to follow a curved path. If vehicle veers towards the kerb, vehicle may be ’camber sensitive’. A small amount of veer in direction of camber is acceptable.
4. Directional stability assessment - drive at 110 km/h, 70 mph or maximum legal speed on a straight flat road. Carry out a normal lane change. Vehicle should quickly settle into a new straight path.
5. Braking assessment (medium effort) - drive at 95 km/h (60 mph) on a straight flat road. Apply steady medium braking effort, noting any tendency to veer. Carry out brake test three times, if a veer is consistently noted carry out a braking efficiency test on a rolling road.
6. Braking assessment (full effort) - drive at 95 km/h, 60 mph on a straight flat road. Apply full braking effort, noting any tendency to veer. Carry out brake test 3 times, if a veer is consistently noted carry out a braking efficiency test on a rolling road.

Stiff Steering Checklist.