Suspension and steering mechanism (Renault Espace I)

Note: Before troubleshooting the suspension or steering, check that the "trouble" is not caused by uneven tire pressure, different size tires, or brake failure.

The car pulls to the side

• Uneven tire wear
• Excessive wear of suspension or steering components (Section 10)
• The front wheel alignment is incorrectly adjusted (Section 10)
• Mechanical damage to suspension or steering components (Section 10)

Wheel beating and vibration

• Front wheel imbalance (vibration is felt on the steering wheel) (Section 10)
• Rear wheel imbalance (vibration is felt on the body) (Section 10)
• Wheel rims are deformed or damaged (Section 10)
• The tire is damaged
• Worn suspension or steering components, bushings or joints (Section 10)
• Wheel mounting bolts are loose (Section 10)

Excessive sway and/or roll when cornering or braking

• The shock absorbers are faulty (Section 10)
• The coil spring and/or suspension component is damaged or worn out (Section 10)
• The anti-roll bar or its mountings are worn or damaged (Section 10)

Wandering or impossibility of rectilinear motion

• The front wheel alignment is incorrectly adjusted (Section 10)
• Worn suspension or steering components, bushings or joints (Section 10)
• Wheel imbalance
• The tire is damaged
• Wheel mounting bolts are loose
• The shock absorbers are faulty (Section 10)

Difficulty turning the steering wheel

• Lack of lubrication in the steering gear (Section 10)
• Seizure of the ball joint of the tie rod end or the ball joint of the suspension (Section 10)
• The auxiliary drive belt is damaged or incorrectly adjusted
• The front wheel alignment is incorrectly adjusted (Section 10)
• The steering rack or steering column is bent or damaged (Section 10)

(Text published on the website renaultbook)

Excessive play in steering

• The universal joint of the steering column is worn out (Section 10)
• The ball joints of the steering gear tie rod end are worn out (Section 10)
• The rack and pinion mechanism is worn out (Section 10)
• Worn suspension or steering components, bushings or joints (Section 10)

Lack of amplifier power

• The auxiliary drive belt is damaged or incorrectly adjusted
• Incorrect power steering fluid level
• The power steering hydraulic system hoses are pinched (Section 10)
• The power steering pump is faulty (Section 10)
• The rack and pinion steering mechanism is faulty (Section 10)

Excessive tire wear

Tires are worn on the inside or outside edges

• Low tire pressure (wear on both sides)
• Incorrect front camber angle or kingpin caster angle (wear on one edge only) (Section 10)
• Worn suspension or steering components, bushings or joints (Section 10)
• Excessively sharp cornering

The tire treads have worn edges

• Incorrect camber/toe angle setting (Section 10)

The tires are worn in the center of the tread

• The tires are overinflated

The tires are worn unevenly

• The tires are out of balance
• Severe wear of the wheel rim or bearings
• The shock absorbers are worn out (Section 10)
• Defective tire