Steering gear
Ask your assistant to turn the steering wheel all the way, first in one direction and then in the other direction. Make sure that the steering operates smoothly and that no part of the steering gear, including the wheel or tire, is rubbing against any brake hose or pipe or against any Body Part.
Inspect the steering rack rubber bellows for cracks, grease leaks, or loose clamps. If power steering is installed, inspect for signs of wear on hoses, lines, or connections. Also check for steering that is too tight or sticky, for cotter pins and locks, and for any significant body corrosion within 30 cm of the steering mounting points.
Front and rear suspension and wheel bearings
Starting at the right front wheel of the car, grasp it at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions and shake vigorously. Check for any play or looseness in wheel bearings, suspension ball joints, or suspension mounts, axles and joints.
Now grasp the wheel at the 12 and 6 o'clock points and repeat the previous check. Spin the wheel, checking that the front wheel bearing is not smooth or difficult to rotate.
If it seems to you that there is too much play in any hinge, then this can be confidently installed with a large screwdriver or similar tool used as a lever inserted between the support and the attached element. This will allow you to determine whether there is wear in the axle bushing, its mounting bolt, or in the support itself (bolt holes often become elongated).
Perform all of the above checks on the other front wheel and then on both rear wheels.
Springs and shock absorbers
Check suspension struts (if they exist), looking for signs of significant fluid leakage, corrosion, or damage to the housing. Also check the reliability of the attachment points.
If coil springs are installed, then make sure that their ends are correctly located in the plates, the springs do not have significant corrosion, cracks or breakage.
If the vehicle is equipped with leaf springs, check that none of the leaf springs is damaged, that the axle is securely attached to each spring, and that there is no wear or damage to the spring mounting lugs, bushings, or spring clevises.
The same general checks are carried out on vehicles equipped with other types of suspensions, such as torsion bars, hydropneumatics, etc. Check that the supports and connections are secure, that there is no excessive wear, corrosion or damage, and (for hydraulic devices) no fluid leaks or damaged tubes.
Inspect the shock absorbers, looking for signs of significant fluid leakage. Make sure that there is no unacceptable wear on the bushings of the supports and connections, as well as damage to the shock absorber body.
Brake system
If it is possible to do this without dismantling, check the wear of the brake linings and the condition of the disc. Make sure that there is no excessive wear on the friction surfaces (A) and that the discs do not have cracks, chips, pitting and other damage (IN).
Check the condition of all metal brake pipes under the vehicle and the condition of the flexible hoses. Look for corrosion, fraying, or loose tubing, as well as bulging, fraying, or corroding of flexible hoses.
Look for signs of brake fluid leakage on the caliper and back wall of the brake. Repair or replace worn parts.
Slowly rotate each wheel while your assistant depresses and releases the brake pedal. Make sure each brake stops the wheel and does not rub when the pedal is released.
Check the handbrake actuator for frayed or broken cables, excessive corrosion, wear and loose fittings. Check the braking of each wheel and make sure that when the brake is released, the wheel rotates freely without binding.
The effectiveness of the brakes cannot be checked without special equipment, but later on the brakes can be tested on the road, and this must be checked. whether the car skids when braking.
Drive shafts (only for front wheel drive vehicles)
Rotate each front wheel in turn and inspect the CV joint guards. Also make sure that the drive shafts are not bent or damaged.
Fuel system and exhaust system
Inspect the fuel tank (including lid), fuel lines, hoses and connections (fittings). All components must be in good condition and show no signs of leakage.
Inspect the entire length of the exhaust system for damage, broken or deformed parts, rust or corrosion.
Wheels and tires
Inspect the sidewalls and tread area of each tire. Check for breaks, bulges, tread breaks and cord damage.
Check if the tire nipple is correctly positioned on the inside side surface of the wheel rim, check that the nipple is intact and that the wheel rim is not damaged or deformed.
Check that the tires are the correct size for the vehicle, that each axle has the same type and size of tires, and that the tire pressures are correct.
Check the tire tread depth. The minimum depth - 1.6 mm - must be at least 3/4 of the tread width. Incorrect tread wear may indicate incorrect front wheel alignment.
Body corrosion
Check the condition of the car body and check for signs of corrosion, especially in stress-bearing areas (spars and box-shaped chassis parts, sills, cross members, struts and the entire suspension, steering, brake system, safety belt mounts, etc.). Any corrosion that severely reduces the thickness of the metal in the stressed area can cause an accident. In such cases, it is necessary to repair the body by contacting the services of a professional.
Damage or corrosion that results in sharp edges on the bodywork may be grounds for declaring the vehicle unserviceable.