Virginia Administrative Code › Title 19 - PUBLIC SAFETY › Agency 30 - DEPARTMENT OF STATE POLICE › Chapter 70 - MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION REGULATIONS › Part III - Inspection Requirements for Passenger Vehicles and Vehicles Up to 10,000 Pounds (GVWR) › Section 19VAC30-70-110 - Steering and suspension

Current through Register Vol. 40, No. 24, July 15, 2024
A. The
				  steering and suspension systems installed and utilized on motor vehicles have
				  evolved to where many different suspension systems are being designed,
				  developed, and employed on vehicles. To properly inspect the steering and
				  suspension on vehicles, it may be necessary for the inspection to be made in
				  accordance with manufacturer's recommended procedures in addition to meeting
				  any requirements outlined in this regulation.
B. Inspect for and reject if:
1. Any modification has been made that
				  affects normal functioning of the shock absorbers. The inspector should operate
				  the vehicle when in doubt. (If there is no evidence of the convolutions (coils)
				  of the spring hitting one another, one pair (two) of nonmetallic coil spring
				  stabilizers may be present in each of a vehicle's front coil springs, provided
				  the installation of the stabilizers does not cause the springs to be higher
				  than their original height.)
Shock absorbers in fully extended or compressed positions
					 when the vehicle is stationary will not function normally.
2. The front end suspension has been modified
				  by the use of lift blocks. (A lift block is defined as any solid piece of wood,
				  metal, or other material placed between and separating the vehicle's front axle
				  and the springs.) This does not prohibit the use of shims that may be necessary
				  to correct front end alignment.
3.
				  Any modification has been made to the front end suspension which reduces
				  turning radius, bypasses safety components of original steering mechanism or if
				  there is any lateral movement between the axle and frame.
4. Any modification has been made to the
				  suspension to cause the vehicle body or chassis to come in contact with the
				  ground or expose the fuel tank to damage from collision.
Reject the vehicle if it has been modified by any means so
					 as to raise its body more than three inches above the manufacturer's attachment
					 points or the frame rail (exclude original manufacturer's spacers, washers or
					 bushings when measuring).
5.
				  Any modification has been made to cause the wheels to come in contact with the
				  body or frame under normal operating conditions.
6. A motor vehicle has a repair kit or
				  preventive maintenance kit installed on a tie rod end, idler arm, ball joint,
				  or any other part of the vehicle's steering gear.
NOTE: The repair kit or preventive maintenance kit usually
					 consists of a small coil spring and a plastic cap that is placed over the bolt
					 stud of the component and held in place by a retaining nut. There is nothing in
					 this paragraph that prohibits the replacement of parts or components of a motor
					 vehicle's steering gear in order to correct deficiencies in the steering
					 gear.
7. When checked
				  visually, the wheels appear to be out of line or an axle is bent.
8. Any vehicle that shimmies or wanders at
				  normal operating speeds.
9. Rack
				  and pinion steering bellows (boot) is defective or missing. Do not inspect
				  constant-velocity (CV) boots, CV joints, or universal joints on rear wheel
				  drive vehicles.
NOTE: CV boots on the vehicle shall not be rejected if the
					 CV boots are defective or missing.
10. Power steering is defective and affects
				  adequate steering of the vehicle or power steering fluid in reservoir is below
				  operating level, or if there is an obvious leak of power steering fluid. Do not
				  reject for dampness.
NOTE: If the vehicle is equipped with power steering, the
					 engine must be running during testing.
11. Power steering hoses have any cracks,
				  crimps, or restrictions or are abraded, exposing inner fabric; tubing or
				  connections leak or are crimped, restricted, cracked, or broken. Power steering
				  tubing and hoses must be secured against chaffing, kinking, or other mechanical
				  damage and be installed in a manner that prevents contact with the vehicle's
				  exhaust system or any other source of high temperatures.
12. Power steering belt does not have
				  sufficient tension, is frayed, or missing. The serpentine belt should only be
				  rejected if a chunk of the ribbing is missing or a deep cut or crack exposes
				  the inner fabric of the belt. (Do not reject for the many little surface cracks
				  that appear in the ribs or back.)
13. Any modification has been made to any
				  part of the steering or suspension system that affects proper steering or
				  suspension or any part of the original suspension system has been disconnected.
NOTE: "All thread rod material" shall not be used as
					 U-bolts in the suspension system.
Vehicles registered as street rods may substitute any part
					 of the original suspension system provided the components are installed in
					 accordance with the component manufacturers' specifications.
14. Any modification or replacement has been
				  made to the steering wheel that affects proper steering. The steering wheel
				  shall be rejected if the outside diameter is less than 13 inches unless
				  original factory equipment.
15.
				  Steering column has any absence or looseness of bolts or positioning parts,
				  resulting in motion of the steering column from its normal position.
16. A spring is broken, sagging or
				  misaligned, shackles are worn or loose, or if air bags are collapsed or the air
				  suspension system leaks or is deflated.
CAUTION: Underneath inspection of a vehicle equipped with
					 air suspension with excessive leak down could result in serious personal
					 injury.
17. Shock absorbers
				  or cross stabilizer links are disconnected, broken, bent, loose, or do not
				  function properly on vehicles with this design.
18. Any front or rear axle or suspension
				  positioning parts are cracked, broken, loose, worn, bent or missing, resulting
				  in shifting of an axle from the normal position. Any control arm or suspension
				  positioning part using bushings for control, support and normal functioning is
				  missing the bushing or the bushing is worn to the extent that the component can
				  be moved by hand along the axis of the component.
NOTE: All rear suspension parts including but not limited
					 to control arms (upper and lower ball joints, radius or torque arms, stabilizer
					 bars, and trailing arms) shall not have any damage or noticeable play when
					 checked with hand pressure.
19. A Mac Pherson strut installed on a motor
				  vehicle is broken, bent, loose or does not function properly.
NOTE: Do not reject a shock absorber or Mac Pherson strut
					 unless there is evidence of leakage that causes the device not to function
					 properly.
20. If vehicles
				  measured movement at top or bottom of tire is greater than:
Wheel Size:
less than 17 inches -
1/4 inch
17 to 18 inches -
3/8 inch
over 18 inches -
1/2 inch
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								image
Proper lifting for wheel bearing, steering linkage
								looseness, and king pin play action
FIGURE A
FIGURE B
FIGURE C
NOTE: King pin play. If vehicle is equipped with king pins,
					 first eliminate all wheel bearing movement by applying service brake. With
					 front end lifted as illustrated for inspecting wheel bearings (Figure C), grasp
					 the tire at the top and bottom and attempt to move it in and out to detect
					 looseness. Measure the movement at the top or bottom of the tire at the outer
					 circumference.