Course Content Form

PIMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Effective Term: Fall 2015

AUT 139 Automotive Steering and Alignment Systems

Credit Hours: 3.00 Lecture Periods: 1.00 Lab Periods: 6.00

Description:
Principles and procedures for automotive steering and alignment systems service. Includes safety,
manual and power steering systems, wheel alignment diagnosis, adjustment, and repair. Also includes
wheel and tire diagnosis and repair.

Course Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
1. Perform adjustment of camber/caster/toe on a shim type front end.
2. Demonstrate understanding of tire wear and inspection, perform a patch repair, and balance a tire on a
computerized wheel balancer.
3. Perform removal/replacement procedures of a manual rack & pinion steering gear.
4. Perform adjustment of camber/caster on a slotted hole type front end, and measure king pin inclination
(KPI) angle.
5. Perform adjustment procedures on a Saginaw manual steering gear.
6. Perform inspection, test, service, and removal/replacement procedures of a power steering pump and
related components.
7. Perform a typical 4-wheel alignment utilizing the hunter rack, and perform related checks and
adjustments.
8. Perform removal/replacement of steering wheel, clock spring, disable/enable SRS (Supplemental
Restraint System) circuits on a Chevrolet Suburban, and use of scan tool for SRS data on Oldsmobile
vehicle.

Outline:
I. Safety
A. Work habits
B. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
C. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
D. Regulations
E. Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) regulations
F. Fire extinguishers and exits
II. Manual Steering Systems
A. Disabling Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS)
B. Steering column noises and binding problems diagnosis
C. Manual steering gear diagnosis and adjustment
D. Manual rack and pinion steering gear diagnosis and adjustment
III. Power Steering Systems
A. Power steering pump and related component service, inspection, testing and remove and
replace
B. Power rack and pinion steering gear service, inspection, and adjustment
 C. Introduction to active steering
D. Introduction to electronically assisted steering
E. Introduction to all wheel steering
IV. Wheel Alignment Diagnosis, Adjustment, and Repair
A. Wheel alignment theory
B. Vehicle steering problem diagnosis and repairs
C. Camber and caster angles checking and adjustment
D. Front wheel toe checking and adjustment
E. Steering Axis Inclination (SAI) and King Pin Inclination (KPI) checking and repairs
F. Four wheel alignment
V. Wheel and Tire Diagnosis and Repair
A. Unusual tire wear pattern diagnosis and repairs
B. Tire inspection repair and air pressure adjustment
C. Wheel and tire vibration problem diagnosis and repair
D. Tire rotation and lug nut torque to factory recommendations
E. Wheel and tire assembly balance
F. Pre-alignment check
G. Introduction to run flat tires
H. Introduction to tire pressure and profile monitoring