Missouri Code of State Regulations
Title 11 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
Division 50 - Missouri State Highway Patrol
Chapter 2 - Motor Vehicle Inspection
Section 11 CSR 50-2.200 - Steering Mechanisms
Universal Citation: 11 MO Code of State Regs 50-2.200
Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 18, September 16, 2024
PURPOSE: This amendment updates inspection and rejection criteria for steering wheel play, front and rear wheel play, and ball joints, to align with current industry standards, and updates figures in accordance with changes to rule.
(1) Steering Wheel Play.
(A) An inspection for steering wheel play
will consist of checking steering sector for looseness and binding condition.
If vehicle is equipped with power steering, the engine must be running and the
fluid level and belt tension must be adequate before testing. Turn steering
wheel through a full right and left turn. If equipped, inspect energy absorbing
steering column.
(B) Inspect
steering.
1. Reject vehicle if-
A. Steering gear binds or jams other than at
wheel stops;
B. There is more than
two inches (2") of free movement in steering wheels up to and including
eighteen inches (18") in diameter or more than three inches (3") in steering
wheels over eighteen inches (18") in diameter;
C. Power steering belt slips, is frayed, if
serpentine power steering belt has sections missing, if fluid level is below
manufacturer's minimum fluid level, if hoses or connections are leaking, if a
power steering unit has been disconnected and has not been converted to manual
steering, or if any component part is missing, loose, malfunctions, or leaks
sufficient fluid to cause droplets;
D. Energy absorbing steering column is
collapsed or partially collapsed;
E. Steering wheel and steering column are not
properly secured; or
F. Steering
gear box or steering rack assembly is not securely mounted.
(2) Front and Rear Wheel Play.
(A) An inspection for
front and rear wheel play, which includes steering linkage, pitman arm, idler
arm, stabilizer bar(s), connections, link(s), wheel bearings, tie rod ends, and
adjusting sleeves, can only be made by putting the ball joints under load. To
load ball joints, the vehicle must be hoisted-
1. Under the frame if the spring or torsion
bar is on the lower control arm (Figure 1, included herein);
2. Under lower control arm, close to ball
joint, if spring or torsion bar is on upper control arm (Figure 2, included
herein); and
3. From the underside
of axle (Figure 3, included herein) if the vehicle is equipped with king pins
or Twin I-Beams with ball joints (Figure 10, included herein).
(B) Inspect front and rear wheel
bearings by grasping the tire by both top and bottom, and rocking it in and
out. To verify that any looseness detected is in the wheel bearings, notice the
movement between the brake drum or disc and the backing plate or splash
shield.
(C) Inspect front wheels,
king pin (spindle bolts) and idler arm for play. On vehicles with power
steering, the engine must be running. Eliminate all wheel bearing movement by
first applying the service brake. Grasp front and rear of tire and attempt to
turn assembly right and left. Then grasp top and bottom of tire and attempt to
rock it in and out. Observe movement at extreme front and rear-top and
bottom-of tire (Figures 4 and 5, included herein).
(D) Inspect all steering linkage, pitman arm,
stabilizer bar(s), connections, link(s), tie rods and adjusting sleeves for
locked joints and looseness by working them up and down and back and forth by
hand.
(E) Inspect condition of all
upper and lower control arms, pivot shafts, pivot shaft mountings, radius arms,
and all bushings.
1. Reject vehicle if-
A. Wheel bearing looseness in an adjustable
wheel bearing allows relative movement between drum and backing plate (disc and
splash shield) of more than one-eighth inch (1/8") measured at the outer
circumference of the tire for vehicles ten thousand pounds (10,000 lbs.) Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or less, or one-quarter inch (1/4") for vehicles
more than ten thousand pounds (10,000 lbs.) GVWR;
B. A wheel bearing is broken, or falls apart
when a wheel is removed to inspect a brake;
C. Front wheel movement is in excess of
one-fourth inch (1/4") for wheels sixteen inches (16") or less, three-eighths
inch (3/8") for wheels over sixteen inches (16") to and including eighteen
inches (18") and one-half inch (1/2") for wheels over eighteen inches (18")
(see Figures 3, 4, and 5, included herein). (An idler arm or king pin must meet
this criteria before being rejected.);
D. Excessive vertical (up and down) or
lateral (side) movement is evident in any of the steering linkage sockets,
tapered studs are loose in their mounting holes, any movable joints are locked,
any adjusting sleeves are loose, or any joints are not secured with cotter pins
or other devices;
E. A sealed wheel
bearing hub assembly exceeds the manufacturer-recommended wear
specifications;
F. A control arm or
radius arm is badly bent or broken, or if a pivot shaft or a pivot shaft
mounting or any control arm, radius arm, pivot shaft bushing is badly worn or
missing; or
G. Stabilizer bar(s),
links, or connections are badly worn, missing, loose, or broken.
(3) Springs and Shock Absorbers.
(A) A visual examination
must be made of all springs, torsion bars, shock absorbers, bushings, shackles
and "U" bolts with the vehicle on a hoist or jack.
(B) Reject vehicle if:
1. Springs or torsion bars are loose, broken
or spring pieces or torsion bars are missing;
2. Spring shackles or "U" bolts are worn,
missing, loose; or
3. A shock
absorber is missing, disconnected, not securely attached, broken, or if rubber
bushings or mounting bolts are worn-out or missing.
(4) Ball Joints.
(A) An inspection for ball joint wear can
only be made when the joints are unloaded, except those ball joints having a
wear indicator. An inspection of a ball joint which has a wear indicator must
be made while the ball joint is under load with the weight of the vehicle on
its wheels. To unload ball joints, the vehicle must be hoisted:
1. Under lower control arm if spring or
torsion bar is on lower control arm (Figure 6, included herein). The lower ball
joint is the load-carrying ball joint and the upper ball joint is the
nonload-carrying ball joint; and
2.
Under frame if spring or torsion bar is on upper control arm (Figure 7,
included herein). The upper ball joint is the load-carrying ball joint and the
lower ball joint is the nonload-carrying ball joint.
(B) In checking the condition of an unloaded
ball joint, a ball joint gauge need not be used if the inspector is absolutely
certain that the ball joint movement does not exceed the manufacturing
tolerances. A vehicle will not be rejected unless the vertical (up and down) or
horizontal (side-to-side) movement in the load-carrying ball joint has been
accurately measured by a ball joint gauge and the measurement exceeds the
manufacturing tolerances. A vehicle requiring a special tool or method to
measure ball joint movement will not be rejected unless the ball joint is
obviously dangerous. Acceptable ball joint tolerances are determined by the
manufacturer. If the ball joint movement exceeds manufacturing tolerances, the
measured movement shall be listed with the defective part on the MVI-2 form
(see 11 CSR
50-2.120) .
(C) Inspect ball joints with wear indicator,
as shown in Figures 8 and 9, included herein. Wipe the grease fitting and boss
free from dirt and grease. Observe if boss is flush or inside the cover
surface.
(D) Follow manufacturing
recommendations to inspect ball joints without wear indicator.
(E) Inspect ball joints on Twin I-Beam axles
using the following procedure. Eliminate all wheel bearing play by applying the
service brake. Raise the vehicle by hoisting under the I-Beam axle beneath the
spring as shown in Figure 10, included herein. Grasp the lower edge of the tire
and move the wheel in and out. While the wheel is being moved, observe the
lower spindle arm and the lower part of the axle jaw. Grasp the upper edge of
the tire and move the wheel in and out. While the wheel is being moved, observe
the upper spindle arm and the lower part of the axle jaw. Movement of
thirty-one thousandths inch (.031") or greater between the lower or upper
portion of the I-Beam and ball joint indicates that a measurement should be
made at the circumference of the wheel adjacent to the ball joint that exhibits
movement.
(F) Reject vehicle if-
1. The grease fitting boss on the wear
indicator type ball joint is flush or inside the cover surface;
2. MacPherson Strut Suspension System has
severely worn or missing thrust bearing or mounting bushings. If piston rod is
bent or unit is not securely mounted to vehicle;
3. There is free play in any direction in a
nonload-carrying ball joint. If vertical (up and down) movement in a
load-carrying ball joint exceeds manufacturing tolerances;
4. Any joints are not secured with cotter
pins or other devices, or if ball stud is loose in the mounting hole.
*Original authority: 307.360, RSMo 1967, amended 1971, 1973, 1979, 1999.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Missouri may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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