Safety Warning

DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.

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HOMESERVICE MANUALSFORD2007ESCAPE BASE, 2.3 Z, FWD, AUTOMATICREPAIR AND DIAGNOSISEXTERNAL PAGESDIFFERENT CARSECTION 138 (SUSPENSION SYSTEM-GENERAL INFORMATION)DIAGNOSIS AND TESTINGSUSPENSION SYSTEMSYMPTOM CHART

2007 Ford Escape Base, 2.3 Z, FWD, Automatic

Symptom Chart

2007 Ford Escape Base, 2.3 Z, FWD, AutomaticSECTION Symptom Chart

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2005 Mercury Montego, 2005 Ford Freestyle, and 2005 Ford Five Hundred. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

SYMPTOM CHART

Condition	Possible Sources	Action
Dogtracking	Front or rear suspension components.	INSPECT the front and rear suspension system. REPAIR or INSTALL new suspension components as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION or REAR SUSPENSION .
	Damaged rear suspension components.	INSTALL new rear suspension components as necessary. REFER to REAR SUSPENSION .
Drift/pull	Unequal tire pressure.	ADJUST tire pressure.
	Mismatched tire(s).	INSTALL matching tire(s). REFER to WHEELS & TIRES .
	Excessive side-to-side difference in camber.	CHECK wheel alignment. ADJUST as necessary.
	Tire forces.	ROTATE tires front to rear.
	Unevenly loaded or overloaded vehicle.	NOTIFY the customer of incorrect vehicle loading.
	Steering components.	REFER to STEERING SYSTEM-GENERAL INFORMATION .
	Brake drag.	REFER to BRAKE SYSTEM-GENERAL INFORMATION .
Front bottoming or riding low	Strut(s).	INSTALL new strut(s).
	Front spring(s).	CHECK ride height. INSTALL new front spring(s). REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION .
Incorrect tire wear (uneven or excessive)	Incorrect tire pressure (rapid center rib or inner and outer edge wear).	ADJUST tire pressure.
	Excessive front or rear toe (rapid inner or outer edge wear).	CHECK wheel alignment. ADJUST as necessary.
	Excessive negative or positive camber (rapid inner or outer edge wear).	CHECK wheel alignment. ADJUST as necessary. INSTALL new tires as necessary. REFER to WHEELS & TIRES .
	Tires out of balance (tires cupped or dished).	BALANCE tires.
Rough ride	Shock absorber(s) or strut(s).	INSTALL new shock absorber(s) or strut(s).
	Front spring(s) or rear spring(s).	INSTALL new front spring(s) or rear spring(s) as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION or REAR SUSPENSION .
Shimmy or wheel tramp	Loose wheel nut(s).	TIGHTEN to specification. REFER to WHEELS & TIRES .
	Loose front suspension fasteners.	TIGHTEN to specification. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION .
	Front wheel bearing(s).	REFER to WHEEL BEARING INSPECTION - FRONT AND REAR .
	Wheel or tire concerns.	REFER to WHEELS & TIRES .
	Front spring(s).	INSTALL new front spring(s) as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION .
	Shock absorber(s).	INSTALL new shock absorber(s) as necessary.
	Loose, worn or damaged ball joint(s).	GO to the BALL JOINT INSPECTION component test.
	Loose, worn or damaged steering components.	REFER to STEERING SYSTEM-GENERAL INFORMATION .
	Front wheel alignment.	CHECK the wheel alignment. ADJUST as necessary.
Sticky steering, poor returnability	Ball joints.	GO to the BALL JOINT INSPECTION component test.
	Steering components.	REFER to STEERING SYSTEM-GENERAL INFORMATION .
Steering wheel off-center	Unequal front settings (side-to-side).	CHECK the wheel alignment. ADJUST as necessary.
	Steering components.	REFER to STEERING SYSTEM-GENERAL INFORMATION .
	Damaged rear suspension components.	REPAIR as necessary. REFER to REAR SUSPENSION .
Sway or roll	Overloaded, unevenly or incorrectly loaded vehicle.	NOTIFY the customer of incorrect vehicle loading.
	Loose wheel nut(s).	TIGHTEN to specification. REFER to WHEELS & TIRES .
	Shock absorber(s).	INSTALL new shock absorber(s) as necessary.
	Loose front stabilizer bar.	TIGHTEN to specification. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION .
	Stabilizer bar bushings.	INSTALL new stabilizer bar. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION .
	Front suspension lower arm bushings.	INSTALL a new front suspension lower arm. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION .
	Front spring(s) or rear spring(s).	INSTALL new front spring(s) or rear spring(s) as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION or REAR SUSPENSION .
Vehicle leans to one side	Unevenly loaded or overloaded vehicle.	NOTIFY the customer of incorrect vehicle loading.
	Front or rear suspension components.	INSPECT the front and rear suspension system. INSTALL new suspension components as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION or REAR SUSPENSION .
	Front spring(s) or rear spring(s).	INSTALL new front spring(s) or rear spring(s) as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION or REAR SUSPENSION .
Vibration/noise	Tires and wheel concerns. Wheel bearings. Wheel hubs. Brake components. Suspension components. Steering components.	REFER to NOISE, VIBRATION & HARSHNESS .
Wander	Unevenly loaded or overloaded vehicle.	NOTIFY the customer of incorrect vehicle loading.
	Ball joint(s).	GO to the BALL JOINT INSPECTION component test.
	Front wheel bearing(s).	REFER to the WHEEL BEARING INSPECTION - FRONT AND REAR .
	Loose, worn or damaged suspension component(s).	INSTALL new suspension components as necessary. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION or REAR SUSPENSION .
	Loose suspension fasteners.	TIGHTEN to specification. REFER to FRONT SUSPENSION or REAR SUSPENSION .
	Steering components.	REFER to STEERING SYSTEM-GENERAL INFORMATION .
	Wheel alignment.	ADJUST as necessary (excessive total front toe out).

RENDER: 1.0x

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When to See a Mechanic

Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:

• You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
• Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
• The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
• You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
• You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.