Course Syllabus
Course: AUTO 1401
Division: Business and Applied Tech
Department: Transportation Technology
Title: Automotive Suspension and Steering
Semester Approved: Fall 2020
Five-Year Review Semester: Fall 2025
End Semester: Spring 2026
Catalog Description: This course covers the repair and adjustment of suspension and steering systems. Students study steering gears, rack and pinion, conventional and MacPherson struts, alignment angles, and alignment with computerized four-wheel alignment fixture. This lecture class AUTO 1401 must be taken concurrently with the lab AUTO 1405.
Semesters Offered: Spring
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 2; Lecture: 2; Lab: 0
Clock/Hour Requirements: 30
Prerequisites: N/A
Corequisites: AUTO 1405
Justification: This course is required for Automotive Service Excellence (A.S.E.) certification and ASE Education Foundation accreditation. It is approved by the program advisory committee. It is a core course for the Automotive Technology AAS degree.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will be able to safely perform the tasks listed in the current edition of the ASE Education Foundation Certification and Accreditation for Automobile Training Programs. Students will complete 100% of priority 1, 90% of priority 2, and 90% of priority 3 tasks outlined by ASE Education Foundation and will be assessed by completion of lab sheets and ASE Education Foundation task lists.
Students will gain a basic knowledge of steering angles; i.e., Caster, Camber, Toe, etc. Students will be assessed by completion of appropriate lab sheets, chapter review questions, and quizzes.
Students will be able recognize and use the appropriate specialized tools and equipment to diagnose and repair suspension and steering systems. Students will be assessed by completion of appropriate lab sheets, chapter review questions, and quizzes.
Students learn the procedures to properly complete a 4-wheel alignment on a vehicle, taking measurements and making adjustments. Students will be assessed by completion of appropriate lab sheets, chapter review questions, and quizzes.
Content:
Course specific safety
History and evolution of automotive suspension systems
Wheel bearing types
Tire and wheel design and repair
Four-wheel drive front end systems
Suspension electrical and electronic system design and operation
Four-wheel alignment
Spring types
Shock absorber and strut design types
Suspension angles; i.e. camber, caster, and toe.
Key Performance Indicators:
Students will be graded on homework assignments, attendance, participation, lab sheets, and a final test.
Homework, quizzes, lab sheets 60 to 80%
Attendance and participation 0 to 25%
Final test 10 to 25%
Representative Text and/or Supplies:
Today's Technician, Automotive Suspension and Steering Systems, Mark Schnubel, Cengage Learning, current edition.
Pedagogy Statement:
This is a lecture class taught in conjunction with a lab, AUTO 1405. Students will be taught using lecture, discussion, demonstration, and hands-on activities.
Instructional Mediums:
Lecture
Maximum Class Size: 25
Optimum Class Size: 15
