ASE Test A4, Section A - Manual and Powered Steering
Systems Diagnosis and Repair
What four steering components may cause excessive steering wheel free play?
ANSWER A worn flexible coupling, worn steering u-joint, loose steering gear mounting bolts,
and/or a loose steering gear preload.
What must be centered as it is tightened into position?
ANSWER The vehicle's subframe.
What must be centered and neutralized when the subframe is serviced?
ANSWER The steering colum.
What two things can cause binding in the steering column?
ANSWER Off center subframes, and off center steering columns.
Off center subframes can cause what in the steering column?
ANSWER Binding.
Off center steering columns can cause what in the steering?
ANSWER Binding.
On a front wheel drive vehicle, what four things does the subframe support?
ANSWER Engine, Transmission, Drive Train, and Suspension.
What must be centered and tightened into position when it is loosened or removed for service?
ANSWER The vehicle's subframe.
,What type of holes are there in the brackets attaching the steering column to the chassis brace
under the dash?
ANSWER Slotted Holes.
How is the steering column attached to the vehicle?
ANSWER It is attached through slotted holes in brackets attaching the steering column to
the chassis brace.
What two things should you do if you remove the steering column?
ANSWER Center and neutralize the steering column.
What causes excessive steering wheel freeplay in a manual steering system?
ANSWER A loose worm bearing preload.
Will an overfilled steering system affect steering effort?
ANSWER No it will not.
What happens to the steering effort when positive caster is less than specified?
ANSWER Steering effort is reduced.
What does a tight sector lash adjustment do to steering effort?
ANSWER Increases steering effort.
What will cause a loud snapping noise when making a turn?
ANSWER A cracked mounting plate at the frame where the steering gear is attached.
What may cause a vehicle to turn in a tighter circle in one direction?
ANSWER A cracked mounting plate at the frame where the steering gear is attached.
, What two things will happen with a bent steering column?
ANSWER Produce a rubbing noise, and the vehicle will be harder to steer, but with no
change in turning radius.
What are three other problems that can cause noise, binding, looseness and hard steering?
ANSWER Bad bearings in the manual steering box, lack of lubrication in the manual steering
box, or loose steering box attaching bolts.
What two things can cause excessive steering wheel free play in a rack and pinion?
ANSWER Loose rack bearing adjustment, or loose steering gear mounting bolts/bracket.
What happens when you have a loose rack bearing adjustment?
ANSWER Excessive steering wheel freeplay.
What happens when you have loose steering gear mounting bolts/bracket?
ANSWER Excessive steering wheel freeplay.
What causes wear on the outside edge of the tire tread?
ANSWER Excessive positive camber.
What causes wear on the inside edge of the tire tread?
ANSWER Excessive negative camber.
What happens when there is insufficient or improper steering gear lubricant?
ANSWER May result in poor steering wheel returnability, and hard steering.
Systems Diagnosis and Repair
What four steering components may cause excessive steering wheel free play?
ANSWER A worn flexible coupling, worn steering u-joint, loose steering gear mounting bolts,
and/or a loose steering gear preload.
What must be centered as it is tightened into position?
ANSWER The vehicle's subframe.
What must be centered and neutralized when the subframe is serviced?
ANSWER The steering colum.
What two things can cause binding in the steering column?
ANSWER Off center subframes, and off center steering columns.
Off center subframes can cause what in the steering column?
ANSWER Binding.
Off center steering columns can cause what in the steering?
ANSWER Binding.
On a front wheel drive vehicle, what four things does the subframe support?
ANSWER Engine, Transmission, Drive Train, and Suspension.
What must be centered and tightened into position when it is loosened or removed for service?
ANSWER The vehicle's subframe.
,What type of holes are there in the brackets attaching the steering column to the chassis brace
under the dash?
ANSWER Slotted Holes.
How is the steering column attached to the vehicle?
ANSWER It is attached through slotted holes in brackets attaching the steering column to
the chassis brace.
What two things should you do if you remove the steering column?
ANSWER Center and neutralize the steering column.
What causes excessive steering wheel freeplay in a manual steering system?
ANSWER A loose worm bearing preload.
Will an overfilled steering system affect steering effort?
ANSWER No it will not.
What happens to the steering effort when positive caster is less than specified?
ANSWER Steering effort is reduced.
What does a tight sector lash adjustment do to steering effort?
ANSWER Increases steering effort.
What will cause a loud snapping noise when making a turn?
ANSWER A cracked mounting plate at the frame where the steering gear is attached.
What may cause a vehicle to turn in a tighter circle in one direction?
ANSWER A cracked mounting plate at the frame where the steering gear is attached.
, What two things will happen with a bent steering column?
ANSWER Produce a rubbing noise, and the vehicle will be harder to steer, but with no
change in turning radius.
What are three other problems that can cause noise, binding, looseness and hard steering?
ANSWER Bad bearings in the manual steering box, lack of lubrication in the manual steering
box, or loose steering box attaching bolts.
What two things can cause excessive steering wheel free play in a rack and pinion?
ANSWER Loose rack bearing adjustment, or loose steering gear mounting bolts/bracket.
What happens when you have a loose rack bearing adjustment?
ANSWER Excessive steering wheel freeplay.
What happens when you have loose steering gear mounting bolts/bracket?
ANSWER Excessive steering wheel freeplay.
What causes wear on the outside edge of the tire tread?
ANSWER Excessive positive camber.
What causes wear on the inside edge of the tire tread?
ANSWER Excessive negative camber.
What happens when there is insufficient or improper steering gear lubricant?
ANSWER May result in poor steering wheel returnability, and hard steering.
