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ASE A5 - Brakes Questions and Correct
Answers/ Latest Update / Already Graded
On a car with disc/drum brakes, the front brakes grab quickly when light pedal
pressure is applied. This problem could be caused by a bad:
A. Proportioning valve
B. Pressure safety switch
C. Metering valve
D. Residual check valve
Ans: The correct answer is C. The metering valve delays the flow of brake fluid to
the front calipers until the pressure in the system rises to a point where the wheel
cylinder can overcome the tension of the brake shoe returning spring. The purpose is
to have both front and rear brakes apply simultaneously. This prevents the front
brakes from locking up during light brake applications.
The driver of a vehicle with power disc/drum brakes says that the brake pedal
moved slowly to the floor while maintaining pedal pressure at a stoplight. What
could cause this problem?
A. Leaking primary piston cup in master cylinder
B. Leaking power brake booster
C. Leaking residual check valve in master cylinder
D. Internal leak in the combination valve
Ans: The correct answer is A. if the primary piston cup in the master cylinder is
leaking, pressure will not build up ahead of the primary piston to increase pressure
to the rear brakes. The piston will then move forward until the spring is compressed
enough to move the secondary piston. Consequently, this internal leak will cause the
brake pedal to slowly drop to the floor.
What is the purpose of the master cylinder residual check valve(s) on vehicles
equipped with drum brakes?
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A. Allowed the driver to pump up the brakes
B. Prevents air from entering the hydraulic system
C. Prevents wheel lockup by reducing the hydraulic pressure
D. Reduces pedal pulsation by controlling hydraulic pressure
Ans: The correct answer is B. Residual check valve(s) are used on drum brakes to
keep residual low pressure (slight static pressure) in the brake system at all times
even when the brake pedal is released. This pressure (5-20 psi) keeps the lips of
the wheel cylinder piston cups tight against the cylinder walls to prevent air from
entering the system when at rest (brakes released).
A technician has just overhauled the front brakes on a vehicle with front disc and
rear drum brakes. However, when he attaches a pressure bleeder (pressurized to
about 25 psi) to the master cylinder, he cannot get any fluid to come out of the disc
brake caliper bleeder screws. Which of the following is MOST LIKELY the cause?
A. Bad proportioning valve
B. Bad pressure differential valve
C. proportioning valve release button not activated
D. Metering valve release button not activated
Ans: The correct answer is D. A metering valve requires a minimum pressure
(typically 75-125 psi) to open. At this point pressurized fluid flows to the front
calipers. Since the bleeder tank is only pressurized to 25 psi, fluid pressure is too
low to open the metering valve during this procedure, Therefore, when you use a
pressure bleeder on a system with a metering valve, you must manually keep the
valve open by either pushing the button in the end of the valve, or pulling the stem
outward on the end of the valve.
On a vehicle with single piston floating caliper front disc brakes, the brake pads on
the left side of the vehicle are almost completely worn while the right side is almost
new. Tech A says that too much rotor runout could be the cause. Tech B says that a
binding caliper piston could be the cause. Who is right?
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A. Technician A only
B. Technician B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A or B
Ans: The correct answer is B. Excessive rotor runout would cause a pulsating brake
pedal, but not uneven side-to-side pad wear. A frozen caliper piston on the other
hand, will keep both inner and outer brake pads equally applied against the rotor
even when the brake pedal is released. This constant friction will cause rapid pad
wear in the affected caliper as well as the front-end pull
A hydraulic brake line is leaking. Which of the following is the correct repair
procedure?
A. Cut out the bad section and replace with new steel tubing using compression
fittings.
B. Replace the leaking line with double-flared, seamless copper tubing.
C. Cut out the bad section and replaced with single-flared steel tubing using flare
nuts and unions.
D. Replace the leaking line with double-flared steel tubing.
Ans: The correct answer is D. Steel tubing of the same size, type, and length with
double flared ends must be used when replacing a traditional SAE double inverted
flair style hydraulic brake line.
Which of the following problems would be caused by using a residual check valve
in a disc brake master cylinder?
A. Reduced brake pedal travel
B. Reduced brake system pressure
C. Increased brake pad wear
D. Increased rotor runout.
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Ans: The correct answer is C. If a residual check valve was installed in a disc
brake master cylinder, it would cause increased brake pad wear since the residual
brake pressure would cause the caliper pistons to keep the pads applied even
when the brake pedal is released.
A customer complains that their vehicle pulls to the right when the brakes are
applied. Technician A says a restricted brake line to the left caliper can cause this
problem. Technician B says a malfunctioning proportioning valve is probably the
cause. Who is right?
A. Technician A only
B. Technician B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A or B
Ans: The correct answer is A. A restriction in the brake line will cause a drop in
fluid pressure to the affected caliper. This will cause the caliper to be unable to
exert the same force against the pads as the unrestricted side. because of this, the
vehicle will pull to the side where the pressure is highest and brake force is
greatest. In this case, that would be the right side.
With foot pressure applied, the brake pedal on a vehicle with vacuum assisted
power brakes moves down slightly when the engine is started. Tech A says that this
condition can be caused by a leaking power brake booster diaphragm. Tech B says
that the cause could be a faulty power brake booster check valve. Who is right?
A. Technician A only
B. Technician B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A or B
ASE A5 - Brakes Questions and Correct
Answers/ Latest Update / Already Graded
On a car with disc/drum brakes, the front brakes grab quickly when light pedal
pressure is applied. This problem could be caused by a bad:
A. Proportioning valve
B. Pressure safety switch
C. Metering valve
D. Residual check valve
Ans: The correct answer is C. The metering valve delays the flow of brake fluid to
the front calipers until the pressure in the system rises to a point where the wheel
cylinder can overcome the tension of the brake shoe returning spring. The purpose is
to have both front and rear brakes apply simultaneously. This prevents the front
brakes from locking up during light brake applications.
The driver of a vehicle with power disc/drum brakes says that the brake pedal
moved slowly to the floor while maintaining pedal pressure at a stoplight. What
could cause this problem?
A. Leaking primary piston cup in master cylinder
B. Leaking power brake booster
C. Leaking residual check valve in master cylinder
D. Internal leak in the combination valve
Ans: The correct answer is A. if the primary piston cup in the master cylinder is
leaking, pressure will not build up ahead of the primary piston to increase pressure
to the rear brakes. The piston will then move forward until the spring is compressed
enough to move the secondary piston. Consequently, this internal leak will cause the
brake pedal to slowly drop to the floor.
What is the purpose of the master cylinder residual check valve(s) on vehicles
equipped with drum brakes?
, 2 | Page
A. Allowed the driver to pump up the brakes
B. Prevents air from entering the hydraulic system
C. Prevents wheel lockup by reducing the hydraulic pressure
D. Reduces pedal pulsation by controlling hydraulic pressure
Ans: The correct answer is B. Residual check valve(s) are used on drum brakes to
keep residual low pressure (slight static pressure) in the brake system at all times
even when the brake pedal is released. This pressure (5-20 psi) keeps the lips of
the wheel cylinder piston cups tight against the cylinder walls to prevent air from
entering the system when at rest (brakes released).
A technician has just overhauled the front brakes on a vehicle with front disc and
rear drum brakes. However, when he attaches a pressure bleeder (pressurized to
about 25 psi) to the master cylinder, he cannot get any fluid to come out of the disc
brake caliper bleeder screws. Which of the following is MOST LIKELY the cause?
A. Bad proportioning valve
B. Bad pressure differential valve
C. proportioning valve release button not activated
D. Metering valve release button not activated
Ans: The correct answer is D. A metering valve requires a minimum pressure
(typically 75-125 psi) to open. At this point pressurized fluid flows to the front
calipers. Since the bleeder tank is only pressurized to 25 psi, fluid pressure is too
low to open the metering valve during this procedure, Therefore, when you use a
pressure bleeder on a system with a metering valve, you must manually keep the
valve open by either pushing the button in the end of the valve, or pulling the stem
outward on the end of the valve.
On a vehicle with single piston floating caliper front disc brakes, the brake pads on
the left side of the vehicle are almost completely worn while the right side is almost
new. Tech A says that too much rotor runout could be the cause. Tech B says that a
binding caliper piston could be the cause. Who is right?
, 3 | Page
A. Technician A only
B. Technician B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A or B
Ans: The correct answer is B. Excessive rotor runout would cause a pulsating brake
pedal, but not uneven side-to-side pad wear. A frozen caliper piston on the other
hand, will keep both inner and outer brake pads equally applied against the rotor
even when the brake pedal is released. This constant friction will cause rapid pad
wear in the affected caliper as well as the front-end pull
A hydraulic brake line is leaking. Which of the following is the correct repair
procedure?
A. Cut out the bad section and replace with new steel tubing using compression
fittings.
B. Replace the leaking line with double-flared, seamless copper tubing.
C. Cut out the bad section and replaced with single-flared steel tubing using flare
nuts and unions.
D. Replace the leaking line with double-flared steel tubing.
Ans: The correct answer is D. Steel tubing of the same size, type, and length with
double flared ends must be used when replacing a traditional SAE double inverted
flair style hydraulic brake line.
Which of the following problems would be caused by using a residual check valve
in a disc brake master cylinder?
A. Reduced brake pedal travel
B. Reduced brake system pressure
C. Increased brake pad wear
D. Increased rotor runout.
, 4 | Page
Ans: The correct answer is C. If a residual check valve was installed in a disc
brake master cylinder, it would cause increased brake pad wear since the residual
brake pressure would cause the caliper pistons to keep the pads applied even
when the brake pedal is released.
A customer complains that their vehicle pulls to the right when the brakes are
applied. Technician A says a restricted brake line to the left caliper can cause this
problem. Technician B says a malfunctioning proportioning valve is probably the
cause. Who is right?
A. Technician A only
B. Technician B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A or B
Ans: The correct answer is A. A restriction in the brake line will cause a drop in
fluid pressure to the affected caliper. This will cause the caliper to be unable to
exert the same force against the pads as the unrestricted side. because of this, the
vehicle will pull to the side where the pressure is highest and brake force is
greatest. In this case, that would be the right side.
With foot pressure applied, the brake pedal on a vehicle with vacuum assisted
power brakes moves down slightly when the engine is started. Tech A says that this
condition can be caused by a leaking power brake booster diaphragm. Tech B says
that the cause could be a faulty power brake booster check valve. Who is right?
A. Technician A only
B. Technician B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A or B
