SOS MECHANIC CERTIFICATION- SUSPENSION &
STEERING WITH ANSWERS
Bleeding a power steering unit is generally done by
turning the steering wheel left and right repeatedly
After rounding a turn, the front wheels do not return to the straight ahead position in a
normal way. What adjustment is most likely to be out of specifications?
Caster
"Toe" adjustment on front wheel drive vehicles is made by:
changing he length of the steering linkage
When performing a front-end alignment what should you do before you adjust the toe
setting?
adjust the caster & camber
Front-wheel toe-in adjustment on rear-wheel drive vehicles is made by:
changing the length of the steering linkage
A mechanic is going to adjust the curb height on a car with torsion bars. To do this the
car should be checked:
on a level surface with the car at curb weight
A proper way to check ball joints for wear is by:
visual observation of the wear indicator & unloading the ball joint and using a pry bar
and a dial indicator
which of the following adjustments can be made on all vehicles with MacPherson strut
suspensions?
Toe settings
You are checking the war on ball joints with a dial indicator at the wheel rim. What must
you do to get accurate readings?
check the wheel bearing adjustment and correct if needed
A mechanic jacks up a car, stands facing it, places a hand on the front of each tire. The
mechanic pushes out and then pulls in on both tires. Too much movement would most
likely mean that:
the tie rod ends are worn
Which of the following should be checked first thing when doing a front-end alignment?
Curb height
To counteract road crown, most manufacturers recommend that the left front wheel be
adjusted to have:
Less positive (+) caster than the right
If the toe-in is too great, the tread will most likely show:
feathered edges on both front tires
When a wheel alignment is done on a car with front torsion bars, what should be
checked and adjusted first?
Curb height
Which of the following would be a typical automobile front end camber setting?
-3 degrees +/- 2 1/4 degrees its not the correct answer
A mechanic finds that a front tire is worn on the inside of the tread only. The mechanic
checks the air pressure and finds it correct. What is causing this problem?
The camber is set too negative
, A car will pull to:
the side with the most positive (+) camber
One front tires shows spotty or isolated cupping and worn spots. What is the most likely
cause of this problem?
An out-of-balance tire.
Before you remove a brake rotor from a hub, you should:
mark the position of the rotor
The front wheels shimmy or bounce above 40mpg, even on a smooth, straight road.
The likely cause of this problem is:
Tires out of balance
While replacing a ball joint, you notice that the tapered hole in the steering knuckle is
oval shaped. What should you do about this?
Inform the customer that the knuckle should be replaced.
If the upper ball joints are positioned ahead of the lower ball joints, the condition is:
Negative caster
What is true of most MacPherson type suspensions?
There is no upper control arm.
A mechanic has set caster, camber, and toe-in to specifications. On the road test
afterwards, the mechanic notices that the steering wheel spokes are off center to the
left. What should be done to fix this?
Adjust both tie rod sleeves equally to move the front wheels in the direction of the
steering wheel error
Ball joints with wear indicators should be checked:
when loaded and by visual observation
There is a looseness in the steering column, which of these could cause this problem?
Loose steering column universal joints
Which of these could cause dangerous handling, uncomfortable ride, and noise due to
excessive sideways body movement?
Broken rear track bar
A vehicle has unusual noises when it is jounced up and down, all of these could cause
this problem except:
worn tie rod ends
If the upper ball joint is positioned behind the lower ball joint, which of these describes
the alignment condition?
Positive caster.
Which of these correctly states when a power steering system should be bled?
When the fluid becomes aerated
While diagnosing a vehicle that has a tendency to bump steer, which of these should be
checked first?
Wheel setback
Which of these is NOT part of the normal procedure for replacing a front stabilizer bar?
Disconnect the tie-rod ends
Which of these does NOT need to be checked prior to a wheel alignment?
Tire balance
Which of these can cause front wheel shimmy?
Loos steering linkage
STEERING WITH ANSWERS
Bleeding a power steering unit is generally done by
turning the steering wheel left and right repeatedly
After rounding a turn, the front wheels do not return to the straight ahead position in a
normal way. What adjustment is most likely to be out of specifications?
Caster
"Toe" adjustment on front wheel drive vehicles is made by:
changing he length of the steering linkage
When performing a front-end alignment what should you do before you adjust the toe
setting?
adjust the caster & camber
Front-wheel toe-in adjustment on rear-wheel drive vehicles is made by:
changing the length of the steering linkage
A mechanic is going to adjust the curb height on a car with torsion bars. To do this the
car should be checked:
on a level surface with the car at curb weight
A proper way to check ball joints for wear is by:
visual observation of the wear indicator & unloading the ball joint and using a pry bar
and a dial indicator
which of the following adjustments can be made on all vehicles with MacPherson strut
suspensions?
Toe settings
You are checking the war on ball joints with a dial indicator at the wheel rim. What must
you do to get accurate readings?
check the wheel bearing adjustment and correct if needed
A mechanic jacks up a car, stands facing it, places a hand on the front of each tire. The
mechanic pushes out and then pulls in on both tires. Too much movement would most
likely mean that:
the tie rod ends are worn
Which of the following should be checked first thing when doing a front-end alignment?
Curb height
To counteract road crown, most manufacturers recommend that the left front wheel be
adjusted to have:
Less positive (+) caster than the right
If the toe-in is too great, the tread will most likely show:
feathered edges on both front tires
When a wheel alignment is done on a car with front torsion bars, what should be
checked and adjusted first?
Curb height
Which of the following would be a typical automobile front end camber setting?
-3 degrees +/- 2 1/4 degrees its not the correct answer
A mechanic finds that a front tire is worn on the inside of the tread only. The mechanic
checks the air pressure and finds it correct. What is causing this problem?
The camber is set too negative
, A car will pull to:
the side with the most positive (+) camber
One front tires shows spotty or isolated cupping and worn spots. What is the most likely
cause of this problem?
An out-of-balance tire.
Before you remove a brake rotor from a hub, you should:
mark the position of the rotor
The front wheels shimmy or bounce above 40mpg, even on a smooth, straight road.
The likely cause of this problem is:
Tires out of balance
While replacing a ball joint, you notice that the tapered hole in the steering knuckle is
oval shaped. What should you do about this?
Inform the customer that the knuckle should be replaced.
If the upper ball joints are positioned ahead of the lower ball joints, the condition is:
Negative caster
What is true of most MacPherson type suspensions?
There is no upper control arm.
A mechanic has set caster, camber, and toe-in to specifications. On the road test
afterwards, the mechanic notices that the steering wheel spokes are off center to the
left. What should be done to fix this?
Adjust both tie rod sleeves equally to move the front wheels in the direction of the
steering wheel error
Ball joints with wear indicators should be checked:
when loaded and by visual observation
There is a looseness in the steering column, which of these could cause this problem?
Loose steering column universal joints
Which of these could cause dangerous handling, uncomfortable ride, and noise due to
excessive sideways body movement?
Broken rear track bar
A vehicle has unusual noises when it is jounced up and down, all of these could cause
this problem except:
worn tie rod ends
If the upper ball joint is positioned behind the lower ball joint, which of these describes
the alignment condition?
Positive caster.
Which of these correctly states when a power steering system should be bled?
When the fluid becomes aerated
While diagnosing a vehicle that has a tendency to bump steer, which of these should be
checked first?
Wheel setback
Which of these is NOT part of the normal procedure for replacing a front stabilizer bar?
Disconnect the tie-rod ends
Which of these does NOT need to be checked prior to a wheel alignment?
Tire balance
Which of these can cause front wheel shimmy?
Loos steering linkage
