ASE A5 Exam: Questions & Answers (Brakes)
A driver says that the front end of his car vibrates up and down while traveling at most road speeds.
Technician A says that too much runout of the front wheels could be the cause. Technician B says that
static out-of-balance of the front wheels could be the cause. Who is right?
A. Technician A only
B. Technician B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A of B - ANSWER:The correct answer is C, both technicians are right. Too much runout or
static out-of-balance in the front wheels will cause a vibration.
A vehicle has front wheel shimmy at low speed and requires increased steering effort. Technician A says
that too much positive camber could be the cause. Technician B says that too much positive caster could
be the cause. Who is right?
A. Technician A only
B. Technician B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A or B - ANSWER:The correct answer is B. Excessive positive caster will increase steering
effort, cause the steering wheel to return too rapidly, cause wander at high speed and shimmy at low
speed.
All of these could cause tire wear if not within manufacturer's specifications EXCEPT:
A. Caster
B. Wheel balance
C. Toe-in
D. Camber - ANSWER:The correct answer is A. Caster that is out of specification will affect steering and
handling characteristics, but will not cause tire wear. Whereas, too much toe-in our out would severely
wear the tires. Additionally, excessive camber would cause inside or outside shoulder wear on the tire,
depending on whether the camber was too negative or positive.
A vehicle with variable assist steering has a lack of power assit in both directions. Technician A says that
the problem is in the electronic control system. Technician B says that there could be a problem in the
steering gear or a bad power steering pump. Who is right?
A. Technician A only
B. Technician B only
,C. Both A and B
D. Neither A or B - ANSWER:The correct answer is B. Although further diagnosis will be necessary,
technician B is right. Technician A is wrong because, when there is a malfunction in a variable assist
power steering system, the system will allow full power steering.
A customer complains that a vehicle wanders on a bumpy road and needs continual driver correction to
stay straight. What could be wrong?
A. Excessive negative front caster
B. Insufficient front toe
C. Rear or front bump steer
D. All of the above - ANSWER:The correct answer is D. Excessive negative caster, insufficient front toe,
and front or rear bump steer could cause a vehicle to wander on a bumpy road.
While aligning a front end, a technician finds the toe-out on turns (turning radius) to be greater than the
manufacturer's specifications and it has 2.0 degrees difference front he left side to the right side. Which,
if any, of the following could be the cause?
A. Nothing is wrong; the vehicle has a non-symmetrical steering design
B. Bent pitman arm
C. Bent tie-rod
D. Both B and C - ANSWER:The correct answer is D. Either a bent pitman arm or a tie-rod could cause the
specifications for toe-out on turns to be out of specification. Vehicles with non-symmetrical steering
systems will have a difference from side-to-side, but the difference will not exceed the manufacturer's
specifications and it rarely has greater than 1.5 degrees difference from side-to-side.
When checking a tire, a technician finds it to have too much radial (up and down) runout. Technician A
says to rotate the tire and wheel assembly on the mounting studs to correct the problem. Technician B
says to rotate the tire on the wheel assembly to attempt to bring the runout within specifications. Who is
right?
A. Technician A only
B. Technician B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A or B - ANSWER:The correct answer is B. Rotating the tire on the wheel will compensate for
wheel/tire differential (e.g. positioning the highest spot on the tire at the lowest spot on the wheel).
Whereas, rotating the wheel assembly on the mounting studs will have no effect on runout.
If you readjust camber on the left front strut, which, if any, of these specifications might change?
A. Right caster
B. Left toe and total toe
, C. Right SAI
D. None of the above - ANSWER:The correct answer is B. Readjusting camber will have an effect on the
individual toe for the left wheel as well as the total toe. SAI is not adjustable and generally, caster is not
adjustable either on a strut suspension.
Too much caster on the left front wheel will cause the:
A. Vehicle to drive to the left
B. Left tire to wear on the outside edge
C. Vehicle to drive to the right
D. Left tire to wear on the inside edge - ANSWER:The correct answer is C. A vehicle will tend to steer or
drift to the side with the least amount of caster. Caster will not cause tire wear, but excessive camber will
cause wear to the inside or outside shoulders of a tire.
A pressure test is being performed on a car with power steering. The pressure readings taken when the
wheels are at the right and left stops are below specifications. The tester readings are normal when the
tester shutoff valve is closed. Technician A says that these readings could be caused by a bad steering
gear. Technician B says that a bad pump could cause these readings. Who is right?
A. Technician A only
B. Technician B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A or B - ANSWER:The correct answer is A. A bad steering gear would cause the readings to be
low when the steering is at the right and left stops, but the readings would be normal with the tester
shutoff valve closed.
A vehicle with a manual rack-and-pinion steering gear has a shimmy. Technician A says that a worn rack-
to-frame mounting bushings could be the cause. Technician B says that loose inner or outer tie-rod ends
(sockets) could be the cause. Who is right?
A. Technician A only
B. Technician B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A or B - ANSWER:The correct answer is C, both technicians are right. Steering play or
looseness may occur if the rack-to-frame mounting bushings are worn, or of the inner or outer tie-rod
ends are loose. Both of these conditions can result in a shimmy.
The rear thrust line reads to the left (driver's side) while the vehicle is at normal ride height. If the
wheels were pointing straight ahead, which directions would the vehicle tend to wander?
A. Veer to the left
B. Veer to the right
A driver says that the front end of his car vibrates up and down while traveling at most road speeds.
Technician A says that too much runout of the front wheels could be the cause. Technician B says that
static out-of-balance of the front wheels could be the cause. Who is right?
A. Technician A only
B. Technician B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A of B - ANSWER:The correct answer is C, both technicians are right. Too much runout or
static out-of-balance in the front wheels will cause a vibration.
A vehicle has front wheel shimmy at low speed and requires increased steering effort. Technician A says
that too much positive camber could be the cause. Technician B says that too much positive caster could
be the cause. Who is right?
A. Technician A only
B. Technician B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A or B - ANSWER:The correct answer is B. Excessive positive caster will increase steering
effort, cause the steering wheel to return too rapidly, cause wander at high speed and shimmy at low
speed.
All of these could cause tire wear if not within manufacturer's specifications EXCEPT:
A. Caster
B. Wheel balance
C. Toe-in
D. Camber - ANSWER:The correct answer is A. Caster that is out of specification will affect steering and
handling characteristics, but will not cause tire wear. Whereas, too much toe-in our out would severely
wear the tires. Additionally, excessive camber would cause inside or outside shoulder wear on the tire,
depending on whether the camber was too negative or positive.
A vehicle with variable assist steering has a lack of power assit in both directions. Technician A says that
the problem is in the electronic control system. Technician B says that there could be a problem in the
steering gear or a bad power steering pump. Who is right?
A. Technician A only
B. Technician B only
,C. Both A and B
D. Neither A or B - ANSWER:The correct answer is B. Although further diagnosis will be necessary,
technician B is right. Technician A is wrong because, when there is a malfunction in a variable assist
power steering system, the system will allow full power steering.
A customer complains that a vehicle wanders on a bumpy road and needs continual driver correction to
stay straight. What could be wrong?
A. Excessive negative front caster
B. Insufficient front toe
C. Rear or front bump steer
D. All of the above - ANSWER:The correct answer is D. Excessive negative caster, insufficient front toe,
and front or rear bump steer could cause a vehicle to wander on a bumpy road.
While aligning a front end, a technician finds the toe-out on turns (turning radius) to be greater than the
manufacturer's specifications and it has 2.0 degrees difference front he left side to the right side. Which,
if any, of the following could be the cause?
A. Nothing is wrong; the vehicle has a non-symmetrical steering design
B. Bent pitman arm
C. Bent tie-rod
D. Both B and C - ANSWER:The correct answer is D. Either a bent pitman arm or a tie-rod could cause the
specifications for toe-out on turns to be out of specification. Vehicles with non-symmetrical steering
systems will have a difference from side-to-side, but the difference will not exceed the manufacturer's
specifications and it rarely has greater than 1.5 degrees difference from side-to-side.
When checking a tire, a technician finds it to have too much radial (up and down) runout. Technician A
says to rotate the tire and wheel assembly on the mounting studs to correct the problem. Technician B
says to rotate the tire on the wheel assembly to attempt to bring the runout within specifications. Who is
right?
A. Technician A only
B. Technician B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A or B - ANSWER:The correct answer is B. Rotating the tire on the wheel will compensate for
wheel/tire differential (e.g. positioning the highest spot on the tire at the lowest spot on the wheel).
Whereas, rotating the wheel assembly on the mounting studs will have no effect on runout.
If you readjust camber on the left front strut, which, if any, of these specifications might change?
A. Right caster
B. Left toe and total toe
, C. Right SAI
D. None of the above - ANSWER:The correct answer is B. Readjusting camber will have an effect on the
individual toe for the left wheel as well as the total toe. SAI is not adjustable and generally, caster is not
adjustable either on a strut suspension.
Too much caster on the left front wheel will cause the:
A. Vehicle to drive to the left
B. Left tire to wear on the outside edge
C. Vehicle to drive to the right
D. Left tire to wear on the inside edge - ANSWER:The correct answer is C. A vehicle will tend to steer or
drift to the side with the least amount of caster. Caster will not cause tire wear, but excessive camber will
cause wear to the inside or outside shoulders of a tire.
A pressure test is being performed on a car with power steering. The pressure readings taken when the
wheels are at the right and left stops are below specifications. The tester readings are normal when the
tester shutoff valve is closed. Technician A says that these readings could be caused by a bad steering
gear. Technician B says that a bad pump could cause these readings. Who is right?
A. Technician A only
B. Technician B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A or B - ANSWER:The correct answer is A. A bad steering gear would cause the readings to be
low when the steering is at the right and left stops, but the readings would be normal with the tester
shutoff valve closed.
A vehicle with a manual rack-and-pinion steering gear has a shimmy. Technician A says that a worn rack-
to-frame mounting bushings could be the cause. Technician B says that loose inner or outer tie-rod ends
(sockets) could be the cause. Who is right?
A. Technician A only
B. Technician B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A or B - ANSWER:The correct answer is C, both technicians are right. Steering play or
looseness may occur if the rack-to-frame mounting bushings are worn, or of the inner or outer tie-rod
ends are loose. Both of these conditions can result in a shimmy.
The rear thrust line reads to the left (driver's side) while the vehicle is at normal ride height. If the
wheels were pointing straight ahead, which directions would the vehicle tend to wander?
A. Veer to the left
B. Veer to the right
