SOS Mechanic Certification- Suspension & steering
Exams Practice 2025-2026
1. Bleeding a power steering unit is generally done by: turning the steering
wheel left and right repeatedly
2. 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 specifi-
cations?: Caster
3. "Toe" adjustment on front wheel drive vehicles is made by:: changing he
length of the steering linkage
4. When performing a front-end alignment what should you do before you
adjust the toe setting?: adjust the caster & camber
5. Front-wheel toe-in adjustment on rear-wheel drive vehicles is made by:: -
changing the length of the steering linkage
6. 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
7. 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
8. which of the following adjustments can be made on all vehicles with
MacPherson strut suspensions?: Toe settings
9. 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
10. 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
11. Which of the following should be checked first thing when doing a
front-end alignment?: Curb height
12. To counteract road crown, most manufacturers recommend that the left
front wheel be adjusted to have:: Less positive (+) caster than the right
13. If the toe-in is too great, the tread will most likely show:: feathered edges
on both front tires
14. When a wheel alignment is done on a car with front torsion bars, what
should be checked and adjusted first?: Curb height
15. Which of the following would be a typical automobile front end camber
setting?: -3 degrees +/- 2 1/4 degrees its not the correct answer
16. 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
17. A car will pull to:: the side with the most positive (+) camber
18. 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.
1/7
, SOS Mechanic Certification- Suspension & steering
Exams Practice 2025-2026
19. Before you remove a brake rotor from a hub, you should:: mark the position
of the rotor
20. 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
21. 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.
22. If the upper ball joints are positioned ahead of the lower ball joints, the
condition is:: Negative caster
23. What is true of most MacPherson type suspensions?: There is no upper
control arm.
24. 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
25. Ball joints with wear indicators should be checked:: when loaded and by
visual observation
26. There is a looseness in the steering column, which of these could cause
this problem?: Loose steering column universal joints
27. Which of these could cause dangerous handling, uncomfortable ride, and
noise due to excessive sideways body movement?: Broken rear track bar
28. A vehicle has unusual noises when it is jounced up and down, all of these
could cause this problem except:: worn tie rod ends
29. If the upper ball joint is positioned behind the lower ball joint, which of
these describes the alignment condition?: Positive caster.
30. Which of these correctly states when a power steering system should be
bled?: When the fluid becomes aerated
31. While diagnosing a vehicle that has a tendency to bump steer, which of
these should be checked first?: Wheel setback
32. Which of these is NOT part of the normal procedure for replacing a front
stabilizer bar?: Disconnect the tie-rod ends
33. Which of these does NOT need to be checked prior to a wheel alignment?-
: Tire balance
34. Which of these can cause front wheel shimmy?: Loos steering linkage
35. Which of these would cause the tires to wear in the center of a tire
tread?: over inflated tires
36. Which of the following is correct statements about the effects of the
imbalance?: Static imbalance will cause wheel tramp
2/7
Exams Practice 2025-2026
1. Bleeding a power steering unit is generally done by: turning the steering
wheel left and right repeatedly
2. 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 specifi-
cations?: Caster
3. "Toe" adjustment on front wheel drive vehicles is made by:: changing he
length of the steering linkage
4. When performing a front-end alignment what should you do before you
adjust the toe setting?: adjust the caster & camber
5. Front-wheel toe-in adjustment on rear-wheel drive vehicles is made by:: -
changing the length of the steering linkage
6. 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
7. 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
8. which of the following adjustments can be made on all vehicles with
MacPherson strut suspensions?: Toe settings
9. 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
10. 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
11. Which of the following should be checked first thing when doing a
front-end alignment?: Curb height
12. To counteract road crown, most manufacturers recommend that the left
front wheel be adjusted to have:: Less positive (+) caster than the right
13. If the toe-in is too great, the tread will most likely show:: feathered edges
on both front tires
14. When a wheel alignment is done on a car with front torsion bars, what
should be checked and adjusted first?: Curb height
15. Which of the following would be a typical automobile front end camber
setting?: -3 degrees +/- 2 1/4 degrees its not the correct answer
16. 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
17. A car will pull to:: the side with the most positive (+) camber
18. 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.
1/7
, SOS Mechanic Certification- Suspension & steering
Exams Practice 2025-2026
19. Before you remove a brake rotor from a hub, you should:: mark the position
of the rotor
20. 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
21. 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.
22. If the upper ball joints are positioned ahead of the lower ball joints, the
condition is:: Negative caster
23. What is true of most MacPherson type suspensions?: There is no upper
control arm.
24. 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
25. Ball joints with wear indicators should be checked:: when loaded and by
visual observation
26. There is a looseness in the steering column, which of these could cause
this problem?: Loose steering column universal joints
27. Which of these could cause dangerous handling, uncomfortable ride, and
noise due to excessive sideways body movement?: Broken rear track bar
28. A vehicle has unusual noises when it is jounced up and down, all of these
could cause this problem except:: worn tie rod ends
29. If the upper ball joint is positioned behind the lower ball joint, which of
these describes the alignment condition?: Positive caster.
30. Which of these correctly states when a power steering system should be
bled?: When the fluid becomes aerated
31. While diagnosing a vehicle that has a tendency to bump steer, which of
these should be checked first?: Wheel setback
32. Which of these is NOT part of the normal procedure for replacing a front
stabilizer bar?: Disconnect the tie-rod ends
33. Which of these does NOT need to be checked prior to a wheel alignment?-
: Tire balance
34. Which of these can cause front wheel shimmy?: Loos steering linkage
35. Which of these would cause the tires to wear in the center of a tire
tread?: over inflated tires
36. Which of the following is correct statements about the effects of the
imbalance?: Static imbalance will cause wheel tramp
2/7
