ASE A4 Suspension and Steering
Practice Exam 100 Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant
Download Pdf
1. A vehicle with rack-and-pinion steering has excessive steering wheel free
play. Which condition should be checked first?
A. Steering gear preload
B. Inner tie rod ends
C. Power steering pump pressure
D. Steering column U-joints
B. Inner tie rod ends
Inner tie rod ends are the most common cause of excessive steering wheel
free play in rack-and-pinion systems. Worn inner tie rod sockets allow the
rack to move without transferring motion to the wheels. Steering gear
preload, pump pressure, and column U-joints are also possible causes but
should be checked after the tie rod ends.
2. A power steering pump produces a whining noise that increases when the
steering wheel is turned near full lock. The fluid appears foamy. What is the
MOST likely cause?
A. Worn power steering pump bearings
B. Air in the power steering system
C. Low tire pressure
D. Worn serpentine belt
,B. Air in the power steering system
Foamy power steering fluid indicates aeration, which is most commonly
caused by air being drawn into the system through a loose or damaged inlet
hose, a faulty reservoir cap, or low fluid level. The whining noise at full lock is
the pump cavitating due to air in the fluid.
3. 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 radial runout
of the front tires could be the cause. Technician B says that static out-of-
balance of the front tires could be the cause. Who is right?
A. Technician A only
B. Technician B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
C. Both A and B
Excessive radial runout causes an up-and-down vibration as the tire rotates.
Static out-of-balance also produces a vibration that is felt through the
steering wheel and chassis. Both conditions are common causes of front-end
vibration at road speeds.
4. 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 nor B
B. Technician B only
Excessive positive caster increases steering effort, causes the steering wheel
to return too rapidly, and can cause shimmy at low speed and wander at high
,speed. Camber does not cause shimmy or increased steering effort in the
same way.
5. All of these could cause tire wear if not within manufacturer's
specifications EXCEPT:
A. Caster
B. Wheel balance
C. Toe-in
D. Camber
A. Caster
Caster that is out of specification affects steering and handling characteristics
but does not cause tire wear. Toe-in, camber, and wheel balance all directly
affect tire wear patterns. Excessive toe causes feathered wear, incorrect
camber causes inner or outer shoulder wear, and improper balance causes
cupped wear.
6. A vehicle with variable assist power steering has a lack of power assist 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 nor B
B. Technician B only
When a variable assist power steering system malfunctions, the system
defaults to full power steering rather than losing assist. Therefore, a lack of
assist in both directions indicates a mechanical or hydraulic problem such as a
faulty steering gear or a failing power steering pump, not an electronic
control issue.
, 7. 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
D. All of the above
Excessive negative caster reduces straight-line stability, insufficient front toe
causes wander, and bump steer causes the toe angle to change as the
suspension moves over bumps. All three conditions can cause a vehicle to
wander on uneven roads.
8. 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 a 2.0-
degree difference from the left side to the right side. Which of these 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
D. Both B and C
Either a bent pitman arm or a bent tie rod can cause the toe-out-on-turns
specification to be out of range. Vehicles with non-symmetrical steering
systems will have some difference from side to side, but the difference will
not exceed manufacturer specifications.
9. 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 check the wheel
for runout first. Who is right?
A. Technician A only
Practice Exam 100 Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant
Download Pdf
1. A vehicle with rack-and-pinion steering has excessive steering wheel free
play. Which condition should be checked first?
A. Steering gear preload
B. Inner tie rod ends
C. Power steering pump pressure
D. Steering column U-joints
B. Inner tie rod ends
Inner tie rod ends are the most common cause of excessive steering wheel
free play in rack-and-pinion systems. Worn inner tie rod sockets allow the
rack to move without transferring motion to the wheels. Steering gear
preload, pump pressure, and column U-joints are also possible causes but
should be checked after the tie rod ends.
2. A power steering pump produces a whining noise that increases when the
steering wheel is turned near full lock. The fluid appears foamy. What is the
MOST likely cause?
A. Worn power steering pump bearings
B. Air in the power steering system
C. Low tire pressure
D. Worn serpentine belt
,B. Air in the power steering system
Foamy power steering fluid indicates aeration, which is most commonly
caused by air being drawn into the system through a loose or damaged inlet
hose, a faulty reservoir cap, or low fluid level. The whining noise at full lock is
the pump cavitating due to air in the fluid.
3. 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 radial runout
of the front tires could be the cause. Technician B says that static out-of-
balance of the front tires could be the cause. Who is right?
A. Technician A only
B. Technician B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
C. Both A and B
Excessive radial runout causes an up-and-down vibration as the tire rotates.
Static out-of-balance also produces a vibration that is felt through the
steering wheel and chassis. Both conditions are common causes of front-end
vibration at road speeds.
4. 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 nor B
B. Technician B only
Excessive positive caster increases steering effort, causes the steering wheel
to return too rapidly, and can cause shimmy at low speed and wander at high
,speed. Camber does not cause shimmy or increased steering effort in the
same way.
5. All of these could cause tire wear if not within manufacturer's
specifications EXCEPT:
A. Caster
B. Wheel balance
C. Toe-in
D. Camber
A. Caster
Caster that is out of specification affects steering and handling characteristics
but does not cause tire wear. Toe-in, camber, and wheel balance all directly
affect tire wear patterns. Excessive toe causes feathered wear, incorrect
camber causes inner or outer shoulder wear, and improper balance causes
cupped wear.
6. A vehicle with variable assist power steering has a lack of power assist 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 nor B
B. Technician B only
When a variable assist power steering system malfunctions, the system
defaults to full power steering rather than losing assist. Therefore, a lack of
assist in both directions indicates a mechanical or hydraulic problem such as a
faulty steering gear or a failing power steering pump, not an electronic
control issue.
, 7. 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
D. All of the above
Excessive negative caster reduces straight-line stability, insufficient front toe
causes wander, and bump steer causes the toe angle to change as the
suspension moves over bumps. All three conditions can cause a vehicle to
wander on uneven roads.
8. 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 a 2.0-
degree difference from the left side to the right side. Which of these 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
D. Both B and C
Either a bent pitman arm or a bent tie rod can cause the toe-out-on-turns
specification to be out of range. Vehicles with non-symmetrical steering
systems will have some difference from side to side, but the difference will
not exceed manufacturer specifications.
9. 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 check the wheel
for runout first. Who is right?
A. Technician A only
