STEERING AND SUSPENSION COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔Tie-Rod End - ✔✔Connect the ends of the rack/tie rods with the steering knuckles
Rubber dust boots fit over the inner ball sockets to keep out road dirt and water and
keep grease in.
✔✔Pitman Arm - ✔✔Transfers gearbox motion to the steering linkage
✔✔Shackles - ✔✔Fastens the rear leaf spring eye to the frame or body and allows the
spring to change length when bent
✔✔Shock Absorber - ✔✔Limits spring oscillations to smooth a vehicle's ride. One end is
connected to the body or frame, the other to the axle or control arm. When compressed
or extended, oil inside the unit is forced through small orifices, absorbing energy,
damping spring action. It may use pressurized gas to reduce foaming in the oil
✔✔Steering Box - ✔✔
✔✔Steering Knuckle - ✔✔
✔✔Sway Bar/ stabilizer bar - ✔✔Used to keep the body from leaning excessively in
sharp turns
✔✔Torsion Bar - ✔✔Type of spring used instead of coil springs. Most allow curb height
adjustment by turning an adjustment bolt, you can increase or decrease the tension on
the spring unit, thereby raising or lowering the vehicle
✔✔Wheel Bearings- Roller - ✔✔
✔✔Wheel Bearing- Sealed - ✔✔
✔✔Independent Suspension - ✔✔Each wheel can move independently
✔✔Dependent Suspension - ✔✔The movement of one wheel effects the movement of
the other
✔✔Oversteer - ✔✔A driving condition where the rear tires reach their cornering limits
before the front tires
✔✔Understeer - ✔✔Occurs when the front of the vehicle cannot make a turn because
the front tires have lost traction
, ✔✔Sprung Weight - ✔✔Weight is Carried
By the Springs
✔✔Unsprung Weight - ✔✔Weight is
Components Below the Axle
✔✔MacPherson strut - ✔✔Combine a coil spring, shock absorber, and bearing plate in
one unit
✔✔Short/long arm (SLA) - ✔✔Consists of two unequal length control arms connected
with a steering knuckle
✔✔Manual steering - ✔✔Has no power assist
✔✔Hydraulic power assist - ✔✔A belt-driven hydraulic pump pressurizes fluid to reduce
the effort supplied by the driver
✔✔Electrical power assist - ✔✔Hydraulic pump is replaced with an electric motor in
order to reduce load on the engine
✔✔Parallelogram Steering (aka Linkage) - ✔✔Composed of Pitman arm, Idler arm, Tie
rods, and a steering box
✔✔Rack & Pinion Steering - ✔✔Has inner and outer ties rods, everything bolts in as an
assembly, and may be manual or power assisted
✔✔Steering Column Assembly - ✔✔Consists of the steering wheel, steering shaft,
column, ignition key mechanism, and, sometimes, a flexible coupling and universal joint
✔✔Ball Socket - ✔✔Provide for motion in all directions between two connected parts.
Some have a grease fitting, allowing lubrication while others are sealed units. Can be
used in pitman arms, idler arms, and tie rods
✔✔Power Steering Pump - ✔✔Engine-driven unit that produces the hydraulic pressure
for hydraulic steering system operation. Usually driven by a belt off of the crankshaft
pulley. The fluid reservoir may be formed as part of the body or as a separate container
in the system.
✔✔Electric Power Steering - ✔✔Uses a small electric motor to help move the rack-and-
pinion gearbox. The motor may be mounted inside the rack housing or on the steering
column. Iit acts on the steering rack assisting it without the use of a hydraulic system
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔Tie-Rod End - ✔✔Connect the ends of the rack/tie rods with the steering knuckles
Rubber dust boots fit over the inner ball sockets to keep out road dirt and water and
keep grease in.
✔✔Pitman Arm - ✔✔Transfers gearbox motion to the steering linkage
✔✔Shackles - ✔✔Fastens the rear leaf spring eye to the frame or body and allows the
spring to change length when bent
✔✔Shock Absorber - ✔✔Limits spring oscillations to smooth a vehicle's ride. One end is
connected to the body or frame, the other to the axle or control arm. When compressed
or extended, oil inside the unit is forced through small orifices, absorbing energy,
damping spring action. It may use pressurized gas to reduce foaming in the oil
✔✔Steering Box - ✔✔
✔✔Steering Knuckle - ✔✔
✔✔Sway Bar/ stabilizer bar - ✔✔Used to keep the body from leaning excessively in
sharp turns
✔✔Torsion Bar - ✔✔Type of spring used instead of coil springs. Most allow curb height
adjustment by turning an adjustment bolt, you can increase or decrease the tension on
the spring unit, thereby raising or lowering the vehicle
✔✔Wheel Bearings- Roller - ✔✔
✔✔Wheel Bearing- Sealed - ✔✔
✔✔Independent Suspension - ✔✔Each wheel can move independently
✔✔Dependent Suspension - ✔✔The movement of one wheel effects the movement of
the other
✔✔Oversteer - ✔✔A driving condition where the rear tires reach their cornering limits
before the front tires
✔✔Understeer - ✔✔Occurs when the front of the vehicle cannot make a turn because
the front tires have lost traction
, ✔✔Sprung Weight - ✔✔Weight is Carried
By the Springs
✔✔Unsprung Weight - ✔✔Weight is
Components Below the Axle
✔✔MacPherson strut - ✔✔Combine a coil spring, shock absorber, and bearing plate in
one unit
✔✔Short/long arm (SLA) - ✔✔Consists of two unequal length control arms connected
with a steering knuckle
✔✔Manual steering - ✔✔Has no power assist
✔✔Hydraulic power assist - ✔✔A belt-driven hydraulic pump pressurizes fluid to reduce
the effort supplied by the driver
✔✔Electrical power assist - ✔✔Hydraulic pump is replaced with an electric motor in
order to reduce load on the engine
✔✔Parallelogram Steering (aka Linkage) - ✔✔Composed of Pitman arm, Idler arm, Tie
rods, and a steering box
✔✔Rack & Pinion Steering - ✔✔Has inner and outer ties rods, everything bolts in as an
assembly, and may be manual or power assisted
✔✔Steering Column Assembly - ✔✔Consists of the steering wheel, steering shaft,
column, ignition key mechanism, and, sometimes, a flexible coupling and universal joint
✔✔Ball Socket - ✔✔Provide for motion in all directions between two connected parts.
Some have a grease fitting, allowing lubrication while others are sealed units. Can be
used in pitman arms, idler arms, and tie rods
✔✔Power Steering Pump - ✔✔Engine-driven unit that produces the hydraulic pressure
for hydraulic steering system operation. Usually driven by a belt off of the crankshaft
pulley. The fluid reservoir may be formed as part of the body or as a separate container
in the system.
✔✔Electric Power Steering - ✔✔Uses a small electric motor to help move the rack-and-
pinion gearbox. The motor may be mounted inside the rack housing or on the steering
column. Iit acts on the steering rack assisting it without the use of a hydraulic system
