AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE EXCELLENCE (ASE) CERTIFICATION
PROGRAM |NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE
EXCELLENCE [ASE A4] – SUSPENSION AND STEERING SYSTEMS
EXAMINATION – [2025/2026]
Comprehensive Certification Assessment in Vehicle Suspension,
Steering Systems, Wheel Alignment, and Chassis Dynamics
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
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
1|Page
,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
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
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?
2|Page
,A. Excessive negative front caster
B. Insufficient front toe
C. Rear or front bump steer
D. All of the above
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
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
3|Page
, 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
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
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
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PROGRAM |NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE
EXCELLENCE [ASE A4] – SUSPENSION AND STEERING SYSTEMS
EXAMINATION – [2025/2026]
Comprehensive Certification Assessment in Vehicle Suspension,
Steering Systems, Wheel Alignment, and Chassis Dynamics
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
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
1|Page
,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
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
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?
2|Page
,A. Excessive negative front caster
B. Insufficient front toe
C. Rear or front bump steer
D. All of the above
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
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
3|Page
, 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
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
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
4|Page
