ASE A4 practice test answered 2023
spring
2. A driver says that the front end of his car vibrates up and down while traveling at most road speeds.
Tech A says that too much runout of the front wheels could be the cause. Tech B says that a static out
of balance of the front wheels could be the cause. Who is right?
A. Tech A only
B. Tech B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A or B
C. Both Techs are right. Too much runout or static out of balance in the front wheels will cause a
vibration
3. A vehicle has front wheel shimmy at low speed and requires increased steering effort. Tech A says
that too much positive camber could be the cause. Tech B says that too much Positive caster could be
the cause. Who is right?
A Tech A only
B. Tech B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A or B
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.
4. All of these could cause tire wear if not within manufacturer's Specs EXCEPT:
A. Caster
B. Wheel balance
C. Toe-In
D. Camber
A. Caster that is out of spec will affect steering and handling characteristics, but will not cause tire wear.
Whereas, too much toe in or 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.
5. A vehicle with variable assist power steering has a lack of power assist in both directions. Tech A
says That the problem is in the electronic control system. Tech B says that there could be a problem in
the steering gear or a bad power steering pump. Who is right?
A. Tech A only
B. Tech B only
,C. Both A and B
D. Neither A or B
B. Although further diagnosis will be necessary, Tech B is right. Tech A is wrong because, when there is a
malfunction in a variable assist power steering system, the system will allow full power steering.
6. 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. Excessive negative caster, insufficient front toe, and front or rear bump steer could cause a vehicle to
wander on a bumpy road.
7. While aligning a front end, a technician finds the toe out on turns (turning Radius) to be greater
than the manufacturer's Specs and it has 2.0 degrees difference from the 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
D. either a bent pitman arm or a tie rod could cause the specifications for the toe out on turns to be out
of spec. Vehilces with non symmetrical steering systems will have a difference from side to side, but the
difference will not exceed the manufacturer's specs and it rarely has a greater than 1.5 degrees
difference from side to side.
8. When checking a tire, a tech find it to have too much radial (up and down) runout. Tech A says to
rotate the tire and wheel assembly on the mounting studs to correct the problem. Tech B says to
rotate the tire on the wheel assembly to attempt to bring the runout within specs. Who is right?
A. Tech A Only
B. Tech B Only
C. Both A and B
C. Neither
B. Rotating the tire on the wheel will compensate for wheel/tire differential (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.
9. If you readjust camber on the left front strut, which, if any, of these specs might change
A. Right caster
B. Left toe and total toe
C. SAI
D. None of the above.
, B. Readjusting camber will have an affect 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.
10. Too much caster on the left front wheel will cause the __________
A. vehicle to drift to the left
B. Left tire to wear on the outside edge
C. vehicle to drift to the right
D. left tire to wear on the inside edge.
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 of outside shoulders of a tire.
12. 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 specs. The tester readings are normal when
the tester shutoff valve is closed. tech A says that these readings could be caused by a bad steering
gear. tech B says that a bad pump could cause these readings. Who is right?
A. Tech A Only
B. Tech B Only
C. Both A and B
D. neither
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.
13. a vehicle with a manual rack and pinion steering gear has a shimmy. Tech A says that worn rack to
frame mounting bushings could be the cause. tech B says that loose inner or outer tie rod ends
(sockets) could be the cause. Who is right?
C. Both Techs are right. Steering play or looseness may occur if the rack to frame mounting bushings are
worn, or if the inner or outer tie rod ends are loose. both of these conditions can result in a shimmy.
14. The ball joints on a Macpherson strut- type suspension are being replaced. Tech A says that coil
spring compressor should be installed before separating the control arm and the spindle. Tech B says
that the wheel alignment should be checked after the ball joints have been replaced. Who is right?
A. tech A Only
B. Tech B Only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither
B. The wheel alignment should be checked after the ball joint (or any suspension part) is replaced. It is
not necessary to install a coil spring compressor prior to separating the control arm and the spindle
because the MacPhearson strut assembly contains a spring. However, a spring compressor should be
used if the strut is being disassembled.
15. The rear thrust line reads to the left (drivers side) while the vehicle is at normal ride height. If the
wheels were pointing straight ahead, which direction would the vehicle tend to wander
A. Veer to the left
B. Veer to the right
spring
2. A driver says that the front end of his car vibrates up and down while traveling at most road speeds.
Tech A says that too much runout of the front wheels could be the cause. Tech B says that a static out
of balance of the front wheels could be the cause. Who is right?
A. Tech A only
B. Tech B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A or B
C. Both Techs are right. Too much runout or static out of balance in the front wheels will cause a
vibration
3. A vehicle has front wheel shimmy at low speed and requires increased steering effort. Tech A says
that too much positive camber could be the cause. Tech B says that too much Positive caster could be
the cause. Who is right?
A Tech A only
B. Tech B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A or B
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.
4. All of these could cause tire wear if not within manufacturer's Specs EXCEPT:
A. Caster
B. Wheel balance
C. Toe-In
D. Camber
A. Caster that is out of spec will affect steering and handling characteristics, but will not cause tire wear.
Whereas, too much toe in or 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.
5. A vehicle with variable assist power steering has a lack of power assist in both directions. Tech A
says That the problem is in the electronic control system. Tech B says that there could be a problem in
the steering gear or a bad power steering pump. Who is right?
A. Tech A only
B. Tech B only
,C. Both A and B
D. Neither A or B
B. Although further diagnosis will be necessary, Tech B is right. Tech A is wrong because, when there is a
malfunction in a variable assist power steering system, the system will allow full power steering.
6. 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. Excessive negative caster, insufficient front toe, and front or rear bump steer could cause a vehicle to
wander on a bumpy road.
7. While aligning a front end, a technician finds the toe out on turns (turning Radius) to be greater
than the manufacturer's Specs and it has 2.0 degrees difference from the 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
D. either a bent pitman arm or a tie rod could cause the specifications for the toe out on turns to be out
of spec. Vehilces with non symmetrical steering systems will have a difference from side to side, but the
difference will not exceed the manufacturer's specs and it rarely has a greater than 1.5 degrees
difference from side to side.
8. When checking a tire, a tech find it to have too much radial (up and down) runout. Tech A says to
rotate the tire and wheel assembly on the mounting studs to correct the problem. Tech B says to
rotate the tire on the wheel assembly to attempt to bring the runout within specs. Who is right?
A. Tech A Only
B. Tech B Only
C. Both A and B
C. Neither
B. Rotating the tire on the wheel will compensate for wheel/tire differential (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.
9. If you readjust camber on the left front strut, which, if any, of these specs might change
A. Right caster
B. Left toe and total toe
C. SAI
D. None of the above.
, B. Readjusting camber will have an affect 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.
10. Too much caster on the left front wheel will cause the __________
A. vehicle to drift to the left
B. Left tire to wear on the outside edge
C. vehicle to drift to the right
D. left tire to wear on the inside edge.
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 of outside shoulders of a tire.
12. 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 specs. The tester readings are normal when
the tester shutoff valve is closed. tech A says that these readings could be caused by a bad steering
gear. tech B says that a bad pump could cause these readings. Who is right?
A. Tech A Only
B. Tech B Only
C. Both A and B
D. neither
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.
13. a vehicle with a manual rack and pinion steering gear has a shimmy. Tech A says that worn rack to
frame mounting bushings could be the cause. tech B says that loose inner or outer tie rod ends
(sockets) could be the cause. Who is right?
C. Both Techs are right. Steering play or looseness may occur if the rack to frame mounting bushings are
worn, or if the inner or outer tie rod ends are loose. both of these conditions can result in a shimmy.
14. The ball joints on a Macpherson strut- type suspension are being replaced. Tech A says that coil
spring compressor should be installed before separating the control arm and the spindle. Tech B says
that the wheel alignment should be checked after the ball joints have been replaced. Who is right?
A. tech A Only
B. Tech B Only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither
B. The wheel alignment should be checked after the ball joint (or any suspension part) is replaced. It is
not necessary to install a coil spring compressor prior to separating the control arm and the spindle
because the MacPhearson strut assembly contains a spring. However, a spring compressor should be
used if the strut is being disassembled.
15. The rear thrust line reads to the left (drivers side) while the vehicle is at normal ride height. If the
wheels were pointing straight ahead, which direction would the vehicle tend to wander
A. Veer to the left
B. Veer to the right
