ASE A5 – BRAKES QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS 2025-2026
On a car with disc/drum brakes, the front brakes grab quickly when light pedal pressure is applied.
This problem could be caused by a bad:
A. Proportioning valve
B. Pressure safety switch
C. Metering valve
D. Residual check valve CORRECT ANSWER
The correct answer is C. The metering valve delays the flow of brake fluid to the front calipers unti
l the pressure in the system rises to a point where the wheel cylinder can overcome the tension o
f the brake shoe returning spring. The purpose is to have both front and rear brakes apply simulta
neously. This prevents the front brakes from locking up during light brake applications.
The driver of a vehicle with power disc/drum brakes says that the brake pedal moved slowly to th
e floor while maintaining pedal pressure at a stoplight. What could cause this problem?
A. Leaking primary piston cup in master cylinder
B. Leaking power brake booster
C. Leaking residual check valve in master cylinder
D. Internal leak in the combination valve CORRECT ANSWER
The correct answer is A. if the primary piston cup in the master cylinder is leaking, pressure will n
ot build up ahead of the primary piston to increase pressure to the rear brakes. The piston will th
en move forward until the spring is compressed enough to move the secondary piston. Consequent
ly, this internal leak will cause the brake pedal to slowly drop to the floor.
What is the purpose of the master cylinder residual check valve(s) on vehicles equipped with drum
brakes?
A. Allowed the driver to pump up the brakes
B. Prevents air from entering the hydraulic system
C. Prevents wheel lockup by reducing the hydraulic pressure
D. Reduces pedal pulsation by controlling hydraulic pressure CORRECT ANSWER
The correct answer is B. Residual check valve(s) are used on drum brakes to keep residual low pres
sure (slight static pressure) in the brake system at all times even when the brake pedal is released.
This pressure (5-
,20 psi) keeps the lips of the wheel cylinder piston cups tight against the cylinder walls to prevent
air from entering the system when at rest (brakes released).
A technician has just overhauled the front brakes on a vehicle with front disc and rear drum brake
s. However, when he attaches a pressure bleeder (pressurized to about 25 psi) to the master cylind
er, he cannot get any fluid to come out of the disc brake caliper bleeder screws. Which of the foll
owing is MOST LIKELY the cause?
A. Bad proportioning valve
B. Bad pressure differential valve
C. proportioning valve release button not activated
D. Metering valve release button not activated CORRECT ANSWER
The correct answer is D. A metering valve requires a minimum pressure (typically 75-
125 psi) to open. At this point pressurized fluid flows to the front calipers. Since the bleeder tank i
s only pressurized to 25 psi, fluid pressure is too low to open the metering valve during this proce
dure, Therefore, when you use a pressure bleeder on a system with a metering valve, you must m
anually keep the valve open by either pushing the button in the end of the valve, or pulling the st
em outward on the end of the valve.
On a vehicle with single piston floating caliper front disc brakes, the brake pads on the left side of
the vehicle are almost completely worn while the right side is almost new. Tech A says that too
much rotor runout could be the cause. Tech B says that a binding caliper piston could be the caus
e. Who is right?
A. Technician A only
B. Technician B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A or B CORRECT ANSWER
The correct answer is B. Excessive rotor runout would cause a pulsating brake pedal, but not unev
en side-to-
side pad wear. A frozen caliper piston on the other hand, will keep both inner and outer brake pa
ds equally applied against the rotor even when the brake pedal is released. This constant friction
will cause rapid pad wear in the affected caliper as well as the front-end pull
A hydraulic brake line is leaking. Which of the following is the correct repair procedure?
A. Cut out the bad section and replace with new steel tubing using compression fittings.
B. Replace the leaking line with double-flared, seamless copper tubing.
, C. Cut out the bad section and replaced with single-flared steel tubing using flare nuts and unions.
D. Replace the leaking line with double-flared steel tubing. CORRECT ANSWER
The correct answer is D. Steel tubing of the same size, type, and length with double flared ends m
ust be used when replacing a traditional SAE double inverted flair style hydraulic brake line.
Which of the following problems would be caused by using a residual check valve in a disc brake
master cylinder?
A. Reduced brake pedal travel
B. Reduced brake system pressure
C. Increased brake pad wear
D. Increased rotor runout. CORRECT ANSWER
The correct answer is C. If a residual check valve was installed in a disc brake master cylinder, it w
ould cause increased brake pad wear since the residual brake pressure would cause the caliper pist
ons to keep the pads applied even when the brake pedal is released.
A customer complains that their vehicle pulls to the right when the brakes are applied. Technician
A says a restricted brake line to the left caliper can cause this problem. Technician B says a malfun
ctioning proportioning valve is probably the cause. Who is right?
A. Technician A only
B. Technician B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A or B CORRECT ANSWER
The correct answer is A. A restriction in the brake line will cause a drop in fluid pressure to the af
fected caliper. This will cause the caliper to be unable to exert the same force against the pads as
the unrestricted side. because of this, the vehicle will pull to the side where the pressure is highes
t and brake force is greatest. In this case, that would be the right side.
With foot pressure applied, the brake pedal on a vehicle with vacuum assisted power brakes move
s down slightly when the engine is started. Tech A says that this condition can be caused by a leak
ing power brake booster diaphragm. Tech B says that the cause could be a faulty power brake boo
ster check valve. Who is right?
A. Technician A only
B. Technician B only
C. Both A and B
CORRECT ANSWERS 2025-2026
On a car with disc/drum brakes, the front brakes grab quickly when light pedal pressure is applied.
This problem could be caused by a bad:
A. Proportioning valve
B. Pressure safety switch
C. Metering valve
D. Residual check valve CORRECT ANSWER
The correct answer is C. The metering valve delays the flow of brake fluid to the front calipers unti
l the pressure in the system rises to a point where the wheel cylinder can overcome the tension o
f the brake shoe returning spring. The purpose is to have both front and rear brakes apply simulta
neously. This prevents the front brakes from locking up during light brake applications.
The driver of a vehicle with power disc/drum brakes says that the brake pedal moved slowly to th
e floor while maintaining pedal pressure at a stoplight. What could cause this problem?
A. Leaking primary piston cup in master cylinder
B. Leaking power brake booster
C. Leaking residual check valve in master cylinder
D. Internal leak in the combination valve CORRECT ANSWER
The correct answer is A. if the primary piston cup in the master cylinder is leaking, pressure will n
ot build up ahead of the primary piston to increase pressure to the rear brakes. The piston will th
en move forward until the spring is compressed enough to move the secondary piston. Consequent
ly, this internal leak will cause the brake pedal to slowly drop to the floor.
What is the purpose of the master cylinder residual check valve(s) on vehicles equipped with drum
brakes?
A. Allowed the driver to pump up the brakes
B. Prevents air from entering the hydraulic system
C. Prevents wheel lockup by reducing the hydraulic pressure
D. Reduces pedal pulsation by controlling hydraulic pressure CORRECT ANSWER
The correct answer is B. Residual check valve(s) are used on drum brakes to keep residual low pres
sure (slight static pressure) in the brake system at all times even when the brake pedal is released.
This pressure (5-
,20 psi) keeps the lips of the wheel cylinder piston cups tight against the cylinder walls to prevent
air from entering the system when at rest (brakes released).
A technician has just overhauled the front brakes on a vehicle with front disc and rear drum brake
s. However, when he attaches a pressure bleeder (pressurized to about 25 psi) to the master cylind
er, he cannot get any fluid to come out of the disc brake caliper bleeder screws. Which of the foll
owing is MOST LIKELY the cause?
A. Bad proportioning valve
B. Bad pressure differential valve
C. proportioning valve release button not activated
D. Metering valve release button not activated CORRECT ANSWER
The correct answer is D. A metering valve requires a minimum pressure (typically 75-
125 psi) to open. At this point pressurized fluid flows to the front calipers. Since the bleeder tank i
s only pressurized to 25 psi, fluid pressure is too low to open the metering valve during this proce
dure, Therefore, when you use a pressure bleeder on a system with a metering valve, you must m
anually keep the valve open by either pushing the button in the end of the valve, or pulling the st
em outward on the end of the valve.
On a vehicle with single piston floating caliper front disc brakes, the brake pads on the left side of
the vehicle are almost completely worn while the right side is almost new. Tech A says that too
much rotor runout could be the cause. Tech B says that a binding caliper piston could be the caus
e. Who is right?
A. Technician A only
B. Technician B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A or B CORRECT ANSWER
The correct answer is B. Excessive rotor runout would cause a pulsating brake pedal, but not unev
en side-to-
side pad wear. A frozen caliper piston on the other hand, will keep both inner and outer brake pa
ds equally applied against the rotor even when the brake pedal is released. This constant friction
will cause rapid pad wear in the affected caliper as well as the front-end pull
A hydraulic brake line is leaking. Which of the following is the correct repair procedure?
A. Cut out the bad section and replace with new steel tubing using compression fittings.
B. Replace the leaking line with double-flared, seamless copper tubing.
, C. Cut out the bad section and replaced with single-flared steel tubing using flare nuts and unions.
D. Replace the leaking line with double-flared steel tubing. CORRECT ANSWER
The correct answer is D. Steel tubing of the same size, type, and length with double flared ends m
ust be used when replacing a traditional SAE double inverted flair style hydraulic brake line.
Which of the following problems would be caused by using a residual check valve in a disc brake
master cylinder?
A. Reduced brake pedal travel
B. Reduced brake system pressure
C. Increased brake pad wear
D. Increased rotor runout. CORRECT ANSWER
The correct answer is C. If a residual check valve was installed in a disc brake master cylinder, it w
ould cause increased brake pad wear since the residual brake pressure would cause the caliper pist
ons to keep the pads applied even when the brake pedal is released.
A customer complains that their vehicle pulls to the right when the brakes are applied. Technician
A says a restricted brake line to the left caliper can cause this problem. Technician B says a malfun
ctioning proportioning valve is probably the cause. Who is right?
A. Technician A only
B. Technician B only
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A or B CORRECT ANSWER
The correct answer is A. A restriction in the brake line will cause a drop in fluid pressure to the af
fected caliper. This will cause the caliper to be unable to exert the same force against the pads as
the unrestricted side. because of this, the vehicle will pull to the side where the pressure is highes
t and brake force is greatest. In this case, that would be the right side.
With foot pressure applied, the brake pedal on a vehicle with vacuum assisted power brakes move
s down slightly when the engine is started. Tech A says that this condition can be caused by a leak
ing power brake booster diaphragm. Tech B says that the cause could be a faulty power brake boo
ster check valve. Who is right?
A. Technician A only
B. Technician B only
C. Both A and B
