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ASE Automobile & Light Truck (A1–A8) — Practice Exam

A4 Suspension: practice questions

Our ASE A1–A8 bank has 15 questions on this topic. Here are 5 of them with answers; the full mock exam draws from every topic, like the real one.

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Question 1 · A4 Suspension & Steering

A vehicle continues to bounce after going over a bump. What is the likely cause?

  1. Worn shock absorbers or struts
  2. An unbalanced driveshaft
  3. Worn tie rod ends and idler arm
  4. Incorrect toe
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A. Worn shock absorbers or struts — Leaking or weak dampers no longer control spring motion.

Question 2 · A4 Suspension & Steering

Why must ride height be checked before an alignment?

  1. It's needed for wheel balance and tire pressure settings
  2. It sets the tire pressures
  3. Incorrect ride height changes alignment angles
  4. It sets the steering ratio
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C. Incorrect ride height changes alignment angles — Fix sagging springs before aligning.

Question 3 · A4 Suspension & Steering

What is a safety precaution when removing a coil spring from a strut?

  1. Loosen the top nut first with the spring under load, then let it extend slowly
  2. Use an approved spring compressor before releasing the strut nut
  3. Heat the spring to relax it
  4. Cut the spring with a torch
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B. Use an approved spring compressor before releasing the strut nut — A compressed spring stores a lot of energy.

Question 4 · A4 Suspension & Steering

What do wear-indicator ball joints show?

  1. Wear when the boot is torn
  2. Wear when they squeak
  3. Wear when grease leaks out from under the rubber boot
  4. Wear when the grease fitting boss sinks flush with the housing
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D. Wear when the grease fitting boss sinks flush with the housing — Check with the vehicle's weight on the wheels.

Question 5 · A4 Suspension & Steering

Why should control arm bushings be torqued with the vehicle at ride height?

  1. It makes them easier to reach
  2. It isn't necessary
  3. Tightening them at full droop twists the bushings when the vehicle is lowered
  4. It changes caster and camber permanently if they are tightened at ride height
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C. Tightening them at full droop twists the bushings when the vehicle is lowered — Preloaded bushings wear early and affect ride height.

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