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

A5 Drum brakes: practice questions

Our ASE A1–A8 bank has 6 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 · A5 Brakes

A leaking wheel cylinder contaminates the shoes. What should be done?

  1. Repair or replace the cylinder and replace the shoes
  2. Only top up the fluid
  3. Clean the shoes with brake cleaner and reuse them if the lining is thick
  4. Sand the shoes
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A. Repair or replace the cylinder and replace the shoes — Contaminated linings can't be reliably cleaned.

Question 2 · A5 Brakes

How do most self-adjusting drum brakes adjust?

  1. Through the master cylinder
  2. Only by hand at each service
  3. Only when the drums are removed and the star wheel is turned by hand to set clearance
  4. When the brakes are applied while backing up, or when the parking brake is applied
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D. When the brakes are applied while backing up, or when the parking brake is applied — Check the adjuster for corrosion and correct installation side.

Question 3 · A5 Brakes

What is a sign of an out-of-round brake drum?

  1. A pull to one side only on acceleration, with no effect when braking
  2. A spongy pedal
  3. Pulsation in the brake pedal or parking brake lever
  4. A squeal only
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C. Pulsation in the brake pedal or parking brake lever — Measure with a drum micrometer at several points.

Question 4 · A5 Brakes

Why should drum brake hardware springs be replaced during a brake job?

  1. To change the brake ratio
  2. They lose tension with heat over time
  3. It isn't recommended
  4. They are always bent when removed with standard brake spring tools
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B. They lose tension with heat over time — Weak return springs can cause drag.

Question 5 · A5 Brakes

Which shoe in a duo-servo drum brake usually has the longer lining?

  1. Both are always the same
  2. It depends on wheel size only
  3. The secondary (rear-facing) shoe
  4. The primary (front-facing) shoe, which does most of the work
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C. The secondary (rear-facing) shoe — The secondary shoe does most of the braking work.

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