SOS Mechanic Certification – Suspension & Steering Practice Exam

These questions are part of the practice quiz. Start practicing

• What can result from poor handling due to tire pressure issues?
• What is the effect of excessive negative camber on tires?
• How does an independent rear suspension system differ from a dependent suspension system?
• What is thrust angle in relation to the rear axle?
• How does camber affect which way a vehicle pulls?
• What purpose does the steering column serve?
• What is a common cause of premature suspension wear?
• What is the purpose of a ball joint in a suspension system?
• Which of the following may cause premature wear of suspension components?
• If the upper ball joint is positioned behind the lower ball joint, what is the alignment condition?
• What does a Double Wishbone suspension system utilize for its structure?
• Which of these can cause front wheel shimmy?
• When performing an alignment, which adjustment is typically made first?
• While diagnosing a vehicle that has a tendency to bump steer, which of these should be checked first?
• What does "negative caster" mean?
• Which component is primarily responsible for dampening the motion of the suspension?
• What is the primary function of a strut assembly in a suspension system?
• What is the typical appearance of tire tread when the toe setting is too high?
• Which component is crucial for achieving proper steering and suspension alignment during service?
• When should struts typically be replaced?
• What is a proper way to check ball joints for wear?
• What is the effect of excessive positive caster on a vehicle's steering?
• How does caster affect which way a vehicle pulls?
• What adjustment is often necessary for vehicles with improper alignment?
• If the toe-in is too great, the tread will most likely show:
• What are the two main types of suspension systems?
• Which characteristic of a vehicle's handling may be affected by worn suspension parts?
• What is the purpose of shock absorbers in a suspension system?
• What is the purpose of a drag link in a steering system?
• What impact does improper toe adjustment have during cornering?
• What might cause unusual noises when a vehicle is jounced up and down?
• What does a bounce test assess in a vehicle's suspension system?
• What does "negative camber" indicate?
• Why might a vehicle show signs of uneven tire wear?
• What symptom might indicate a malfunctioning power steering pump?
• During a bounce test, what indicates that the struts may be defective?
• A tire wobbles from side to side; what could cause this problem?
• What role do control arms play in a vehicle's suspension system?
• What does excessive body roll during cornering indicate?
• What is the necessary condition for checking curb height accurately?
• Which of these does NOT need to be checked prior to a wheel alignment?
• What is a typical camber angle for optimal tire contact with the road?
• What is the typical purpose of adjustable camber plates?
• What is the primary function of an idler arm in a conventional steering system?
• If the upper ball joints are positioned ahead of the lower ball joints, what is the alignment condition known as?
• What does cupped wear indicate about a vehicle's suspension?
• In which situation would you check the steering fluid level?
• How does an adjustable shock absorber differ from a standard shock absorber?
• Which condition might require checking the caster angle?
• What impact does incorrect toe setting have on a vehicle?
• The adjustment of which angle affects tire wear on a front tire?
• Which condition might result from improper toe settings?
• What symptom might indicate a problem with the vehicle's struts?
• When checking the wear on ball joints with a dial indicator, what must be ensured for accurate readings?
• How can you identify a problem with the sway bar links?
• Which aspect of wheel alignment affects tire wear the most?
• What characteristic is typical of most MacPherson type suspensions?
• What is the primary benefit of using an independent suspension system?
• What method is used to adjust toe on a parallelogram system?
• What effect can worn tie rod ends have on a vehicle?
• How do sway bars (anti-roll bars) function in a suspension system?
• What effect does worn bushings have on a vehicle's handling?
• What characterizes a MacPherson suspension system?
• How does uneven weight distribution affect a vehicle's suspension performance?
• Which of these correctly states the purpose of the pop rivet found in some strut top plates?
• Which of these is not a possible cause for an increase in steering effort?
• What does a misaligned front end often lead to?
• Before adjusting the toe setting during a front-end alignment, what should be done first?
• What adjustment can be made to reduce pulling to one side?
• What is the primary function of a steering stabilizer?
• What is the role of the steering linkage in a vehicle?
• What does a "four-wheel alignment" adjust?
• What does "toe-in" refer to in vehicle alignment?
• What causes feathered edges on a tire?
• Define "toe angle" in relation to wheel alignment.
• Which type of wear reflects a vehicle having shocks or struts that need replacement due to excessive jounce?
• How should toe be adjusted to compensate for road crown?
• What might the presence of fluid leaks under a vehicle indicate?
• What is a common method to check for a bad strut during a vehicle inspection?
• What adjustment should be made if the steering wheel spokes are off center to the left after verifying caster, camber, and toe-in?
• What type of suspension system uses both coil springs and shock absorbers?
• In what order should a wheel alignment be performed?
• What does the term "spring rate" refer to in suspension systems?
• What is an indicator of a properly functioning steering system?
• What does "suspension alignment" involve?
• One front tire shows spotty or isolated cupping and worn spots. What is the most likely cause of this problem?
• What does "positive camber" refer to?
• What is a consequence of not addressing suspension issues promptly?
• Which of these is NOT a correct method for adjusting tapered roller-type front wheel bearings on a RWD vehicle?
• What leads to chopped wear on a tire?
• What action should be taken if the tapered hole in the steering knuckle is oval shaped?
• When should ball joints with wear indicators be checked?
• What could cause excessive wear on the outer edge of a tire?
• Which component absorbs shocks in a suspension system?
• What is the primary cause for a steering wheel to return to center?
• Why is having a properly functioning steering rack important?
• What is the thrust angle in vehicle suspension systems?
• What is a common sign of failing suspension bushings?
• What is a common effect of an off-set thrust angle?
• What are the visual indicators of bad struts?
• What type of vehicles typically use shim adjusted control arms?
• Which maintenance practice is most effective for prolonging the life of steering components?
• What does the term "ride height" refer to?
• What effect does a "bump steer" condition have on a vehicle's steering response?
• When checking curb height on a car with torsion bars, the car should be checked on what type of surface?
• What typically causes an off-set thrust angle?
• Which of the following is a type of steering system commonly found in vehicles?
• When does variable assist power steering provide maximum pressure?
• When a wheel alignment is done on a car with front torsion bars, what should be checked and adjusted first?
• The front wheels shimmy or bounce above 40 mph, even on a smooth, straight road. The likely cause of this problem is:
• What type of bearings are typically used in wheel hubs?
• Before you remove a brake rotor from a hub, you should:
• What tire wear is associated with lack of tire rotation or unbalanced tires?
• Which steering system generally requires more physical effort from the driver?
• What should you do if a castle nut does not align with the cotter pin hole after reaching the torque specification?
• What is the primary function of a vehicle's suspension system?
• Excessive wear on one side of the tire is a result of what type of alignment issue?
• To counteract road crown, manufacturers recommend that the left front wheel be adjusted to have:
• What does "toe-out" indicate regarding wheel alignment?
• What is the role of bushings in the suspension system?
• What is the role of anti-lock brakes (ABS) in relation to a vehicle's steering system?
• What is a typical automobile front end camber setting?
• Which of these would cause the tires to wear in the center of a tire tread?
• What is an indicator that the tie rod ends might be worn during a check?
• Which of the following should be checked first thing when doing a front-end alignment?
• What is an effective way to check for a bent strut?
• Which adjustment would likely cause excessive wear on tires?
• Which type of suspension system typically offers better handling and stability?
• What does the term "roll center" refer to in suspension design?
• Which component is primarily responsible for dampening the oscillations in a vehicle's suspension?
• What is the primary function of a strut in suspension systems?
• Which condition is often indicated by a steering wheel that is off-center while driving straight?
• If a mechanic pushes out and then pulls in on both tires of a jacked-up car and notices too much movement, what does that indicate?
• What is a significant effect of a broken coil spring on a vehicle?
• How does a vehicle's weight affect shock absorber selection?
• What adjustment can be made on all vehicles with MacPherson strut suspensions?
• How do toe settings affect tire wear patterns?
• For rear-wheel drive vehicles, how is front-wheel toe-in adjustment achieved?
• Which of these is NOT part of the normal procedure for replacing a front stabilizer bar?
• What is a common sign of worn suspension components?
• What is "positive caster" in vehicle suspension?
• What is the primary function of camber adjustment?
• What does excessive play in wheel bearings indicate?
• How does incorrect tire pressure affect a vehicle?
• A car pulls to the left; which of these could cause the problem?
• Which statement is true regarding camber angles?
• A car will tend to pull to:
• What condition can lead to dangerous handling and excessive sideways body movement?
• What is the ideal adjustment of toe when aligning wheels?
• Improper camber settings are most likely to result in which type of tire wear?
• What tool is commonly used to observe the wear indicator on ball joints?
• How is "toe" adjustment made on front wheel drive vehicles?
• How does a negative caster angle affect a vehicle?
• Which of the following systems relies on a hydraulic pump for operation?
• Which of the following is NOT a tire wearing angle?
• What is the purpose of a sway bar in a vehicle's suspension system?
• Is caster adjustable on all vehicles?
• What is a key difference between power steering and manual steering systems?
• What does the term "caster angle" refer to in suspension geometry?
• What is one of the main reasons for adjusting toe settings on a vehicle?
• What is the primary method of bleeding a power steering unit?
• How is toe adjusted on a rack and pinion suspension?
• What noise might indicate a failing suspension system?
• What can excessive strut wear lead to in terms of driving performance?
• Which component is noted as important to check before performing an alignment?
• What could uneven tire wear indicate regarding suspension components?
• Which adjustment is likely to be out of specification if the front wheels do not return to the straight ahead position after rounding a turn?
• Why is regular wheel alignment important?
• What directional pull will a vehicle exhibit if it has more positive camber on one side?
• What is a tie rod end's main function in steering?
• At what point does variable assist power steering provide minimum pressure?
• When should a power steering system be bled?
• Which of the following is a correct statement about the effects of imbalance?
• What type of materials are commonly used to make suspension bushings?
• In suspension terminology, what is the role of the upper control arm?
• In what scenario would a vehicle benefit from a suspension lift kit?
• What is a typical symptom of a failed steering rack?
• What is the effect of underinflated tires after prolonged use?
• What is a common way to adjust camber on a vehicle equipped with a strut suspension system?
• What is the role of caster angle in steering?
• What is the primary purpose of suspension bushings in a vehicle?
• What is the primary effect of using worn out bushings in the suspension system?
• What inspection procedure is commonly done to check for worn wheel bearings?
• Which factor does NOT influence the steering feel of a vehicle?
• If a vehicle pulls to the right, what adjustment might be indicated?
• A mechanic finds that a front tire is worn on the inside of the tread only. What is causing this problem?
• What type of tire wear is caused by improper camber?
• What could cause looseness in the steering column?