ASE ASE Steering & Wheel Alignment 2

Question 1

What is the FIRST step a technician should perform before conducting a four-wheel alignment?

Accepted Answer

Inspect tires, ball joints, tie rod ends, and wheel bearings for wear

Answer

Worn suspension and steering components produce inaccurate alignment readings and will not hold adjustments, so a pre-alignment inspection is mandatory.

Question 2

Which alignment angle is adjusted by changing the length of the tie rod on a rack and pinion steering system?

Accepted Answer

Toe

Answer

Rotating the tie rod on a rack and pinion system changes its effective length, which moves the wheel in or out to adjust the toe angle.

Question 3

What causes memory steer, where the vehicle pulls in the direction of the last turn made?

Accepted Answer

Binding upper strut bearing or ball joint

Answer

A binding strut bearing or ball joint prevents the steering from returning to center after a turn, causing the vehicle to follow the last turn direction.

Question 4

On a McPherson strut suspension, camber is MOST commonly adjusted using which method?

Accepted Answer

Rotating an eccentric bolt or cam bolt at the strut-to-knuckle attachment

Answer

An eccentric cam or offset bolt at the strut-to-knuckle pinch bolt allows the knuckle to rotate, changing the wheel's camber angle.

Question 5

What does Steering Axis Inclination (SAI) represent?

Accepted Answer

The inward tilt of the steering axis from vertical as viewed from the front

Answer

SAI is the angle formed between the true vertical and the line through the upper and lower ball joints (or strut bearing and lower ball joint).

ASE Practice Test

ASE Practice Test

ASE ASE Steering & Wheel Alignment 2