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2026 Edition

ASE A4 Practice Test

Take this free ASE A4 Practice Test to study for your ASE A4 certification exam. Our ASE A4 test prep is written by John Kershaw, an ASE test question developer and ASE Certified Master Technician. To prepare for the ASE A4 exam, use our ASE A4 Practice Test. See the links below for free ASE A4 flash cards. To prepare for additional ASE A Series certifications, use our Complete A1-A8 Practice Test Kit with 800 questions.

Steering Systems Diagnosis and Repair 

1 Technician A says if the steering column input shaft is not aligned correctly there would be noise. Technician B says if the lubricant level is low in a linkage-assist type power steering column, there will be a noise when turning the steering wheel. Who is right?
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Both technicians are correct.

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2 A sport utility vehicle has high steering effort. Technician A says this could be caused by a sheared shift tube. Technician B says the steering column assembly is misaligned. Who is right?
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Technician B is correct because column misalignment causes high steering effort due to binding. A sheared tube will result in loss of steering ability.
3 Technician A says whenever working on the steering column, consult the on-line service information for the recommended airbag disabling procedure. Technician B says the u-joint or flexible coupling must be removed before the steering wheel can be removed. Who is right?
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Technician A is correct because you must use the OEM information because, if done incorrectly, it can result in air bag deployment and possible personal injury.
4 This question has the word LEAST. Read the question carefully before choosing your answer. While driving a vehicle at 40 miles per hour there is a vibration in the steering wheel. Which of the following is the LEAST likely cause?
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Of the answer options, a worn control arm bushings is the least likely to cause vehicle vibration in the steering column. Vibrations consist of the following three elements:  source - cause of the vibration, transfer path - path the vibration travels through the vehicle, and a responder - component where the vibration is felt. Worn control arm bushings would not be in the path of vibration to the steering wheel, the responder.  The other three items are in the path of the steering wheel.

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5 On an integral power steering gear, which of the following indicates excessive play between the rack piston and sector?
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Lost motion is caused by excessive play between the rack piston and sector.  B is wrong because a steering wheel vibration is typically caused by tire imbalance.  C is wrong because hard steering when cold is caused by power steering fluid flow issues.  D is wrong hard steering would not be caused by excessive play.

Suspension Systems Diagnosis and Repair 

6 Two technicians are discussing vehicle ride height. Technician A says when the vehicle ride height is too low the vehicle could pull to that side. Technician B says ride height does not affect front camber. Who is right?
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Technician A is correct because if one side is different in height it will cause a pull. Ride height does affect camber and must be corrected before any alignment adjustments.
7 Two technicians are discussing the ride height measuring procedure. Technician A says bent components can cause incorrect ride height. Technician B says for proper measurement of the ride height, the vehicle must have a full tank of fuel. Who is right?
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Both Technicians are correct.
8 When replacing a lower control arm bushings on a short arm long arm (SLA) suspension, the replacement should be:
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
The suspension needs to be loaded when bushing retention bolts are tightened. The other choices are wrong.
9 Which of the following conditions is likely to indicate a worn control arm bushing?
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Cracking of the rubber bushing is an indicator of wear.

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10 Two technicians are discussing the replacement of a rebound or jounce bumper. Technician A says if a vehicle fails the jounce test the cause is a defective jounce bumper. Technician B says you need to remove the lower ball joint to replace the jounce bumper on an SLA (short arm long arm) suspension. Who is right?
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Both technicians are correct.
11 When a shock absorber is to be considered for replacement due to a fluid leak, which of the following applies?
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
A shock that fails the bounce test is defective regardless of leakage.
12 This question has the word EXCEPT. Read the question carefully before choosing your answer. All of the following statements about a conventional shock absorber are true, EXCEPT:
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
A shock that fails the bounce test is defective regardless of leakage.
13 Two technicians are discussing wheel bearing adjustment on an SLA (short arm long arm) suspension. Technician A says you adjust the front wheel bearings with the vehicle on the ground. Technician B says to use factory procedures when adjusting front wheel bearings. Who is right?
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Technician B is correct because procedures may vary and it is best to follow OEM procedures. Technician A is wrong because the vehicle must be unloaded to make the adjustment on SLA suspensions.

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14 The steering wheel sensor is typically located at which of the following locations?
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Steering wheel sensors are located at the base of the steering column.
15 Which of the following electronically controlled suspension sensors is tested by unbolting it with the ignition on, engine off (KOEO) and reviewing scan tool data for correct operation?
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
A G-sensor is tested by unbolting it with the ignition on, engine off (KOEO) and reviewing scan tool data for correct operation.

Wheel Alignment Diagnosis, Adjustment and Repair 

16 This question contains the word EXCEPT. Read the question carefully before choosing your answer. A driver comes in with a wandering concern on an SLA (short arm long arm) suspension.  All of these could be the cause, EXCEPT:
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Most vehicles have positive caster, because it causes the tires to travel in a straight line with minimal driver reaction.  Yet, as positive caster increases, the effort is needed to turn the steering wheel to overcome the increased self-straightening force.  Also, positive caster causes the spindle to tilt as the wheel is steered, and this places more weight on the inside tire because of the body lifting that occurs with the inside tire. This lift can be seen by turning the steering from lock to lock while the vehicle is stationary.  Caster is the forward or backward tilt of the steering axis from vertical view from the side of the vehicle. Backward tilt from the vertical is positive caster. Forward tilt is negative caster and can cause the vehicle to pull or wander to that side.  Vehicle wander means the vehicle is not driving in exactly the direction the driver is steering it. It tends to happen when the caster angle is off or there is looseness in the steering suspension components.
17 Technician A says many torsion bars are adjustable to allow for ride height adjustment. Technician B says torsion bars are usually marked left and right and should never be switched side to side. Who is right?
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Both technicians are correct.
18 Technician A says the rear camber determines the thrust angle. Technician B says the rear toe angle determines the thrust angle. Who is right?
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Tech B is correct because the vehicle thrust angle is determined by the rear toe adjustment.  Tech A is incorrect because rear camber does not determine thrust angle and is not used by many manufacturers. Thrust Angle is the Relationship between vehicle centerline and the Angle of rear tires. Thrust Line is the Direction rear wheels are pointing. Incorrect thrust angle can cause an off-center steering wheel. Thrust angle issues may be caused by a leaf-spring suspension that has a broken center bolt, a bent axle, a bent frame or unibody, or simply misadjusted rear toe. Thrust angle can be adjusted on vehicles with adjustable rear suspensions. On vehicles without adjustable rear suspensions, a small amount of thrust angle can be compensated for by aligning the front wheels to the rear wheels.

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19 In the Figure, which of the following conditions is shown when viewed from the front of the vehicle?
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Positive movement is when the top of the tire is moved out when viewed from the front. Negative camber is when the top is moved in when viewed from the front.
20 Two technicians are describing camber. Technician A says camber affects tire wear. Technician B says rebound causes a slight negative change in camber on an SLA (Short/Long arm) suspension. Who is right?
Incorrect. Please choose another answer.
Tech A is correct because camber is the tilt of a vehicle's wheels position to the road surface and if not within manufacturers specifications will cause tire wear on the inside or outside of the tread surface. Tech B is incorrect; rebound does not cause a slight negative change in camber on an SLA suspension.  Rebound is the upward movement of the suspension after it has been compressed, which does not directly affect camber.
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Quality starts with who wrote the material. Our writers:

John Kershaw, ASE Test Prep Expert, is an ASE Certified Master Technician, an auto industry technical instructor and is an ASE Test Question Developer. He is among the first certified by the ASE in 1972.

How should I study for the ASE A4 exam?

Practice tests and flash cards are an effective way to study for the ASE A4 exam. They help you learn the subject matter and practice your test taking skills. The ASE A4 exam is taken on a computer, so practicing with online practice tests can boost your chance of success.

What is on the ASE A4 Exam?

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) identifies Suspension and Steering as an individual service area for certification (A4). The diagnosis and repair of the following subjects are covered:
  • Steering systems
  • Suspension systems
  • Wheel Alignment
  • Wheel and Tire Service
There are 50 questions on the exam, 40 of which are scored, and 60 minutes is given to complete it.
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