2026 Edition

ASE A5 Practice Test

Take this free ASE A5 Practice Test to study for your ASE A5 certification exam.

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) identifies Brakes as an individual service area for certification (A5). The diagnosis and repair of the following subjects are covered:

Hydraulic, Power Assist and Parking Brakes
Drum Brakes
Disc Brakes
Electric Brake Controls: ABS, TCS, ESC

There are 55 questions on the exam, 45 which are scored, and 75 minutes is given to complete it.

To prepare for the ASE A5 exam, use Tests.com's ASE A5 Practice Test. It is written by Dr. John Kershaw, an ASE test question developer and ASE Certified Master Technician. Our interactive test platform allows you to simulate the exam. Take as many practice tests as you need. There's no time limit or recurrent charges.

If you are interested in obtaining more than one ASE A Series certification, use our Complete A1-A8 Practice Test Kit with 800 questions.

View Answers as You Go
View 1 Question at a Time

Hydraulic System Diagnosis and Repair

1 A spongy brake pedal may be caused by:

a. ABS Diagnostic Trouble Code set

b. Frozen caliper piston

c. Defective metering valve.

d. Air in hydraulic system

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Air causes a gap in the hydraulic fluid flow because the fluid has to compress the air before it can apply the piston. This delay causes the spongy feel. The other choices do not affect this concern.

Study Online Instantly

Click to Save 50% Now

2 This question has the word EXCEPT. For this question, look for the choice that could NOT cause the described situation. Read the entire question carefully before choosing your answer. A vehicle has a very erratic brake pulling concern while applying the brakes. All of the following items could cause this erratic pull EXCEPT:

a. Excessive tire pressure

b. Four-wheel alignment

c. Seized caliper piston on the other side

d. Steering gear problem

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Excessive tire pressure is the exception because this fault will cause tire wear but not a pull. Low or uneven tire pressure can cause a pull.

3 The brakes are being bled on an older vehicle equipped with a quick take up valve in the master cylinder. Technician A says the quick take up valve must be depressed. Technician B says the brakes on this vehicle cannot be bled. Who is right?

a. A only

b. B only

c. Both A and B

d. Neither A nor B

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Both technicians are wrong. The brakes on quick take up systems use the same bleeding procedure as those without this valve.

4 A power assist brake booster push rod that is to short will cause which of the following?

a. Excessive brake drag

b. Brake system to be inoperative

c. Excessive brake pedal travel

d. Brake light is illuminated

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

A short push rod length will have to travel farther for contact and result in excessive pedal travel.

Study Online Instantly

Click to Save 50% Now

Drum Brake Diagnosis and Repair

5 A vehicle with disc/drum brakes requires excessive brake pedal effort to stop. The brake pedal is firm when applied. While starting the engine with the brakes applied, the pedal does not go down slightly. Technician A says excessive brake pedal freeplay could be the cause. Technician B says air trapped in the hydraulic system could be the cause. Who is right?

a. A only

b. B only

c. Both A and B

d. Neither A nor B

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Both technicians are wrong because the problem is in the power booster. Excessive freeplay delays application and air in the hydraulic system will cause a spongy pedal.

6 Which of the following conditions can cause brake pedal fade?

a. Seized wheel cylinder piston

b. Brake drum machined beyond its limit

c. Leakage past the master cylinder cups

d. Air in the hydraulic system

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

The greatest drawback of drum brakes is that they are susceptible to fade. Brake fade is loss of stopping power that occurs when excessive heat reduces friction between brake shoe linings and drum. There are four types of brake fade. Mechanical fade occurs when the brake drum gets so hot it expands away from the brake linings. If the brake drum is machined beyond its limit the contact surface is further from the brake shoes and they move outward to maintain contact with the drum, causing the brake pedal to drop toward the floor as additional brake fluid moves into the hydraulic system. The other 3 choices would not cause brake fade.

7 The rear brake linings are soaked with axle grease but still have a lot of lining left on them. Which is the correct way to service these brakes?

a. Replace the brake linings

b. Wash in hot, soapy water and dry.

c. Clean with approved cleaner and reuse

d. Repair leak and replace brake linings

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

The leak must be repaired before the linings are replaced.

8 On a car with a drum/disc system, the front brakes lock up on light pedal application. This problem could be caused by a bad:

a. Residual check valve

b. Proportioning valve

c. Pressure differential switch

d. Metering valve

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

The metering valve controls the pressure to the front disc brakes on a combination system and if defective can allow too much pressure causing a lock-up. The other choices will not do this.

Study Online Instantly

Click to Save 50% Now

Disc Brake Diagnosis and Repair

9 This question has the word EXCEPT. For this question, look for the choice that could NOT cause the described situation. Read the entire question carefully before choosing your answer. All of these would cause a low brake pedal, EXCEPT:

a. Brake adjustment

b. Loose wheel bearing

c. Low brake fluid

d. Seized caliper piston

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

A seized caliper piston could cause the pedal to be high with reduced braking power.

10 A spongy brake pedal on a vehicle with 4-wheel disc brakes with a longer than normal travel indicates which of the following?

a. Air in the hydraulic system

b. Caliper piston seized

c. Parking brake out of adjustment

d. A faulty power booster

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Air in the hydraulic system is the only choice that creates a spongy pedal.

11 A vehicle with 4-wheel disc brakes has a brake squeal. Technician A says a defective proportioning valve could be the cause. Technician B says disc brake squeal is often caused by movement of the disc brake pad during braking. Who is right?

a. A only

b. B only

c. Both A and B

d. Neither A nor B

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Disc brake squeal is often caused by movement of the disc brake pad during braking. To reduce disc brake squeal, all mating surfaces of the brake should be clean and lubricated. Always use OEM recommended clips and anti-squeal shims. To further reduce noise, do not machine a disc brake rotor more than absolutely necessary. Technician A is wrong because the proportioning valve only affects brake lockup and is not used on 4-wheel disc brakes only on disc/drum combinations.

Study Online Instantly

Click to Save 50% Now

12 On a car with single piston floating caliper disc brakes, the disc brake pad between the caliper piston and the rotor is badly worn. The other brake pad is slightly worn. Technician A says excessive rotor run out could be the cause. Technician B says insufficient clearance between the pads and caliper slider could be the cause. Who is right?

a. A only

b. B only

c. Both A and B

d. Neither A nor B

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Insufficient clearance between the pads and caliper slider causes the slider not to move and only applies one brake pad causing only that pad to wear. Technician A is wrong because excessive rotor runout will cause brake pulsations with no effect on wear.

Power Assist Units Diagnosis and Repair

13 A vehicle comes in with a complaint of excessive pedal travel before the brakes apply. Technician A says the master cylinder pushrod adjustment is incorrect. Technician B says the cause is a faulty residual pressure check valve admitting air. Who is right?

a. A only X

b. B only

c. Both A and B

d. Neither A nor B

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Technician A is right because if the master cylinder pushrod is too short that will be a delay in application. Technician B is wrong because a faulty residual check valve if used will cause a spongy pedal due to the ingress of air.

14 With the brakes applied on a vehicle with power brakes, the pedal moves down slightly when the engine is started. Technician A says the cause could be a leaking power brake booster diaphragm. Technician B says the cause could be a stuck closed residual check valve in the hose from the intake manifold to the power brake booster. Who is right?

a. A only

b. B only

c. Both A and B

d. Neither A nor B

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Both technicians are wrong because this is how power brakes are supposed to operate.

15 Technician A says the vacuum supply test involves inspecting the vacuum supply hose for kinks. Technician B says the test involves checking the level of vacuum supplied by the engine or vacuum pump. Who is right?

a. A only

b. B only

c. Both A and B

d. Neither A nor B

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Both technicians are correct.

16 When performing a vacuum booster function test, you should begin by pumping the brake pedal several times _______________.

a. with the engine off

b. with the engine running

c. with the vacuum hoses removed

d. while driving the vehicle slowly

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

The engine must be off to deplete the vacuum reservoir to test the booster.

Miscellaneous Systems Diagnosis and Repair

17 On a bearing that has been shock loaded, the race (cup) of the bearing can be dented. What is this type of bearing failure called?

a. Spalling

b. Arcing

c. Brinelling

d. Fluting

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Brinelling is defined as indentations in the race caused by impact loads or vibrations.

18 The component in the Figure is involved what procedure?

a. Replacing sealed wheel bearing

b. Replacing the front strut

c. Replacing a ball joint

d. Repacking a front wheel bearing

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

A front wheel bearing is shown in the figure.

Study Online Instantly

Click to Save 50% Now

19 Technician A says a defective wheel or axle bearing can make a growling or rumbling noise. Technician B says a defective wheel displays looseness or excessive play in the steering wheel especially while driving over rough road surfaces. Who is right?

a. A only

b. B only

c. Both A and B

d. Neither A nor B

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Both technicians are correct.

20 The front wheel bearings are being adjusted. Technician A says you torque the adjusting nut to a specified torque and back off the nut till it lines up with the hole and install the cotter pin. Technician B says backing off the castle nut will cause the bearing to overheat. Who is right?

a. A only

b. B only

c. Both A and B

d. Neither A nor B

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

You torque an adjusting nut to a specified torque and back off the nut till it lines up with the hole and install the cotter pin. Technician B is wrong because backing off the castle nut will not cause the bearing to overheat.

Electronic Brake Control Systems: ABS, TCS and ESC

21 The ABS (antilock brake system) and TRACTION OFF indicator lights remain ON with the engine running. Technician A says to check for ABS or TCS (traction control system) diagnostic trouble codes. Technician B says you can check for ABS or TCS blink codes by connecting two pins of the DLC (Data Link Connector). Who is right?

a. A only

b. B only

c. Both A and B

d. Neither A nor B

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Both technicians are correct.

Study Online Instantly

Click to Save 50% Now

22 A wheel speed sensor is being diagnosed using the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) diagnostic scan tool. Technician A says to verify wheel speed sensor operation, compare all four wheel speed sensor outputs to vehicle speed on the data list. Technician B says the wheel's direction of rotation can be verified by looking at the wheel direction on the scan tool data list. Who is right?

a. A only

b. B only

c. Both A and B

d. Neither A nor B

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Both technicians are correct.

23 The front brake rotors and pads are being replaced on a vehicle equipped with a TCS (traction control system) and electronic stability control system (ESC). Technician A says the yaw rate and deceleration sensor should be recalibrated. Technician B says the new rotors should be indexed to the hub using a dial indicator for the least amount of runout. Who is right?

a. A only

b. B only

c. Both A and B

d. Neither A nor B

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

This is the standard process by many OEMS when a new rotor is installed. Technician A is wrong because recalibration is not required for these sensors.

Study Online Instantly

Click to Save 50% Now

24 The ABS (antilock brake system) amber light does not go off after the engine is started. Technician A says a parking brake not fully released could be the cause. Technician B says when this happens the brakes will operate like a normal non-ABS brake system. Who is right?

a. A only

b. B only

c. Both A and B

d. Neither A nor B

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

If the amber light is on it indicates an ABS fault and the system will revert to regular brake operation without ABS. Technician A is wrong because the parking brake only affects the RED Brake Light not the amber.

Study Online Instantly

Click to Save 50% Now