Deck 113: Front Suspensions and Service

Question 1

Unusual noise during a test drive can be caused by ________.

A)Defective or worn control arm bushings or ball joints
B)Defective wheel bearings or stabilizer bar links
C)Worn or defective CV joints
D)All of the above

Answer 1

All of the above

Question 2

Two technicians are discussing non-indicator type ball joint inspection. Technician A says that the vehicle should be on the ground with the ball joints loaded, then checked for free play. Technician B says the ball joints should be unloaded before checking for free play. Which technician is correct?

A)Technician A only
B)Technician B only
C)Both technicians A and B
D)Neither technician A nor B

Answer 2

Technician B only

Question 3

Most manufacturers specify a maximum axial play for ball joints of about ________.

A)0.050 in.
B)0.003 in.
C)0.010 in.
D)0.030 in.

Answer 3

0.050 in.

Question 4

The preferred method to separate tapered chassis parts is to use ________.

A)A puller tool or two hammers to shock and separate the taper
B)A pickle fork
C)A torch to heat the joint until it separates
D)A drill to drill out the tapered part

Question 5

A light film of oil is observed on the upper area of a shock absorber. Technician A says that this condition should be considered normal. Technician B says that a rod seal may bleed fluid during cold weather, causing the oil film. Which technician is correct?

A)Technician A only
B)Technician B only
C)Both technicians A and B
D)Neither technician A nor B

Question 6

Before the strut cartridge can be removed from a typical MacPherson strut assembly, which operation is necessary to prevent possible personal injury?

A)The brake caliper and/or brake hose should be removed from the housing
B)The lower attaching bolts should be removed
C)The coil spring should be compressed
D)The upper strut mounting bolts should be removed

Question 7

What should the technician do when replacing stabilizer bar links?

A)The stabilizer bar must be compressed using a special tool before removing or installing stabilizer bar links
B)The links can be replaced individually, yet the manufacturer often recommends that the links at both ends be replaced together
C)The stabilizer bar should be removed from the vehicle before replacing the links
D)Both A and C are correct

Question 8

A noise and a pull toward one side during braking is a common symptom or a worn or defective ________.

A)Shock absorber
B)Strut rod bushing
C)Track rod bushing
D)Stabilizer bar link

Question 9

To help prevent vehicle wandering on a vehicle with torsion bars, the ride height should be within ________ side to side.

A)0.125 in. (3.2 mm)
B)0.100 in. (2.5 mm)
C)0.003 in. (0.076 mm)
D)0.050 in. (1.27 mm)

Question 10

Two technicians are discussing suspension bushings. Technician A says that replacing control arm bushings usually requires special tools. Technician B says using high-performance urethane bushings may cause excessive noise to be transferred to the passenger compartment. Which technician is correct?

A)Technician A only
B)Technician B only
C)Both technicians A and B
D)Neither technician A nor B

Question 11

Technician A says that the two main links in an SLA suspension are the upper control arm and the lower control arm. Technician B says that front suspensions with MacPherson struts usually have only one control arm. Which technician is correct?

A)Technician A only
B)Technician B only
C)Both technicians A and B
D)Neither technician A nor B

Question 12

Where is the most common location for the coil spring on an SLA front suspension?

A)Stabilizer bar
B)Radius arm
C)Lower control arm
D)Upper control arm

Question 13

Technician A says that torsion bars are welded in place and cannot be adjusted. Technician B says that torsion bars are adjusted by using a wrench to turn the torsion bar clockwise. Which technician is correct?

A)Technician A only
B)Technician B only
C)Both technicians A and B
D)Neither technician A nor B

Question 14

Technician A says that a MacPherson strut typically does not include the spring as part of the strut assembly. Technician B says that a modified strut typically does not include the spring as part of the strut assembly. Which technician is correct?

A)Technician A only
B)Technician B only
C)Both technicians A and B
D)Neither technician A nor B

Question 15

Technician A says that a road test should never be performed before service, for safety reasons. Technician B says that the purpose of any diagnosis is to eliminate known good components. Which technician is correct?

A)Technician A only
B)Technician B only
C)Both technicians A and B
D)Neither technician A nor B

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT helpful information in diagnosing a suspension problem?

A)If the problem gets worse while turning or going straight
B)If the problem gets worse in warm or cold weather
C)If the problem gets worse with a warm or cold engine
D)All of these are helpful hints for diagnosis

Question 17

A proper road test should include which of the following?

A)Driving on bumpy roads
B)Driving beside stationary objects
C)Driving in reverse while turning
D)All of these are useful road test tips

Question 18

Technician A says that a dry park test should be performed as part of the diagnosis. Technician B says that the dry park test should be performed with one technician moving the steering wheel while another watches and feels for movement in steering and suspension components. Which technician is correct?

A)Technician A only
B)Technician B only
C)Both technicians A and B
D)Neither technician A nor B

Question 19

A dry park test can be useful to diagnose which of the following?

A)Ball joint movement
B)Front wheel bearing failure
C)Control arm bushing wear
D)All of these are correct

Question 20

Defective ball joints can cause all of the following problems EXCEPT ________.

A)Loud popping or squeaking when driving over bumps
B)Vehicle wander on a straight road
C)Shimmy-type vibration felt in the steering wheel
D)All of these can be caused by defective ball joints

Question 21

Technician A says that wear indicator ball joints should be unloaded to check properly. Technician B says that wear indicator ball joints should be checked with the weight of the vehicle on the ground. Which technician is correct?

A)Technician A only
B)Technician B only
C)Both technicians A and B
D)Neither technician A nor B

Question 22

A vehicle is equipped with longitudinal torsion bars attached to the front lower control arms. Technician A says that this vehicle has loaded lower ball joints. Technician B says that the ball joints on this vehicle should be unloaded to test for radial and axial play. Which technician is correct?

A)Technician A only
B)Technician B only
C)Both technicians A and B
D)Neither technician A nor B

Question 23

Which tool is most often used to measure suspension component free play?

A)Telescoping gauges
B)Vernier caliper
C)Micrometer
D)Dial indicator

Question 24

Technician A says that most loaded ball joints can have up to 0.050 inches of axial free play and still be within specifications. Technician B says that follower ball joints generally should have no more than 0.050 inches of play. Which technician is correct?

A)Technician A only
B)Technician B only
C)Both technicians A and B
D)Neither technician A nor B

Question 25

Technician A says that when removing pinch bolt connections, turn the nut, not the bolt. Technician B says to tighten the pinch bolt until the steering knuckle is deformed by 0.050 inches. Which technician is correct?

A)Technician A only
B)Technician B only
C)Both technicians A and B
D)Neither technician A nor B

Question 26

Technician A says that many vehicles use lower control arms with non-removable ball joints. Technician B says that heat should be used to bend a deformed suspension component within specifications. Which technician is correct?

A)Technician A only
B)Technician B only
C)Both technicians A and B
D)Neither technician A nor B

Question 27

Technician A says to install press-fit ball joints using a hammer on the ball joint housing to seat the ball joint in the control arm. Technician B says that a tool resembling a large C-clamp should be used to press ball joints in and out. Which technician is correct?

A)Technician A only
B)Technician B only
C)Both technicians A and B
D)Neither technician A nor B

Question 28

Technician A says that front shock replacement on most vehicles requires a special spring compressor. Technician B says that front shock absorbers can be replaced with the weight of the vehicle on the wheels. Which technician is correct?

A)Technician A only
B)Technician B only
C)Both technicians A and B
D)Neither technician A nor B

Question 29

Technician A says that it is a good idea to recommend replacing upper strut bearings when replacing MacPherson struts. Technician B says that all MacPherson struts can be serviced by replacing the cartridge inside the strut assembly. Which technician is correct?

A)Technician A only
B)Technician B only
C)Both technicians A and B
D)Neither technician A nor B

Question 30

While servicing a vehicle with modified strut front suspension, technician A makes sure the lower control arm is supported. Technician B says that the coil spring must be removed from the strut assembly to service a modified strut vehicle. Which technician is correct?

A)Technician A only
B)Technician B only
C)Both technicians A and B
D)Neither technician A nor B

Question 31

Which of the ball joints in this illustration is worn out and needs replacing?

A)B
B)A
C)Both are worn out
D)Both are OK

Question 32

Which of these illustrates axial ball joint play?

A)A
B)B
C)Both A and B
D)Neither A nor B