2025 Edition

ASE A5 Practice Test

ASE identifies brakes as an individual service area. The brakes service area involves the components listed below.

Hydraulic system -Components (such as the brake lines and master cylinder) that transfers power from the brake pedals to either disc or drum brakes.
Mechanical Foundation System -Components (such as discs and pads or drums and shoes) that creates the friction required to stop the vehicle.
Electronic system -Components that notify the driver of a failure in the brake system. In anti-lock brake (ABS) systems, electrical system components work to prevent tire skidding.

Tests.com's ASE A5 Practice Test was written by Dr. John Kershaw, an ASE test prep expert: ASE test question developer; ASE Certified Master Technician; ASE Master Truck Technician; and Auto Industry Technical Instructor. Dr. Kershaw was among the first to receive ASE certification in 1972.

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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
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. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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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
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. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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

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
A short push rod length will have to travel farther for contact and result in excessive pedal travel. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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
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. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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
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. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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
The leak must be repaired before the linings are replaced. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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
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. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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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
A seized caliper piston could cause the pedal to be high with reduced braking power. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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
Air in the hydraulic system is the only choice that creates a spongy pedal. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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
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. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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
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. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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
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. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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
Both technicians are wrong because this is how power brakes are supposed to operate. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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
Both technicians are correct. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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
The engine must be off to deplete the vacuum reservoir to test the booster. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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
Brinelling is defined as indentations in the race caused by impact loads or vibrations. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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
A front wheel bearing is shown in the figure. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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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
Both technicians are correct. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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
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. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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
Both technicians are correct. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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
Both technicians are correct. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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
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. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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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
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. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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