Free ASE Transit Bus Suspension and Steering (H5) Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the ASE Transit Bus Suspension and Steering (H5) practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1During a TAS/THP pump flow-control response test, flow does not immediately return to its original reading after the load valve is reopened. What does this result indicate?

   1. A. The pump is malfunctioning.
   2. B. Pump flow-control recovery is normal.
   3. C. Excessive gear internal leakage is confirmed.
   4. D. The pump relief setting is verified correct.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: TRW states, "If this rate does not return immediately, the pump is malfunctioning". Delayed flow recovery is abnormal pump behavior. It does not by itself measure gear leakage or verify the pump relief-pressure setting.

   Reference: TAS/THP Maintenance Guide — p.11, Power Steering Pump Flow Test

2. 2For a RideStar RIS independent front suspension, loaded frame-to-ground height is 24 inches and static-loaded tire radius is 18 inches. What is the calculated suspension ride height?

   1. A. 6 inches
   2. B. 12 inches
   3. C. 21 inches
   4. D. 42 inches

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Meritor directs technicians to "subtract the tire’s static-loaded radius from the loaded frame-to-ground dimension." Thus 24 − 18 = 6 inches; adding, halving, or using tire diameter gives the wrong reference.

   Reference: RideStar RIS13EF and RIS16EF Independent Front Suspension Systems—MM-0368 — p.6, Suspension Ride Height Calculation

3. 3Before aligning a RideStar IFS bus, what suspension condition must be established along with the complete pre-alignment inspection?

   1. A. Full rebound at both front wheels.
   2. B. The specified vehicle ride height.
   3. C. Maximum air-spring pressure.
   4. D. A fully kneeled front suspension.

   Answer: B

   Explanation: Meritor specifies, "Before aligning the vehicle, perform a complete inspection and adjust the vehicle ride height." Travel extremes or kneeling are not the normal alignment reference.

   Reference: RideStar RIS13EF and RIS16EF Independent Front Suspension Systems—MM-0368 — p.35, Inspection Before Alignment

4. 4A bus returns from a route with tire pressures above their correctly set cold readings. No overload or other fault has been identified. Which action follows Michelin's pressure guidance?

   1. A. Bleed each tire immediately to the cold target.
   2. B. Bleed only the tire with the highest hot pressure.
   3. C. Avoid bleeding hot tires and recheck them cold.
   4. D. Reduce all hot readings by the same fixed amount.

   Answer: C

   Explanation: Michelin warns, "Never bleed hot tires, as your tires will then be underinflated." Normal operating heat raises pressure; cold-pressure verification must not be replaced by venting a hot tire.

   Reference: Michelin Truck Tire Service Manual — p.50, Inflation Pressure

5. 5With correct test temperature and engine speed, a TAS/THP pump pressure test produces less than the pump manufacturer's specified minimum. Which repair follows from this result?

   1. A. Reset the axle steering stops.
   2. B. Repair or replace the pump.
   3. C. Tighten the sector shaft adjustment.
   4. D. Reposition the pitman arm splines.

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The pressure-test instruction says, "If the pressure reads below the minimum specified by the pump manufacturer, repair or replace the pump." A pump output failure is not corrected by gear mesh or linkage adjustments.

   Reference: TAS/THP Maintenance Guide — p.11, Power Steering Pump Pressure Test

6. 6Which definition correctly pairs jounce and rebound on a RideStar independent front suspension, using the designed ride-height position as the reference?

   1. A. Jounce is downward travel; rebound is upward travel.
   2. B. Jounce is upward travel; rebound is downward travel.
   3. C. Jounce and rebound both describe upward travel.
   4. D. Jounce and rebound both describe downward travel.

   Answer: B

   Explanation: Meritor defines jounce as "upward suspension travel from the suspension’s designed ride-height position." It states, "Rebound is the amount of downward suspension travel from the suspension’s designed ride-height position." The other pairings reverse or duplicate the two directions.

   Reference: RideStar RIS13EF and RIS16EF Independent Front Suspension Systems—MM-0368 — p.6, Suspension Travel—Jounce and Rebound

7. 7Viewed from the front, the tops of the front wheels are farther apart than their bottoms at ground level. Which alignment condition is present?

   1. A. Toe-in.
   2. B. Negative camber.
   3. C. Positive camber.
   4. D. Toe-out.

   Answer: C

   Explanation: Meritor defines positive camber when "the distance between the top of the wheels is greater than the distance at the ground." Negative camber tilts the tops inward; toe compares the front and rear distances between the tires rather than top and bottom distances.

   Reference: Front Non-Drive Steer Axles—Meritor Maintenance Manual 2 — p.67, Camber Angle

8. 8Two tires installed as a dual pair have substantially different outside diameters. Why must the pair be properly matched?

   1. A. The larger tire carries a disproportionate share of the load.
   2. B. The smaller tire carries a disproportionate share of the load.
   3. C. The common hub forces equal loading despite the diameter difference.
   4. D. Equal inflation forces equal loading despite the diameter difference.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Michelin identifies "the tire with the larger diameter carrying a disproportionate share of the load." The unequal diameters produce unequal load sharing; neither a shared hub nor equal inflation removes that dimensional mismatch.

   Reference: Michelin Truck Tire Service Manual — p.45, Mounting the Assembly on the Vehicle—dual tire matching

9. 9A TAS/THP steering system with an auxiliary cylinder has excessive internal leakage. After the cylinder is properly isolated, measured gear leakage drops below 3.8 L/min. Which component does this test identify for repair?

   1. A. The steering gear.
   2. B. The steering pump.
   3. C. The auxiliary cylinder.
   4. D. The reservoir filter.

   Answer: C

   Explanation: After cylinder isolation, TRW directs, "If the internal leakage is less than 3.8 Litre/min repair the auxiliary cylinder." The reduction identifies the isolated leakage path. A gear fault would leave excessive gear leakage; the pump and filter do not explain the cylinder-dependent reduction.

   Reference: TAS/THP Maintenance Guide — p.12, Steering Gear Internal Leakage Test

10. 10Which observation distinguishes actual shock-absorber leakage from normal misting during a RideStar IFS inspection?

    1. A. A dry dust coating on the shock body.
    2. B. A thin film from condensed seal mist.
    3. C. Fluid streaming from the upper seal.
    4. D. A light oily ring near the upper seal.

    Answer: C

    Explanation: Meritor states, "A leaking shock absorber will have fluid leaking in streams from the upper seal." Thin film and dusty grime can result from normal seal-lubricating misting, so those appearances alone do not establish leakage.

    Reference: RideStar RIS13EF and RIS16EF Independent Front Suspension Systems—MM-0368 — p.8, Leaking Shock Absorbers