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Question

Difficulty: EasyWheels and Tires

During a routine vehicle maintenance inspection, a technician discovers a distinct cupped and scalloped wear pattern across the tire tread. Which worn or defective component is the most likely cause of this specific tire wear?

  1. A
    Suspension coil spring
  2. Shock absorberAnswer
  3. C
    Brake caliper assembly
  4. D
    Differential spider gear

Answer

Worn shock absorber
Worn shock absorbers fail to control spring oscillations, allowing the wheel assembly to bounce excessively as the vehicle travels. This continuous bouncing causes the tire to repeatedly hit the road surface with high impact, resulting in a scalloped or cupped wear pattern around the tread.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the characteristic tire wear symptom described in the stem.
The symptom is cupping or scalloping (alternating high and low dips along the tread circumference).
Recognizing the physical wear pattern is the first step in automotive wheel and tire diagnostics.
2
Determine the mechanical mechanism that produces repeated vertical bouncing on the road surface.
Shock absorbers and struts are responsible for dampening spring oscillations; when worn, they allow uncontrolled wheel hop.
Uncontrolled bouncing repeatedly slams the tire tread into the pavement at periodic intervals, digging out distinct cups in the rubber.

Key Concept

Tire wear diagnostics and shock absorber dampening function
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Wheels and Tires

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