Seized upper strut mount bearings could cause memory steer. Which condition would lead to this symptom?

Prepare for the Automotive Service Technician Period 1 exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Memory steer happens when a suspension component binds instead of moving freely, so the wheel tends to “remember” the last steering angle after a turn. If the upper strut mount bearing is seized, the top of the strut can’t rotate smoothly with the steering knuckle. That binding prevents the wheel from centering properly, so once you steer and then release the wheel, the tire holds at the turned angle or pulls back unevenly. The result is memory steer.

Worn tie rod ends would cause play and toe misalignment and might make steering feel loose or imprecise, but they don’t create the binding that causes a wheel to remember a steering position. Oversteer is a dynamic handling condition from weight transfer and traction limits, not a bound suspension component. Steering rack binding can make steering feel stiff or sticky, but memory steer specifically points to binding in suspensions components like seized strut mount bearings.