mot testers

[doubleboost]

Crazy. If he can assess the condition of the joint without seeing it in order to advise, then he can assess if it is bad enough to fail.

All we can do is test within the given guide lines
Mind if the steering lock is not working that is a fail

MOD - fix quote

 

[Pete M]

Surely he can't pass a car he thinks is dangerous.

I thought if a car was deemed dangerous the tester could issue a red notice immediately prohibiting its use. (I got one many years ago on a VW with rotten brake pipes). Also isn't there an option to abandon the test, meaning an MOT cert. can't be issued.

Red notice was a long time ago as testers all we can is advise the customer, issue the appropriate paper work and as said pass and advise

It's then up to the presenter to decide whether to repair it or not

Not an ideal situation but that's the rules our hands are tied

 

[the snooper]

if the play in the rack was that bad then the people checking the tracking would have said it couldn't be done until the play had been rectified

 

[normspanners]

Are you sure it is in the trackrod inner joint ? It is very unusual to have major play in there (not impossible but rare) Also is it on N/S?
A N/S (left hand side) worn rack bush causes rack lift, it can seem to give you play ie the road wheel when held at a quarter to three moves in and out, but only when jacked up, it appears to be the inner ball but is actually the rack itself lifting up and down so when the car is lowered onto its wheels the trackrod and rack are in line and the 'play' disappears.

 

[the snooper]

Are you sure it is in the trackrod inner joint ? It is very unusual to have major play in there (not impossible but rare) Also is it on N/S?
A N/S (left hand side) worn rack bush causes rack lift, it can seem to give you play ie the road wheel when held at a quarter to three moves in and out, but only when jacked up, it appears to be the inner ball but is actually the rack itself lifting up and down so when the car is lowered onto its wheels the trackrod and rack are in line and the 'play' disappears.

not hard to whip the gator off and check

 

[normspanners]

Crazy. If he can assess the condition of the joint without seeing it in order to advise, then he can assess if it is bad enough to fail.

not hard to whip the gator off and check

Yep also give a more accurate measure of the actual play, ----Feel--- can be VERY misleading. Even to an experienced person thats why the pass and advise. Because you cannot spanner the car on test.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

The rack tie rods both have play in them on our Skoda Fabia. Been noted as an advisory on last 3 MOT's but not a fail. I've got the parts but another "roundtuit"
Car drives OK but nearside outer edge of tyre wears quickly and had new tyres other other week so intend getting them done this week (not looking forward to the job)

 

[normspanners]

right, will have the tracking checked again in the morning, but cant see that stopping it.

I don't see any point in getting the tracking checked if you've got play in a trackrod joint

that is not the way to do it do all suspension mods then do tracking,

if the play in the rack was that bad then the people checking the tracking would have said it couldn't be done until the play had been rectified

Well said snooper, maybe in an ideal world

 

[normspanners]

Car drives OK but nearside outer edge of tyre wears quickly and had new tyres other other week so intend getting them done this week (not looking forward to the job)

track rods inners or drum sticks usually cause wheels to toe out on rear mounted racks ( most cars now) so I would have expected it to wear inner edge I would check the camber settings. sounds like a bit of positive creeping there.

 

[brokenbiker]

just had yet another look, there is play on both sides of the rack, when moving the track rods I cant see the rack lifting at all.

the problem with the car veering feels is as if something is loose, but every single nut and bolt on the steering and suspension system is tight and to atleast the correct torque (checked with my torque bar). the only thing I can now find with play is the steering rack, and as the fault has been here since before the bottom arm and tyres were done, I cant see it being them that has caused it.

is the steering rack a serviceable part or do I just have to replace the rack

 

[normspanners]

just had yet another look, there is play on both sides of the rack, when moving the track rods I cant see the rack lifting at all.

sorry I havnt made my self clear, I was talking the actual rack shaft, as in rack and pinion, not the whole steering rack assembly (as it is shortened to be called 'the rack')

 

[normspanners]

Ps the term tie rod is a US thing, in uk they are track rods, thats why we have trackrod ends!!
AFAIAC tie rods or tie bars hold or stabilize the suspension sytem to the car !!
Damn Yanks, carnt talk proper,------- like what I dose

 

[Pete M]

just had yet another look, there is play on both sides of the rack, when moving the track rods I cant see the rack lifting at all.

the problem with the car veering feels is as if something is loose, but every single nut and bolt on the steering and suspension system is tight and to atleast the correct torque (checked with my torque bar). the only thing I can now find with play is the steering rack, and as the fault has been here since before the bottom arm and tyres were done, I cant see it being them that has caused it.

is the steering rack a serviceable part or do I just have to replace the rack

You can replace just the drumstick, lollypop joint or whatever you want to call it, any decent motor factor will sell them, sometimes a bit awkward to get to but not too bad

There is a special tool available but probably not worth the investment for one joint eBay item number: 111426955457 these come in 2 sizes depending on the diameter of the joint

 

[brokenbiker]

cheers. will wait until my new jack arrives end of the week and have a better look at it. have been using a widow maker jack for last week as my hydraulic jack decided it preferred its fluid all over the floor

 

[the snooper]

I would be very surprised if the rack and pinion was worn enough to give and noticeable play, its usually the inner ball joint of the track rod and if any of the bushing in that rack had gone that badly I would expect it to be leaking steering fluid

 

[brokenbiker]

I would be very surprised if the rack and pinion was worn enough to give and noticeable play, its usually the inner ball joint of the track rod and if any of the bushing in that rack had gone that badly I would expect it to be leaking steering fluid

it is the inner joints/ball joints that are worn. they aren't leaking (yet)

 

[Hitch]

When we had one of them awful vehicles I took it for tracking to be checked because of a slightly wobbly steering wheel, to get a phone call saying the inner ball joint was well past it.
Just weigh it in or strip it

 

[the snooper]

When we had one of them awful vehicles I took it for tracking to be checked because of a slightly wobbly steering wheel, to get a phone call saying the inner ball joint was well past it.
Just weigh it in or strip it

you can get them for as little as 10.50 on ebay

 

[Hitch]

you can get them for as little as 10.50 on ebay

This is the Megane we are talking about....? I wouldnt waste compressed air for the tyres on one of them

 

[the snooper]

This is the Megane we are talking about....? I wouldnt waste compressed air for the tyres on one of them

so you are quite fond of them then