Got an M.O.T. advisory - Front suspension?

HDI Dave · Unread post by **HDI Dave** » 18 Jun 2010, 20:08

Hi all,

Got an M.O.T. advisory - Front suspension.

Good news, she passed well

Not too bad news, like a muppet, I forgot about the expired number plate bulbs

...and she just needed a new number plate + wipers.Looked fine to me, think my mot man has a fetish for wipers etc! either that or he needed more beer money for the match

Pretty chuffed tho, 90 quid all in.

Anyway,sorry to digress:

Front suspension's been feeling loose,NSF, over speed bumps. I thought it might be a P bush etc,but I usually change the whole wishbones,so I'm not messing with one bush failing here and there every few months.
Advisory is BOTH front bottom ball joints, I think, play in em..(he never gives me the advisory sheet..he'd rather do the work himself..fair play,he is in business after all).
So I'm not sure what is loose,what he's on about.

What's a common 'loose' feel at the front..over speed humps? What about drop links etc? Any info appreciated.
Might as well sort it while the weather's here.

Cheers, Dave.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 18 Jun 2010, 20:24

Hi Dave,

Great news on the pass

Drop links just rattle over bumps.

If it's the bottom balljoints they I'm sorry to say you're in for some fun

They really can be a pain.

They're simple enough on the face of it, being screwed into the bottom of the hub but that's were it ends. They're screwed up to 250 Nm, loctited and peened over.

I've always struggled with them. Some have managed to bend back the peened tab and bash them out with a cold chisel but it's never worked for me.

To replace them you need a special tool thats a socket with four prongs on it and usually sold for a Pug 405. The balljoints are the same on a 405, 406, BX, Xantia and maybe the C5.

I find it best in the long run to remove the hub complete, pop it into a big vice and use a breaker bar on the special tool after applying judicious heat to soften the loctite.

I hope it's just droplinks. The bottom balljoints are easy to check; just jack up and relieve weight on the suspension and you'll soon feel any play in them.

KP · Unread post by KP » 18 Jun 2010, 20:32

I reckon it might be easier to get just a complete hub from a breakers, press in a new bearing and replace the hub, at least if you did it by getting other hubs you could do the work without the car being off the road

and doing the bearings at £10 a pop is good as it avoids the job in the future

HDI Dave · Unread post by **HDI Dave** » 18 Jun 2010, 20:33

Cheers Jim:

"Drop links just rattle over bumps"

That is what it sounds/feels like. I'll investigate and post back.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 18 Jun 2010, 20:40

Fingers crossed Dave

KP wrote:doing the bearings at £10 a pop

Where do you get bearings for £10 each Will? I need some for my Activa project and can't see them on the GSF website..

Thanks!

KP · Unread post by KP » 18 Jun 2010, 21:01

Jim,

Part number is 413PC0040

Ask for the Vince, branch manager at liverpool discount and see what you get it knocked down to

IIRC mine was the website price when vat had been added

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 18 Jun 2010, 21:13

Thanks Will

No wonder I couldn't find it. It comes up as a ZX part!!!

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 18 Jun 2010, 21:21

i do still have that complete new OE old stock N/S front hub for sale,

it is for an ABS car and comes with the bearing, swivle joint and drive flandge,

only want £40 quid pluss caridge, unless you can use the FCF International courier's,

regards malcolm

Unread post by **xantia_v6** » 18 Jun 2010, 21:28

HDI Dave wrote:(he never gives me the advisory sheet..he'd rather do the work himself..fair play,he is in business after all).

I think the tester is obliged to give you the advisory sheet (a secret advisory is a bit of a contradiction in terms) Anyway it will be on the computer system, and I think you can see them on-line.

HDI Dave · Unread post by **HDI Dave** » 19 Jun 2010, 11:29

Where would I find it online?

Cheers, Dave.

Unread post by **myglaren** » 19 Jun 2010, 11:54

Not sure that you would get it online.

The place I use farmed out the last MOT as the tester was off sick.
It failed and I had a couple of advisories (ball joint was one, forget what the other was)
Had it retested after fixing the headlight causing the failure and received a pass but no advisories.

Took it back to the original place and asked them to check and fix the balljoint and whatever else was on the advisory sheet but they said they could only access the details if they had done the test.
They couldn't find anything wrong even after virtually re-testing it.

HDI Dave · Unread post by **HDI Dave** » 19 Jun 2010, 12:18

Found it,it's on the MOT form:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Ow ... G_10020539

Front BOTH SIDES Ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)

Advisory Notice issued

Front Lower P BUSHES Bonded suspension unit deteriorated but can function as intended (2.4.F.3)

Hmm,looks like a fair bit of work..oh well!

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 19 Jun 2010, 12:29

The "P" bushes are easy enough Dave. A good cold chisel and big hammer soon despatches them.

Just be careful to install the new ones exactly as the old ones to ensure they sit at the correct attitude. If they sit wrongly they'll have a short life.

Before attempting the lower balljoints get the tool.

This is a typical example of one.

Unread post by **myglaren** » 19 Jun 2010, 12:47

That's excellent - Found that

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.3)

Pleased you were able to retrieve the required info Dave. Looks like your MOT guy was touting for work. Should be reported to VOSA.

MikeT · Unread post by **MikeT** » 19 Jun 2010, 14:22

myglaren wrote: Should be reported to VOSA.

X2

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Got an M.O.T. advisory - Front suspension?

Got an M.O.T. advisory - Front suspension?

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