Track rod end plastic washer ?

[Mandrake]

Hi All

Pre-MOT paranoia is starting to kick in, and something has occurred to me - I replaced a track rod end and the plastic spacer/cup on the ball joint nut was in pretty bad shape, and because the end of the nut was rounded off with rust I ended up having to dig out what was left of the plastic spacer so I could get a socket fully onto the nut and undo it.

So I ended up fitting the new nut with no plastic spacer/cup or washer. Is this a problem that is going to cause the MOT man to frown on me, or is it perfectly ok for that plastic cup to be missing as long as its a new nylock nut ?

If it would cause a fail, where might I get such a plastic cup/spacer other than the terminally slow Citroen dealer ?

[RichardW]

I've no idea what the plastic sleve is for - it just gets in the way! Not required by MOT man, as long as the nut is there and tight - no problem.

[Mandrake]

Phew I assume it's purpose is simply to minimise the number of stones and other objects striking the flats of the nut and eventually working it loose. In other words belt and suspenders along with the nut being nylock...It certainly does get in the way - I couldn't get a socket onto the nut properly until I dug it out...

[citronut]

I've no idea what the plastic sleve is for - it just gets in the way!

its just to make it hard for you to get the socket on

i always throw it away

as Richards says if the nut is tight it'll be fine