MOT Failure: garage quoting unnessessary work?

Foxy-Stoat_3

Sorry about your job, good luck with finding another.

My post was a money saving tip as the garage could of tried to charge you over the top for a simple and cheap repair, at leadt you know roughly what it should cost you before you go.

Dont think my post was dickish, if that is a word.

csh_2

alhermette wrote: »

The rubber boot thing is a new part of the MOT introduced this year. Last year a split boot wasn't even an advisory, now it's a failure. Way too much of a big brother attitude. Sure a split dust cover will cause the joint to wear and eventually it will fail - but not for a long time. Forcing people to change them as soon as there is a split is not reasonable in my opinion. What makes matters worse is that plenty of manufacturers now do not supply ball joints they will only supply the whole suspension arm assembly which just increases the cost further.
I want to be informed about items that need attention so that I can make a decision about when and how to repair it coupled with the advice of my mechanic. I only want to be forced to repair things if they pose an immediate safety risk.

See this was along my lines of thinking. Its not likely to be a one off one car thing. My own car is a 98 civic and it will prob fail on this too in Sept...

csh_2

Foxy-Stoat wrote: »

Sorry about your job, good luck with finding another.

My post was a money saving tip as the garage could of tried to charge you over the top for a simple and cheap repair, at leadt you know roughly what it should cost you before you go.

Dont think my post was dickish, if that is a word.

Its a word where I come from.

Its not even that I don't have the money for the damn thing its just been taxed, insured and 2 new tyres within the last 5 weeks so best part of 1k on it but the thought of another £80 for a £2 bit of rubber has pushed me over the edge!

Did you need any special tools to do your own repair? Himself would prob be able to do it to save the labour costs at least...

Rolandtheroadie

csh wrote: »

Did you need any special tools to do your own repair? Himself would prob be able to do it to save the labour costs at least...

Cant be much harder than a trackrod end.

That cost me £16 for the part, £12 for a ball joint splitter (that didnt work anyway), run around to get a loan of a Snap-on one that did work, with the help of a 10lb hammer. Nearly took the wing out a couple of times though.

A loan of a grinder to get the old nuts off (getting the old nut off could make the ball joint unserviceable anyway as everything just turns) a buffed finger and nail from where the grinder slipped (thank god for gloves, it could have been worse).

Knuckle pain when hit with hammer and finally numbness/pain in another finger that i strained whilst reaching for said hammer (I kid you not, 2 days of pain).

Foxy-Stoat_3

You replace the whole arm with inner and outer ball joints already attached.

Google front wishbone for photos.

waynedance

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

how can you estimate such work when you dont know vehicle details.

Because it was an estimate and not a quote ha

red_eye

csh wrote: »

Hello, stupid car failed its MOT yetserday on 'front suspension arm ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt'
So basically a wee bit of rubber thing?
The garage said they would only replace the whole ball joint but I've seen you can buy the dust boots for £2ish so reluctant to pay for parts/labour if I don't have too.
Can the dust cover be replaced on its own, is it DIYable for a reasonably competent person? Any special tools required? Am I looking at the right thing?! (ROTFL)


Thanks in advance

to quote you "excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt'"I would replace. The dirt is like sand paper inside a ball joint which will decrease the life of the joint. might as well give that £2 to charity it will do a lot more

in_the_Cotswolds

Boots/dust covers on track rod ends and ball joints don't normally come as a separate part. CVJ boots do.

waynedance

Replace the joint for long term benefits.

waynedance

mechanic wrote: »

Boots/dust covers on track rod ends and ball joints don't normally come as a separate part. CVJ boots do.

Oh yes they do, knowledge. Only type about what you know.
I work at a garage and on certain cars we will replace only the rubber if the customer wishes.