Wishbone replacement

tommyt41

As someone who doesn't know much about cars, I'm after advice.

I had a brake check on my car and was advised there's a lot of play in xx part and it needs a new wishbone and yy on one side. 

My question, how would one know this work would need doing if they hadn't just had something else done on the car and the mechanic advise them? I had a quick google of symptoms and haven't had any.

Part of me thinks it could be the mechanic finding work. Haven't got time to be at home for a mobile mechanic or to be able to get it to another garage for a second opinion this week.

Geodark

Was it a Kwik Fit type place you took it to, or a proper garage?

tacpot12

If you are not having any symptoms, I would leave it until it is time for an MOT. The MOT will check the suspension and fail the car if the wear is serious (unlikley) or note an "Advisory", in which case you know it is something real. 

macman

How much were you quoted for a new yy?
These 'safety checks' are just a ruse to get the car on the ramp and then find lots of other spurious defects, hence the Kwik Fit comment above.
When was it last MOT'd, and were there any advisories on it?

angrycrow

Depends how it is failing.

If it has fixed ball joint (not bolted on) and the ball joint or cover has failed it will need replacing. You would be unlikely to notice in normal driving. 

If the arm is about to fail because of corrosion you would be unlikely to notice in normal driving. When it goes it will feel like the wheel has fallen off and you will lose control of the car.

If the inner bushes have failed you are likely to hear or feel clunking or the car will feel vague when turning to one side. To be fair a lot of drivers would be unlikely to notice as it deteriorates gradually. Technically the bushes can be replaced but it requires specialist equipment and is normally cheaper to replace the wishbone. Also referred to as track control arm.

Small cars tend to use macpherson struts and a single wishbone at the bottom. 

Bigger cars can have various set ups with 3 or 4 arms with a Bush and a ball joint on each arm. 

tommyt41

Geodark said:

Was it a Kwik Fit type place you took it to, or a proper garage?

Private local garage

.macman said:

How much were you quoted for a new yy?
These 'safety checks' are just a ruse to get the car on the ramp and then find lots of other spurious defects, hence the Kwik Fit comment above.
When was it last MOT'd, and were there any advisories on it?

80 ish for wishbone 65 ish labour. Came to about 180 in total with vat.

Last mot in June 4/5k miles ago, no advisories although i don't trust the garage i bought from and they use a neighbouring garage for mots.

tommyt41

Apologies, last post was from my mobile. I'll ellaborate a bit; so yeah turns out they quoted wishbone, which could make sense with what angrygrow posted about the inner bushes.

Regarding MOT, the dealer I purchased from uses a garage local to them and I presume there's a bit of 'we'll give you the work if you keep the advisories down', although that would then put that garage at risk. There was no mention on the MOT of rear brakes which did need doing recently which made me wonder.

Jaddz14

Hi, I went through a very similar problem with my car but with brake calipers. I chose to just leave it and see how I got on but it ended up failing before I could even book an mot. So in my personal opinion, I wouldn't risk it. It would save a lot more money just fitting it yourself from a tutorial or video online, which is what I did. Best of luck mate!