Suspension arms, bushes and ball joints are replaced in the workshop every day. Every time a vehicle’s wheel moves up or down, and when the steering wheel is turned, these components are in use and as a result, start to wear. These components are used to connect the wheel to the chassis and suspension components, like the coil or leaf springs.

Suspension arms need to allow up and down movement of the wheel but still hold the wheel central inside the wheel arch (not allowing forward and backwards movement). So, they need to be strong, but pivot both ends. To allow the arm to pivot, ball joints and/or bushes are used.

Ball joints wear because of constant use and leads to excessive movement in the suspension components. This will lead to a rattle or knocking noise within the cabin.
Bushes also knock when perished, worn or become unbonded from their housing. They commonly fail the MOT due to excessive wear or free play which, if not rectified promptly, can cause uneven tyre wear and handling issues.

Like CV Joints, Ball joints have a rubber boot covering them to retain the lubricating grease. If this boot is split, damaged or insecure, they can fail the MOT.

Common Mot Failures

• Excessive movement and free play
• Ball joint boot split
• Bushes perished, split or worn

 
The reason these are considered an MOT failure is because the vehicle’s handling can be seriously affected and cause the car to pull left or right. So, it is vital to keep the suspension in good working order.

In addition, premature and uneven tyre wear are caused by play in the suspension and steering joints. Whenever a steering or suspension joint is replaced, the alignment must be checked/adjusted.
 
Some vehicles, particularly larger German manufactured ones, have several suspension arms on each wheel. They may fail on upper, lower, upper rear most etc. 

CV joints, boots (gaiters) and driveshafts are a common MOT failure. All drive-shafts and prop-shafts have a flexible joint at either end which needs continuous lubrication. These joints (CV joints) have a rubber boot to hold the grease within the joint itself. These split over time and allow the grease to escape. This is an MOT failure due to grease escaping causing premature wear of the CV joints, and in some cases, can spray grease onto your vehicle brake components.

• CV stands for Constant Velocity
• Most common failure is the boots splitting allowing grease to escape
• Drive-shafts link the transmission to the wheels
• Prop-shafts link the transmission to the differentials

 
Common MOT Failures

• The CV boot splits
• The CV joints wear and have free play – usually as a result of the boot splitting
• The CV boot retaining clips brake causing the boot to become insecure.

Okee is pleased to be acredited by The Motor Ombudsman, the automotive dispute resolution body as part of our commitement to customer peace of mind and service excellence. Fully-impartial, it is the first ombudsman to be focused solely on the automotive sector, and self-regulates the UK’s motor industry through its comprehensive Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI)-approved Codes of Practice.

Over 7,500 businesses, are accredited to one or more of the Codes covering new cars, sales, vehicle warranties, and servicing and repair. These drive even higher standards of work and service, and give consumers added protection, peace of mind and trust during the vehicle purchase and ownership experience. For more information visit The Motor Ombusdman website

Most drivers have heard of an MOT and Service, but many people think they are one and the same, or are not too sure what the difference is between the two. There is also confusion over whether MOTs and servicing are compulsory and how frequently they should be completed. We hope this blog post clears a few things up for you.

MOT tests are very much a ‘here and now’ type test. During this compulsory safety annual check the vehicle must meet a bare minimum standard set by a governing body (DVSA – Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency). The actual standards are relatively low, as long as your car meets the bare minimum at the time of the test, it is a pass. However, this check is not to be confused with a service. During a Mot we are not allowed to physically remove any components from your vehicle. So, for example, if there is a corroded brake pipe hidden under a heat shield, it is a pass. Or if the brake pads are excessively worn but cannot be seen due to the wheel trim, it is a pass. MOT tests are a brilliant way of ensuring cars meet a minimum safety requirement, however further checks are essential to ensure the health of your vehicle.

Unlike a MOT, an annual Okee service is a much more in-depth vehicle check. We are not looking for minimum standards but looking for any issues that are present, or that will likely crop up within the next 12 months, or before the next annual service. We carry out all the checks done on a MOT but with a lot more on top. Everything receives a close inspection during a service regardless of whether the component is hidden or obscured. This means that parts and components are removed to enable us to really see what is going on with your vehicle.

One major difference between MOTs and servicing is the ability to make adjustments and improvements to the vehicle during servicing. Something we are not allowed to do during MOTs. With a service we always replace the vehicle’s filters (air, fuel, pollen, oil) with quality OE parts and replace the oil with quality grade Shell lubricants, which have the right additives for your vehicle. In addition, the service is not limited to safety related components so we always check every function of your vehicle, for example; air conditioning, heating and ventilation, electric windows, central locking etc.
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In summary MOT tests are a compulsory annual check that consist of relatively low standards set by the DVSA and as long as your vehicle meets the bare minimum at the time of test, it is a pass.
A service is not compulsory but vital to ensure the health of your vehicle. These checks ensure your vehicle is safe, and will remain safe, for the next 12 months or until the next service date. And, if you keep your vehicle serviced regularly there will be no nasty surprises come MOT day.