MOT fail because of split ball joint dust cover - except that it's not?

[Mertz33]

Had entire front arms kit replaced in summer, car did about 1500 miles since then.. yet I failed MOT because of this 'ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt'.

Called the garage and they said I need a new arm (again), quoted £160 - I did book the car for next week... But today I jacked it up and found the suspension arm marked in yellow but to me this doesn't look like a reason to fail -

I expected the rubber cover to be shredded to pieces allowing water/dirt in but it looks like the steel ring is still sealing in on the lower part, it just slipped a bit?!

Can I get your opinion on this as I don't find this reasonable and I'm inclined to appeal to DVSA?



Cheers

 

[st13phil]

failed MOT because of this 'ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt'.

When you presented the car for testing, the dust cover wasn't/isn't properly secured and so doesn't prevent the ingress of dirt. The tester doesn't know that the arm was (badly) fitted 1500 miles ago, so has no idea how much contamination the joint has been subject to. Sorry, but imo that's a fail and a DVSA appeal will fail too.

Dust covers don't just slip off in service like that. Personally, I'd be inclined to talk with whoever fitted the arm in the summer and ask them to replace it at their cost.

 

[pmcgsmurf]

Agree, exactly as described with the MOT.

 

[Mertz33]

Ok makes sense, thanks!
Can this rubber bit be easily re-fitted or is this actually requiring the whole arm replaced?

 

[st13phil]

Can this rubber bit be easily re-fitted or is this actually requiring the whole arm replaced?

The issue is as I stated in my post above, i.e.

no idea how much contamination the joint has been subject to

The "proper" and safest way is to replace the arm again, but it could be possible to split the joint, inspect for contamination, repack with grease if necessary and refit the dust cover. The issues with that are that the dust cover may have been distorted / damaged and may not want to stay in its proper place and - if I were doing the re-test - I'd observe the corrosion on the joint thread and therefore deduce that the arm hadn't been replaced after the initial failure.

 

[OneForTheRoad]

If cost is an obstacle you can buy dust covers on ebay for a few quid. Cant see much dirt etc of gotten into that yet after 1500 miles .

 

[DSM10000]

If cost is an obstacle you can buy dust covers on ebay for a few quid. Cant see much dirt etc of gotten into that yet after 1500 miles .

One mud filled puddle could splash enough dirt into the joint to act as a grinding paste.

The arm should be replaced if the ball joint is integral to the arm.

As said above, the garage that fitted it did a poor job and should replace it free of charge.

 

[XJ600]

That boot has been twisted when the nut was being tightened, should put weight under the joint or push the taper into the bore then tighten.