MOT Fail

[bigjeeze]

 

Guys - My Mk1 failed on both steering rack gaiters being deteriorated. amongst a few other things. How easy is it to change these without removing the rack? Is it possible?  I have removed the TRE and the old boot  but ran out of time and inclination when it came to trying to get the inner end of the boot on the rack.   Also CV boots. the clips - is there a special tool for these or just a skill I appear not to have?



Pray tell!!!

As it happems there is no damage or problem with the old boot as far as I can see - I think the wa*****s are just trying to drum up business as usual. Ã,£95 + vat per side they want!!

[Chrispb]

If your replacing rack gaiters with genuine replacements they are usually a tight fit, that combined with the accessability doesn't make it easy,
You can get universal ones that are quite soft and stretchy but to be honest are short lived and your probably need to change then again next MOT.
As for the driveshaft gaiters depend which type clip, if you have the type with a series of holes and a peg, get the peg into the furthest/tightest hole then there's an area for crimping this tightens it right up.
If you don't have the crimping tool, side cutters or pinchers will suffice.
Or there's the type that works the same as a cable tie.

[bigjeeze]

Thanks Chris

I do have the crimping tool so I'll use that. As for cable ties - are plastic ones suitable or not?

I am really irritated by the fact that the boots are not even slightly manky - mind you they are 15 years old and havew done 146K so all in all I suppose no harm done! (execpet to my pocket!)

[Mirez]

If they aren't deteriorated then complain as they need to be "deteriorated to the point of allowing dirt/water to gain entry to the joint" ... is this the case?

The tie rod is screwed into the rack, you'll see some flat points on the end where you can get a suitable sized spanner to undo the bugger (borrowed a pic from ebay to show)

[attachimg=1]

As you can see the inner joint a ball joint and its probably worth replacing the joint/tie rod if you are stripping it down to this point as at 146K they are likely to be worn in

CV clips as Chris says need that special tool, I've never had much luck with that though and when it broke recently I found getting a new tool is virtually impossible as everyone uses cable ties now! As long as its a suitable sized tie (Ie, one tie, not multiple joints and of suitable width) then a plastic tie is perfectly acceptable.

[bigjeeze]

Cheers for that Mark - I am not sure if that will help me - I am struggling to get my hand in to get the new boot on the rack it's a very tight space. The TRE are in good order so don't need replacing. Yes the boots were not deteriorated to the point of allowing any dirt or fluid to ingress or egress - so a complete and utter waste of time and effort. I will replace the boots and when it has poassed I will complain loud and long about their dirty tactics to generate income.

[gregers]

biggy was this mot carried out a garage that does repairs aswell as mot's or just an mot place,i stopped using garages years back because of the 'fail and repair'on site tack tic.
dunno if you have 1 down your way,but i use a place called 'just mot's' does exactly what it says on the tin.(bit late for you m8)or use your local bus depot.

[bigjeeze]

You are absolutely correct Gregers - it's a Halfords branch and the ONLY reason I use them i that they offer a half price MOT - the fact that I end up spending much more on spurious repairs doesn't seem to penetrate my cheap brain!!

[gregers]

memo to cheap brain for next year then buddy

[Chrispb]

I think I would have argued the fact before I done the work, if there was definitely nothing wrong with the gaiters take it straight up with VOSA.

[bigjeeze]

I agree that would have been the most sensible. But.... the other issue is that I tried to tax the car on line last week only to have it refused because the MOT wasn't valid - But.... When checking I realised that I hadn't in fact done the mot fromlast year!!. My wife had been running around in the car with no MOT since last June - and I hadn't realised this. SO that's when I arranged the MOT in a hurry. That said I should have done the right thing and complained. I only want the damn car to last another year then I will sell it as at 16 it's time I got HI a newer motor . I will probably buy a small Honda Jazz or Civic as she rarely does more than 20 miles a week and although the Glaxy returns an average 40mpg , with the price of diesel it just isn't cost effective to run any more. It will need new front tyres in another 4-5k and that's another Ã,£150-Ã,£160 for the pair , again money I won't get the value of.

Still enough of my woes - any tips for how to get that bastard boot on? I can't quite get my huge mitts in the tiny gap to get the boot on, it's driving me nuts any advice would be gratefully received!!

BJ

[Chrispb]

The OE gaiters are usually a more tougher material than the cheaper patent parts, I would suggest laying the boot on a hot radiator or use a hair dryer to get it nice and pliable then a little copper slip on the inner lip.

[bigjeeze]

Cheers Chris

The boot came in a kit from ECP - they are nowhere as good quality as the original - I got one OE part form GSF but they only had the one. The ECP are much softer and more pliable but the issue is I can't (so far) get my mitts in to get the damn thing on - even with coppaslip etc. I'll keep trying!

[Mirez]

Ahh I meant you can split the inner joint and fit the boot without trying to pass it down the shaft - it depends where its getting stuck TBH. There is a fair bit of access to the rack from below with the tray off so it might also help to go in from below (so to speak!)

The other option is to thoroughly clean the area and the original gaiters, maybe replace the clips with cable ties so its looks to have been replaced and then return the car to them - see if they fail it again!

[bigjeeze]

Thanks for that - I understand what you mean now. I'll try that tomorrow if it's not hissing down!.  I damaged the old boot getting it off so I can refit it. I'll let you know how I get on with the splitting of the joint.  I have already taken off the tray etc it does give a little more room but not much.