Just had my MOT done today and was told it failed due to the rubbers being split. Apparently the MOT rules changed last year and this is catching loads of people.

What i don't understand is that at the last MOT it was identified tht one of the rubbers was showing signs of wear.

I replaced both of them....

Why do these parts wear like this... Never heard of it on any car i've owned.

Any comments out there?????? 2002 Honda VFR800
2002 Toyota Celica 140 Silver (mid life crisis - again!)
2007 FL2 GS Manual Army Reconnaissance Green + freel2.com sticker
2004 Toyota Celica 140 Black - Gone
2000 Toyota Celica 140 Silver - Gone
1998 Toyota Celica ST Pearl Green - Gone
1996 Nissan Primera 1.6 - Gone
1994 Rover Montego 1.6 Auto - Gone

its a piece of cheap ass rubber to cover the ball joint ... and its thin ... and its exposed to the elements ... and also they way they make the clip hold the rubber normally clamps it so tightly that the rubber starts to cut anyhow.

From what the garage said about the MOT i'll have to check and probably replace every year.... 2002 Honda VFR800
2002 Toyota Celica 140 Silver (mid life crisis - again!)
2007 FL2 GS Manual Army Reconnaissance Green + freel2.com sticker
2004 Toyota Celica 140 Black - Gone
2000 Toyota Celica 140 Silver - Gone
1998 Toyota Celica ST Pearl Green - Gone
1996 Nissan Primera 1.6 - Gone
1994 Rover Montego 1.6 Auto - Gone

simont wrote:

From what the garage said about the MOT i'll have to check and probably replace every year....

What was the EXACT wording on the rfr (reason for rejection) sheet? I'm guessing that no official failure certificate was issued. As an MOT tester, if you tell me that one wasn't issued because it was 'repaired at test', my opinion is that you've been done!

Just checked on the direct.gov mot website and the fail was recorded - the fail was:

Both front droplinks Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)


I use a trusted local independent garage - who has so much work he is turning people away. 2002 Honda VFR800
2002 Toyota Celica 140 Silver (mid life crisis - again!)
2007 FL2 GS Manual Army Reconnaissance Green + freel2.com sticker
2004 Toyota Celica 140 Black - Gone
2000 Toyota Celica 140 Silver - Gone
1998 Toyota Celica ST Pearl Green - Gone
1996 Nissan Primera 1.6 - Gone
1994 Rover Montego 1.6 Auto - Gone

Looks like you've got a good garage then. Stick with them.