MOT Advisory steering question

billh · 9th October 2023, 11:00

The recent MoT had 1 advisory:
"Offside Front Inner Play in steering rack inner joint(s)"
so,I ordered both sides new links that go between the rack and trackrods from DMGRS, then set about replacing them, but wanted to check the old original ones first.
When I jacked the wheel off the ground I could not detect any play in the linkage, I got hold of the wheel in the horizontal plane and tried to rattle it.
Is there a more robust way of checking for play?Also I cannot detect any knocking when the car is being driven.Thanks in advance for any advice.

SD1too · 9th October 2023, 11:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by billh

The recent MoT had 1 advisory:
... I could not detect any play ... I cannot detect any knocking ...

Hi Rob,

It was an "advisory" and they are very much at the discretion of the tester. As you appear happy with the current condition of your steering I would suggest storing the new parts until it's really necessary to fit them.

For years I used the same MOT station with just one tester. Sometimes the same advisory would appear year after year. It clearly was an honest observation but then suddenly it wasn't reported any more even though I'd done nothing about it except my own checks, as you have done Rob.

Cheers,

Simon

DMGRS · 9th October 2023, 20:32

Weirdly the inner joint play on my ZT-T only showed up when the wheels were on the ground - I asked the wife to rock the steering wheel back and forth while I held the track rod end and I could feel the 'clunk'.
With the wheels on the ground there was nothing evident - very odd!

Vantheman · 14th October 2023, 09:49

That's quite plausible. If there is any play then there is movement between ball and socket in the joint. When the car is jacked up, the ball and socket of the joint are in a less common orientation to each other which will have had less use so there might not be any play.
Having said that, my MoT man is very thorough and everything he has failed the car on is spot on. But each year there is one advisory for a little bit of play here or there, that I haven't fixed, and it has been different every yesr.

SCP440 · 18th October 2023, 21:04

I know it should not happen but some MOT testers will put an advise down even though there is nothing actually wrong. I suspose it proves they are being vigilant.
I used to use a garage for my annual tests but he would always find something so I never got a clean sheet. One year he was fully booked so I went elsewhere and even though the car was a year older it came away with a clean sheet. I have never returned to the original garage and testing station I now use is in my view a lot farer, any advises I have received need to be advised on.

9th October 2023, 11:00	#1
billh Regular poster Rover 75 Tourer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Denton, Manchester Posts: 79 Thanks: 14 Thanked 24 Times in 14 Posts	MOT Advisory steering question The recent MoT had 1 advisory: "Offside Front Inner Play in steering rack inner joint(s)" so,I ordered both sides new links that go between the rack and trackrods from DMGRS, then set about replacing them, but wanted to check the old original ones first. When I jacked the wheel off the ground I could not detect any play in the linkage, I got hold of the wheel in the horizontal plane and tried to rattle it. Is there a more robust way of checking for play?Also I cannot detect any knocking when the car is being driven.Thanks in advance for any advice.

9th October 2023, 20:32	#3
DMGRS Discount MG Rover Spares Rover 75 CDTi, 2x MG ZS180 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Hythe, Southampton Posts: 11,321 Thanks: 456 Thanked 3,377 Times in 2,027 Posts	Weirdly the inner joint play on my ZT-T only showed up when the wheels were on the ground - I asked the wife to rock the steering wheel back and forth while I held the track rod end and I could feel the 'clunk'. With the wheels on the ground there was nothing evident - very odd! __________________ Your trusted MG Rover specialist! Tel: 02380 001133 / Email: [email protected] We now have a 'chat' function on our site for even quicker replies. Give it a try! Remember - discount code FORUM5 for 5% off

14th October 2023, 09:49	#4
Vantheman Regular poster Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Dorset/Hampshire border Posts: 55 Thanks: 27 Thanked 10 Times in 6 Posts	That's quite plausible. If there is any play then there is movement between ball and socket in the joint. When the car is jacked up, the ball and socket of the joint are in a less common orientation to each other which will have had less use so there might not be any play. Having said that, my MoT man is very thorough and everything he has failed the car on is spot on. But each year there is one advisory for a little bit of play here or there, that I haven't fixed, and it has been different every yesr.

18th October 2023, 21:04	#5
SCP440 I really should get out more....... MG ZT-T 260 Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Witney Posts: 2,505 Thanks: 6 Thanked 910 Times in 571 Posts	I know it should not happen but some MOT testers will put an advise down even though there is nothing actually wrong. I suspose it proves they are being vigilant. I used to use a garage for my annual tests but he would always find something so I never got a clean sheet. One year he was fully booked so I went elsewhere and even though the car was a year older it came away with a clean sheet. I have never returned to the original garage and testing station I now use is in my view a lot farer, any advises I have received need to be advised on.