NCT Retest

cnocbui

The fail was said to be a worn track rod joint. I rather foolishly believed them and ordered a replacement part and fitted it, but I could find no fault with the original. There is still a tiny amount of fore aft movement in the wheel. I uncoupled the tie/track rod joint again and have tried my best to to see if there is any give in the other end of the tie rod, but can't detect any. Maybe I just don't have enough strength to apply enough load.

I am suspecting the lower ball joint might be the problem but am not certain. I can only really get the movement in the horizontal plane but not the vertical.

I had someone else look at it and he seemed to think it might be the ball joint. He said that since the indicated repair has been performed and it was obvious a new part has been fitted that they would have to pass it on a retest, but I have my doubts. Is he correct?

Stheno

cnocbui wrote: »

The fail was said to be a worn track rod joint. I rather foolishly believed them and ordered a replacement part and fitted it, but I could find no fault with the original. There is still a tiny amount of fore aft movement in the wheel. I uncoupled the tie/track rod joint again and have tried my best to to see if there is any give in the other end of the tie rod, but can't detect any. Maybe I just don't have enough strength to apply enough load.

I am suspecting the lower ball joint might be the problem but am not certain. I can only really get the movement in the horizontal plane but not the vertical.

I had someone else look at it and he seemed to think it might be the ball joint. He said that since the indicated repair has been performed and it was obvious a new part has been fitted that they would have to pass it on a retest, but I have my doubts. Is he correct?

If it hasn't rectified the reason it failed I can't imagine they will pass it?

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

dr.fuzzenstein

Stheno wrote: »

If it hasn't rectified the reason it failed I can't imagine they will pass it?

I don't know, won't they just check if part X has been replaced, OK, good to go?

CiniO

cnocbui wrote: »

The fail was said to be a worn track rod joint. I rather foolishly believed them and ordered a replacement part and fitted it, but I could find no fault with the original. There is still a tiny amount of fore aft movement in the wheel. I uncoupled the tie/track rod joint again and have tried my best to to see if there is any give in the other end of the tie rod, but can't detect any. Maybe I just don't have enough strength to apply enough load.

I am suspecting the lower ball joint might be the problem but am not certain. I can only really get the movement in the horizontal plane but not the vertical.

I had someone else look at it and he seemed to think it might be the ball joint. He said that since the indicated repair has been performed and it was obvious a new part has been fitted that they would have to pass it on a retest, but I have my doubts. Is he correct?

I believe if they failed it on worn track rod end then they are not allowed now to fail you on worn wishbone balljoint. If track rod end if fine, it will have to pass.

There is a trick though.
Car will have to pass a slipside test again due to fact track rod end was replaced, and if you wishbone balljoint is worn, it could cause this test to fail.

I would repair it anyway, as driving with worn wishbone balljoint makes steering much less precise, and will cause very quick tyre wear so no point in delaying the repair.

cnocbui

CiniO wrote: »

I believe if they failed it on worn track rod end then they are not allowed now to fail you on worn wishbone balljoint. If track rod end if fine, it will have to pass.

There is a trick though.
Car will have to pass a slipside test again due to fact track rod end was replaced, and if you wishbone balljoint is worn, it could cause this test to fail.

I would repair it anyway, as driving with worn wishbone balljoint makes steering much less precise, and will cause very quick tyre wear so no point in delaying the repair.

I do intend to fix it, it's just that getting a retest within the month puts a bit of pressure on to source the part and more importantly, the tool needed to fit it. Even though it's just a ball joint, Honda insist it comes with a whole lower wishbone so I think I will try for getting a ball joint and fitting it to the arm.

It didn't fail the side slip test in the first place as it was -1m per km with -14 to +14 being allowable. The 'problem' is not detectable when driving as it doesn't have any discernible impact on steering, handling or wheel alignment.

Thanks for all the replies.

barneygumble99

cnocbui wrote: »

I do intend to fix it, it's just that getting a retest within the month puts a bit of pressure on to source the part and more importantly, the tool needed to fit it. Even though it's just a ball joint, Honda insist it comes with a whole lower wishbone so I think I will try for getting a ball joint and fitting it to the arm.

It didn't fail the side slip test in the first place as it was -1m per km with -14 to +14 being allowable. The 'problem' is not detectable when driving as it doesn't have any discernible impact on steering, handling or wheel alignment.

Thanks for all the replies.

It's very hard at times to replicate the strain on ball joints and steering components with the force of your hands compared to the strain the parts are under whilst on the road driving. Also there's a certain amount of play allowed in inner tie rods and ball joints.

Toyotafanboi

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

I don't know, won't they just check if part X has been replaced, OK, good to go?

Seemingly, yes.

Back when I was a bit of a mad bastard, I had a car fail on a rear shock.

Brought the car home, removed shock, degreased it so it looked spotless, wrote "04 vectra" on it in tipex as if it came from a breakers yard.

Went to retest and passed with the exact same imbalance as before.

*poor student at the time. Would not condone.

cnocbui

It passed.