NCT and ball joints

operagust

Hi guys,
Today I have just got rejected from NCT because of the worn ball joints (offsidefront) - Ford Fiesta 2003 1.4.
During the re-test, is this the only thing that will be re-checked or on re-test everything is verified from the scratch?
Thanks

Seweryn

If you get the car repaired and put it through a re-test within the specified time frame (28 days AFAIR) you only pay the re-test fee of €28 and only the items the car failed on will be checked.
If you fail to get the car repaired and book the test outside of the deadline for the retest, it will be just a normal full test from the scratch then.
It is all described on the NCT fail sheet, have nice read .

Means Of Escape

Get the ball joints replaced and be done with it
I had same problem on a 99 BMW that went for a test
They took 10 minutes investigating the back right wheel and two fellas were on it at one stage pushing and pulling
Car went up again and was moved left right and back down
No faults anywhere else
They spray marked the problem bearing and joint
Got them replaced and there was indiscernible movement on the old parts
If they marked them for replacement then you have no option
Good luck with it .

operagust

Thanks guys for fast reply.
Means of Escape, how much did you pay for the replacement? did you also perform a wheel alignment after replacement? The NCT guy told me that I should do that as they need to test also slide slip test.

bren11

Had similar problem with a primera. Mechanic removed wishbone and found no play on balljoint. He reassembled origional wishbone and balljoint and went back for retest (sideslip i think). It passed second time. I asked tester for an explaination having not changed any parts. He couldnt explain why it failed first time, but observed a new splitpin was used after reassembly so assumed it was checked over.

Means Of Escape

operagust wrote: »

Thanks guys for fast reply.
Means of Escape, how much did you pay for the replacement? did you also perform a wheel alignment after replacement? The NCT guy told me that I should do that as they need to test also slide slip test.

I changed both sides as I intend to keep the car
Came in at 300 all in
I paid 35 euros to get the cars tracking adjusted front and back
Returned for test
The car was straight up on to the ramp , checked that the parts were replaced

Seweryn

bren11 wrote: »

Had similar problem with a primera. Mechanic removed wishbone and found no play on balljoint. He reassembled origional wishbone and balljoint and went back for retest (sideslip i think). It passed second time. I asked tester for an explaination having not changed any parts. He couldnt explain why it failed first time, but observed a new splitpin was used after reassembly so assumed it was checked over.

My car once failed on a rear suspension arm bushing. I got back home, checked it over and over and could not fault it in any way. Reassembled and went back for a re-test and passed it. And the car passed the test the following year as well.

operagust

The ball joint part seems to be cheap (~17-25 Euro) for the offsidefront, so I hope the labor won't be too expensive.
thanks again for all the hints!

Going Forward

operagust wrote: »

The ball joint part seems to be cheap (~17-25 Euro) for the offsidefront, so I hope the labor won't be too expensive.
thanks again for all the hints!

Try to use original Ford parts if you intend keeping the car, no point having to do them again in a year's time, the labour is the expensive part.

I've had Febi Bilstein ball joints failing after a year on two vans, cheap cřap from China reboxed as German, €25 or so a piece.

operagust

Finally I have managed to change the offsidefront ball joint for 60 euros (SWAG brand).