NCT Failed on "Rear Suspension - Ball joints" on a car that doesn't even have them!

MuffinsDa

My SAAB 95 failed NCT a few weeks ago on "Rear Suspension - Ball Joints excessive wear".

I thought it just meant bad ball joints and went and ordered them - they are for front axle. I was double checking it tonight before bringing it to friendly local garage and I noticed the sheet actually says rear suspension!!! The things is, a 2006 SAAB 95 estate doesn't even have a rear ball joints, or anything remotely similar. There a few bushes there but not a ball joint! Basically the rear suspension components should be similar to a Vectra.

So... anyone familiar with these cars and NCT: can you help me decipher what could they have meant?

Ded_Zebra

They probably men one of the bushes. Or possibly an anti-roll bar drop link. It's a pity you didn't get the tester to confirm when you were at the test centre.

I guess the testers just "click" on what the fault is rather than type it out and he/she might have hit the next option in the list by mistake.

In general with a suspension component fails an NCT it's really hanging out of the car. Should b easy enough to spot where the fault is on a ramp

jelutong

Why not go back to the test centre and have a chat with person who did your car?
I've found them very helpful.

ba_barabus

jelutong wrote: »

Why not go back to the test centre and have a chat with person who did your car?

For the vast majority that know nothing about cars and have little interest why can't they just fill out the form clearly and correctly? I've often seen mechanics puzzled by whats on the form, what the customer has been told and what has been marked under the car during the test.

I'm not an nct hater I just see no need for this information not to be clear and accurate.

Jayop

Put the car on a ramp and look for the big blobs of yellow paint that they put on the items they failed.

MojoMaker

It's the antiroll bar bushes, "ball joints" is a generic line item they select to cover a majority. As you say the 95 doesn't have them. Simple fix at any of the independent "fast" shops such as Atlas.

MuffinsDa

Just in case any one was looking in future: MojoMaker was right, it was the 4 rear bushes that needed to be replaced. Flew through NCT retest after that!