Car failed MOT today :(. How much you guys reckon to repair all the below, anyone in the midlands that can help at a reasonable price as i'm low on cash?

I had the test at Alans MOT centre in Burton On Trent.

Refusal of test certificate:

Front both headlamp aim too low

x 2 Registration plate lamp not working

Offside front brake pads less than 1.5mm thick (dangerous)

Offside(upper and lower) anti roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt.

Offside rear braking system leaking.

Nearside rear brake binding.

Advisory items:

Nearside front brake juddering slightly.

(Front and rear) brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened.

No rear seats time of test.

I've just been on eurocarparts and pagid front pads - £19.14

Pagid rear pads £47.94

Anti roll bar drop link front £12.30

Do I need to replace something to stop the brake fluid leak on the offside rear of the car?

Use carparts4less

Binding rear caliper will usually mean a new one. Leaking could mean a new flexi hose.

Hi, thanks for the info. Am I right in assuming that it is the drop link that the MOT garage are talking about on the anti roll bar? I`ve not had chance to have a close look yet myself.

Edited 20 April, 201313 yr by sammyhale30

Is this the flexi hose I need ? http://www.carparts4less.co.uk/cp4l/c/Skoda_Octavia_1.8_2002/p/car-parts/car-brakes/brake-hydraulics/brake-hose-and-brake-pipe/?135440698&1&a27338a6245fb547fe7a256ac9eed0e47a5609e9&000030

and this caliper ? http://www.carparts4less.co.uk/cp4l/c/Skoda_Octavia_1.8_2002/p/car-parts/car-brakes/brake-hydraulics/brake-caliper/?133442210&1&6ee9a03e75ca47da25f6fdf2f666d2b13f681ea3&000048

Edited 20 April, 201313 yr by sammyhale30

Is this drop link ok as an oem replacement ? http://www.carparts4less.co.uk/cp4l/c/Skoda_Octavia_1.8_2002/p/car-parts/suspension-and-steering/suspension/anti-roll-bar-components/?650441120&1&3814e910a0e1bd01aa14f8905f3bf0be8feb93ee&000016

if you just want a pass then ignore the advisory items and concentrate on the first points.

Looking at the first list, then only thing thats going to be costly is getting a replacement calliper. The rest is trivial, and things like the number plate lamps could have been spotted by you by going over the car before submitting for the test.

Is this drop link ok as an oem replacement ? http://www.carparts4...8feb93ee

You have to remember the vRS uses different drop links to the rest of the Octavia range.

Is this the flexi hose I need ? http://www.carparts4...7a5609e9

and this caliper ? http://www.carparts4...3f681ea3

They look like they should be the right parts. The calliper will come in silver, so you'll have to paint it yourself if you want green. Also te calliper is an exchange item, so you'll be charged the 117.60, and refunded 36 when the they get your calliper back.

it maybe worth asking one of the many members on here breaking a vRS if they have the calliper you require.

Thanks for the reply. Do carparts4less not do the drop link then for the VRS?

Are these the correct parts? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Octavia-PLASTIC-FRONT-ROLL-BAR-DROP-LINK-RODS-x-2-/290603802285?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&fits=Car+Make%3ASkoda|Model%3AOctavia|Cars+Type%3ARS+1.8+T&hash=item43a9561ead

This looks like the caliper too, already sprayed green? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Octavia-1U2-1996-2009-RS-LEFT-NS-REAR-brake-caliper-GREEN-new-/160877110765?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&fits=Car+Make%3ASkoda|Model%3AOctavia|Cars+Type%3ARS+1.8+T&hash=item257505e5ed

I advise you now, if you intend on keeping the car for any great length of time, stick with Lemforder drop links, or the OEM from TPS (which are made by Lemforder). Aftermarket ones, even brands such as Febi and Meyle will not last any great length of time at all. Meyle in particular are a brand with a good reputation that I think is wholly undeserved. Their ball joints and drop links are a load of crap. I've replaced Meyle ones that were replaced before an MOT, only to be split and knocking at the next MOT.

Thanks for the advice! I will make sure I go for the lemforder ones.

Even the Meyle ones that are supposedly "Heavy Duty" are complete poo. :(

In fact I have a year old pair of these in my dustbin waiting to be collected right now. Top of offside had split, and the bottom of same link had gone stiff. Knocking wasn't dreadful, but the handling sure felt much better after chucking them.

Pagid brake stuff perfectly good, and same as OEM.

OEM droplinks from TPS - 1J0411315D (£23.44 + VAT) and 1J0411316D (£20.30+VAT). £28.20 each (inc. VAT) from Euro Car Parts. You may be able to improve on the discount you get as a Briskoda member, so worth a try. Especially if you tell them that you'll be using TPS unless they can beat TPS's price

why don,t you get a repair kit for the caliper it might be cheaper

Caliper looks fine (green one)

Ok I had a look today and I can see no leaks at all on my flexi hose. I called the MOT garage and the guy told me there was a tiny amount of fluid oozing from the end that bolts to the caliper. I ran the car today with the wheel off and pumped the brake about 6 times. Bone dry around the bolt and no sign of liquid at all along the flexi hose or on any of the joints... The car had been pressure washed down before the MOT though, so I`m wondering whether he had mistaken some water droplet for brake fluid..

I also checked out the caliper on the other side that was binding. I removed the pads and the piston moved fine when the brake pedal was operated. The piston side pad was tight to get out though so I think maybe that it had rusted to the caliper on the pads shoulders. Maybe this was stopping it from moving back away from the disc and causing the pad to ride the disc?

Edited 22 April, 201313 yr by sammyhale30

If it was me I'd clean them up and take it elsewhere for an mot ! Any mechanic or tester would be able to tell the difference between water and brake fluid . Did they give u a print out of the brake test ?

No I didn`t get a print out of the brake test. Just the VOSA reason for MOT refusal sheet. They didn`t even give it an emissions test either. Maybe this is because it failed brakes though?? If I take it back to them within 10 working days they will re-test for free.

Edited 22 April, 201313 yr by sammyhale30

That is very naughty. Failure or not, they should complete the test. Bad form.

Is this the correct tool for winding back the brake pads on the vrs? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130818317919?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649