Does anyone know which category (Dangerous, Major or Minor) the following would fall into (or does it vary according to degree of wear/split/leak)?

• worn wheel bearing
• split boot on drop link front anti-roll bar
• leaking shock absorber

Many thanks

Edited 23 June, 20196 yr by StuartA

Wheel Bearing https://www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/documents/manuals/class3457/Section-5-Axles-Wheels-Tyres-and-Suspension.html#section_5.1  looks like Dangerous or Major

 

Split boot, same page 5.3.4 Suspension joints, pins and bushes 

A suspension joint dust cover:
severely deteriorated	Minor
missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.	Major

 

5.3.2 Shock absorbers 

A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage

Major

 

Of course it's all down to the testers interpretation of the wording and how generous they are feeling or how slack the workshop is for new jobs !!

Cheers Nige, I've spent ages not finding that very useful page!

 

I'd have thought a wheel bearing so rough to be a MoT failure would be audible or felt through the steering? What do you think?

Edited 23 June, 20196 yr by StuartA

The tester is only going to spin the wheel by hand to check for play/noises etc, so unless it's really bad that it can be felt on the brake test, you might be OK as I said it's just down to the tester on the day

Well, quite. Thanks Nige.

The wheel bearing on my car was audible for about 6 months before I got it changed it was an advisory ( minor) on the cars mot so I had it changed at the next service.

 

Info from an actual tester (me) the wheel bearing is a major fault, the split drop link dust cover could be a major or minor (though if split is a major), now for the shock absorber- fronts actually have a gland designed to allow excess fluid/pressure out so any good tester should advise that, this being said if it has fluid leaking all the way down the shock then it will be a be a major, rear shocks don't seem to leak very often (i've only ever failed a couple in 15 years of testing)

3 hours ago, Ju1ian1001 said:

Info from an actual tester (me) the wheel bearing is a major fault, the split drop link dust cover could be a major or minor (though if split is a major), now for the shock absorber- fronts actually have a gland designed to allow excess fluid/pressure out so any good tester should advise that, this being said if it has fluid leaking all the way down the shock then it will be a be a major, rear shocks don't seem to leak very often (i've only ever failed a couple in 15 years of testing)

 

Thanks Julian , that's very interesting. Especially about the shocks, I didn't know that.

 

As an MoT tester, at what point would you consider including an item on the list of advisories? On my latest service invoice, the garage listed slight deterioration in the wishbone and trailing arm bushes, and the front ball joint boots and noted that the drive flange seal is weeping slightly. Would this result in advisories or would they not be considered worthy of mention at this point?