Just had my MOT. Luckily just a brake pipe and rear wheel bearing adjustment needed to pass. I am surprised that the emissions have gone down across the board quite a bit since last MOT, HC at fast idle went from 48ppm to 7ppm and CO down from 0.17% vol to 0.12%.

I was wondering if there was anywhere I could go and tell them the car I have and which pipe I need and have a brake pipe made up?

I was also given an advisory notice. One about both track rod end ball joints being worn. He said ideally they should be replaced, but there's nothing that will fail it the MOT. Seems they're only £7 from Jorily anyway so will have a gander at the Haynes and see what's involved.

The other advisory stated that the steering rack is worn on the offside. I am guessing the steering rack would cost a bit to replace, and could be the end of the car should it wear further?

Thanks in advance.

I'm sure you have to get it made up using your old pipe as a pattern, usually the garage doing the MOTs will make them up. You can always buy a kit and make your own.

A steering rack is about £70 exchange + fitting.

I'll get myself off to Halfords later and get a pipe spanner.

Been to Wilko Scrotosave (as someone on here called it) and it seems they can make them up if I take the old one in. Would rather find somewhere other than them though.

any car garage should be able to make you a brake pipe up

Which brake pipe is it? You're not far from me. I've got the kit for making up brake pipes and I've got the same car as you to use as a pattern so I can have it ready for you when you call. It'll cost you a pint or two depending how long the pipe is... You don't need a brake pipe spanner. Certainly not from Halfrauds, anyway. What you do is break off the old pipe right at the nut and use a normal socket or ring spanner (usually 10mm or 11mm). Put the new ones on with a good quality open ended spanner. You only need one of those brake pipe spanners if you intend re-using the pipe (like if you were removing an axle for repair and then refitting it, or something).

Track rod ends are fairly easy to do from a mechanical aspect. But once on they do need to be adjusted and set up with the proper kit like they have in tyre houses. Or just guess. Like I did when I fitted the ones I got from Jorily or Grum. They've been on over 12 months and no signs of tyre wear or handling problems.

Simon H

The biggest issue with rod ends and ball joints is the need to re-track afterwards.

You will need a ball joint splitter, but that's the only "odd" tool, if you have the usual spanners, sockets and hammers.