Hi,

Ka.... Last year had an MOT advisory that the front upper shock
absorbers (both sides) have slightly worn bushes. When I grab the top of
the strut inside the engine bay I can't make either of them move and the
topmost bush looks fine. Is this anything to worry about? Got next MoT
coming up and if it fails on that I'm in trouble apparently (other
half's car) Apparently she was told it probably won't get through
this year but I don't see why.

Thanks,

Peter.

"Peter Spikings" wrote in message
...
Hi,

Ka.... Last year had an MOT advisory that the front upper shock
absorbers (both sides) have slightly worn bushes. When I grab the top of
the strut inside the engine bay I can't make either of them move and the
topmost bush looks fine. Is this anything to worry about? Got next MoT
coming up and if it fails on that I'm in trouble apparently (other
half's car) Apparently she was told it probably won't get through
this year but I don't see why.

unless your suspension is hanging down then you wont get any movement, try
jacking up it on the jacking point then try it again, you will then get some
up and down movement as the top shock mounts are designed to do that.

"reg" wrote in message ...

"Peter Spikings" wrote in message
...
Hi,

Ka.... Last year had an MOT advisory that the front upper shock
absorbers (both sides) have slightly worn bushes. When I grab the top of
the strut inside the engine bay I can't make either of them move and the
topmost bush looks fine. Is this anything to worry about? Got next MoT
coming up and if it fails on that I'm in trouble apparently (other
half's car) Apparently she was told it probably won't get through
this year but I don't see why.

unless your suspension is hanging down then you wont get any movement, try
jacking up it on the jacking point then try it again, you will then get
some up and down movement as the top shock mounts are designed to do that.

should have added that per the mot test you need to grab the road wheel top
& bottom push & pull it, then grab it side to side & shake it to check for
any suspension play.

"Peter Spikings" wrote in message
...
Hi,

Ka.... Last year had an MOT advisory that the front upper shock
absorbers (both sides) have slightly worn bushes. When I grab the top of
the strut inside the engine bay I can't make either of them move and the
topmost bush looks fine. Is this anything to worry about? Got next MoT
coming up and if it fails on that I'm in trouble apparently (other
half's car) Apparently she was told it probably won't get through
this year but I don't see why.

I know they can do their TCA bushes ever 10000 miles or so.

Peter Spikings wrote:
Hi,

Ka.... Last year had an MOT advisory that the front upper shock
absorbers (both sides) have slightly worn bushes. When I grab the top
of the strut inside the engine bay I can't make either of them move
and the topmost bush looks fine. Is this anything to worry about? Got
next MoT coming up and if it fails on that I'm in trouble apparently
(other half's car) Apparently she was told it probably won't get
through this year but I don't see why.

Thanks,

Peter.

IIRC this is a well known feature, not a fault, but there are modified top
bushes with a slightly shorter metal sleeve available. You can of course
take your old one out and shorten it a little (about 3mm) but don't say I
told you !

"Peter Spikings" wrote in message
...
Hi,

Ka.... Last year had an MOT advisory that the front upper shock
absorbers (both sides) have slightly worn bushes. When I grab the top of
the strut inside the engine bay I can't make either of them move and the
topmost bush looks fine. Is this anything to worry about? Got next MoT
coming up and if it fails on that I'm in trouble apparently (other
half's car) Apparently she was told it probably won't get through
this year but I don't see why.

Just put it in for its test 30 days before the old one runs out. If it
passes, all well and good. If it fails, you've got 30 days to play with it.

Steve

"Mrcheerful" wrote in message
om...
Peter Spikings wrote:
Hi,

Ka.... Last year had an MOT advisory that the front upper shock
absorbers (both sides) have slightly worn bushes. When I grab the top
of the strut inside the engine bay I can't make either of them move
and the topmost bush looks fine. Is this anything to worry about? Got
next MoT coming up and if it fails on that I'm in trouble apparently
(other half's car) Apparently she was told it probably won't get
through this year but I don't see why.

Thanks,

Peter.

IIRC this is a well known feature, not a fault, but there are modified top
bushes with a slightly shorter metal sleeve available. You can of course
take your old one out and shorten it a little (about 3mm) but don't say I
told you !


It does make one wonder though, I took my Ford focus in to the main Ford
garage (where I always go) six months after its MOT to have a couple of gas
struts fitted to the tailgate along with an intermediate service.

The guy on the reception desk told me that there were some 'rubber bushes'?
failing in the rear suspension which would have to be done before it would
pass its next MOT, IIRC I was quoted somewhere around £280 with VAT, being a
bit skint at the time and as it apparently wasn't a safety issue I told him
I'd leave it until I had the next MOT done.

Came the day and the wife says don't forget to tell the mechanic what needs
to be done, which of course I didn't and guess what, it sailed through the
test without a mention of any problems with the rear suspension, it will be
interesting to see if I'm quite so lucky next year.

It does make one wonder though, I took my Ford focus in to the main Ford
garage (where I always go) six months after its MOT to have a couple of
gas struts fitted to the tailgate along with an intermediate service.

The guy on the reception desk told me that there were some 'rubber
bushes'? failing in the rear suspension which would have to be done before
it would pass its next MOT, IIRC I was quoted somewhere around £280 with
VAT, being a bit skint at the time and as it apparently wasn't a safety
issue I told him I'd leave it until I had the next MOT done.

Came the day and the wife says don't forget to tell the mechanic what
needs to be done, which of course I didn't and guess what, it sailed
through the test without a mention of any problems with the rear
suspension, it will be interesting to see if I'm quite so lucky next year.

At it's last main dealer service at 72,000, they told me the lower bushes on
my 206 needed replacing urgently and it wouldn't pass it's impending MOT.
But, it did pass it's MOT an an independent garage at 85,000 without
comment, and has just passed it's 2nd MOT at 115,000 with just an advisory
on one bush!

"Ivan" wrote in message
...

"Mrcheerful" wrote in message
om...
Peter Spikings wrote:
Hi,

Ka.... Last year had an MOT advisory that the front upper shock
absorbers (both sides) have slightly worn bushes. When I grab the top
of the strut inside the engine bay I can't make either of them move
and the topmost bush looks fine. Is this anything to worry about? Got
next MoT coming up and if it fails on that I'm in trouble apparently
(other half's car) Apparently she was told it probably won't get
through this year but I don't see why.

Thanks,

Peter.

IIRC this is a well known feature, not a fault, but there are modified
top bushes with a slightly shorter metal sleeve available. You can of
course take your old one out and shorten it a little (about 3mm) but
don't say I told you !


It does make one wonder though, I took my Ford focus in to the main Ford
garage (where I always go) six months after its MOT to have a couple of
gas struts fitted to the tailgate along with an intermediate service.

The guy on the reception desk told me that there were some 'rubber
bushes'? failing in the rear suspension which would have to be done before
it would pass its next MOT, IIRC I was quoted somewhere around £280 with
VAT, being a bit skint at the time and as it apparently wasn't a safety
issue I told him I'd leave it until I had the next MOT done.

Came the day and the wife says don't forget to tell the mechanic what
needs to be done, which of course I didn't and guess what, it sailed
through the test without a mention of any problems with the rear
suspension, it will be interesting to see if I'm quite so lucky next year.

Bushes can make a difference to the drive of the car without actually
failing MOTs.