MOT Failure on Front Shocks?????????????

[paulsilv]

Had the GULF Replica in today for MOT and the tester failed it on the front shocks. It has lowered AVO springs on with the original shocks and the tester said he could get his fingers inbetween the bushes at the top of the shocker.

Is this common, and do I need to fit shorter shocks and if so which ones.

Don't want to get replacements and find I have the same problem again.

[umpkin]

i dont understand what hes failed it on???

my spring become loose when jacked up, but so long as they dont fall out by themselves (i.e the tester cannot pull them out) they dont fail, the top spring cup on the s12 isnt held tight to the top, and can move.

can you explain better whats hes failed it on.

[irish s12]

Yeah,it happens when you fit shortened springs with s12 standard front shocks.
Take the shocks out and get them machined down by 20mm.Any good engineering shop will be able to do it.
It cost me 40euro to get my front shocks shortened,not the end of the world!

[paulsilv]

he jacked the front up and had a good pull on the wheel then put a bar under the tyre and forced upwards, he then stuck his hand in the arch right at the top of the shocker and asked if it had lowered springs on, to which i replied yes. he then asked another guy to come and check it and he said he could get his fingers inbetween the rubber mountings at the top of the shocker so it would fail.

Great idea irish s12, and cheaper than new shocks.

[rpettafor]

ive never had any issues with mine and theyre pretty loose when jacked up, as said, i wouldnt have thought it was a problem unless they fell out whilst off the jacks??

[umpkin]

i had a problem with my suspension at the MOT once, but it was because the guy didnt know the rules on springs falling out by themselves, he yanked my springs out, i got me a new MOT tester, and not had a problem since (i never had a problem before either, car was only tested by that guy once.) had the car 10 years and same lowered springs.

[paulsilv]

surprised me as this test centre do most of the trade stuff around here and thought they would just rattle it through.

different test centre me thinks

[s13eater]

guy's, just make some little retainers like i did,all that you need to do is drill the top and bottom were the spring sits,then make some thin metal strip that clamp the spring to either end,so that it holds the spring to each end of the spring seats ,steal cable ties would do.

[paulsilv]

The spring was rattling around but he wasnt interested in this, he was all on messing with the top of the shocker.

Not sure how it all goes together as someone else put my springs on. are there any bushes at the top of the shocker and are these in contact with the spring?

If not what the hell is this MOT Tester on about

[irish s12]

Originally Posted by paulsilv

The spring was rattling around but he wasnt interested in this, he was all on messing with the top of the shocker.

Not sure how it all goes together as someone else put my springs on. are there any bushes at the top of the shocker and are these in contact with the spring?

If not what the hell is this MOT Tester on about

Basically it comes down to the fact that if your car is airbourne then the spring could fall out of its seat.Not that you drive around with your wheels off the ground.
The only way to fix it properly is by getting the shocks machined.