Hi I have an MOT coming up, and wondering what prices it would cost to fix these below

 

"N/S front drop arm dust cover, spil and play in ball joint"

"N/S Rear shocker top bush (was told the whole shock asorber will need replacing?)

 

Advisorys were..

 

Oil leak

O/S front wheel slightly distorted (inner)

Both Rear coil Springs corroded

 

Both cheap & easy to replace.

You can buy a pair of drop links for £15.

And a pair of rear shocks for £30.  (Rear shock bushes are available, but not worth the cost and hassle compared to new shocks)

It's your choice whether you have both sides replaced or not, though it is best practice.  Obviously double the labour cost for both sides.  I would estimate well under 1 hours labour to do one drop link and one rear shock.  (Average labour rates at now approx £75 per hour at indy garages)

 

Advisories may or may not be any worse. 

Oil leak is a pass unless it's heavy enough to drip on the floor during the test.

Bent wheel will still be bent.  As long as tyre holds air it'll pass.

If a rusty spring has snapped since last MOT then that will be a fail this time and need replacement.  (Approx £30 a pair, and changed at the same time as shocks so no extra labour cost)

 

Hope that helps.  It's always difficult to estimate prices due to many variables.

24 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Both cheap & easy to replace.

You can buy a pair of drop links for £15.

And a pair of rear shocks for £30.  (Rear shock bushes are available, but not worth the cost and hassle compared to new shocks)

It's your choice whether you have both sides replaced or not, though it is best practice.  Obviously double the labour cost for both sides.  I would estimate well under 1 hours labour to do one drop link and one rear shock.  (Average labour rates at now approx £75 per hour at indy garages)

 

Advisories may or may not be any worse. 

Oil leak is a pass unless it's heavy enough to drip on the floor during the test.

Bent wheel will still be bent.  As long as tyre holds air it'll pass.

If a rusty spring has snapped since last MOT then that will be a fail this time and need replacement.  (Approx £30 a pair, and changed at the same time as shocks so no extra labour cost)

 

Hope that helps.  It's always difficult to estimate prices due to many variables.

Rear shocks for £30? second hand?

 

I phoned the gaurage that done my new exhaust, they charged me £60 so i guess £60 1 hour labour...

 

Ive been quoted this time though £250 for the balljoint, shock absorber, including the mot

No, not second hand, plenty of aftermarket shocks available.

Even the genuine Ford shocks are only £70 a pair.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/393396339707?

 

Maximum cost for MOT test is £55.  So £195 for a drop link and a shock sounds excessive to me!

I notice you said balljoint there...are they doing the lower arm ball joint?  The minor fault wording doesn't actually make much sense.  My estimate is based on a drop link ball joint.  Perhaps theirs is based on the lower arm ball joint?

54 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

No, not second hand, plenty of aftermarket shocks available.

Even the genuine Ford shocks are only £70 a pair.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/393396339707?

 

Maximum cost for MOT test is £55.  So £195 for a drop link and a shock sounds excessive to me!

I notice you said balljoint there...are they doing the lower arm ball joint?  The minor fault wording doesn't actually make much sense.  My estimate is based on a drop link ball joint.  Perhaps theirs is based on the lower arm ball joint?

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8 minutes ago, Samya said:

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Hopefully they're better at mechanics than English.

'Spil' is obviously meant to say split.  But that still doesn't confirm whether it's the drop link or the lower arm.

Can you post the reg?  I can check the exact wording and the failure code number on the MOT system then.

**Edit** 

I thought these were last year's minor faults & advisories.  Just realized this might be from a recent 'pre-MOT' check.  If that's the case it won't be on the MOT system.  You would have to contact that mechanic for them to confirm whether it's meant to be drop link or lower arm.

5 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Hopefully they're better at mechanics than English.

'Spil' is obviously meant to say split.  But that still doesn't confirm whether it's the drop link or the lower arm.

Can you post the reg?  I can check the exact wording and the failure code number on the MOT system then.

**Edit** 

I thought these were last year's minor faults & advisories.  Just realized this might be from a recent 'pre-MOT' check.  If that's the case it won't be on the MOT system.  You would have to contact that mechanic for them to confirm whether it's meant to be drop link or lower arm.

Thats right, it was a pre MOT, real one is under 3 weeks away

I suppose with the quoted price of £195 or £200 it would be the lower arm?

45 minutes ago, Samya said:

Thats right, it was a pre MOT, real one is under 3 weeks away

Ok, thanks for confirming.

The lower arm is a much larger job if that's what they're quoting for.  The front bumper has to be removed to access the lower arm bolt on the Mk2 Ka.  It takes more labour time than changing a lower arm on something like a Fiesta or Focus.

£200 for a lower arm & rear shock sounds acceptable.

To be fair, that's not extortionate to get a 12 year old car through MOT, I've had much worse!