Can somebody who has had similar problems please advise

With Y Reg 1.3 Ka. What counts as excessive movement of the front top mounts and in what circumstances is the testing conducted (wheel loaded onto ground or up in the air)

There is some horizontal movement of the top nut visible under the bonnet when the front wheel is in the air (without any weight on it). There is however no obvious vertical movement in the same circumstances

With the wheel on the ground there is no obvious movement in either direction when grabbing the strut and trying to move it

The vehicle has only done 23K miles in all that time & had to have front springs changed due to cracking due to potholes within the last 4 years. There was no advisory for the MOT just under 12 months ago

Thanks

Richard

the top mount is rubber so can deteroiate in a short time. from memeory they check the car in the air with no load on the suspension.

if it's an original part then due to the age of the car t maywell need replacing

look at the attatched

Thanks

There doesn't seem to be vertical movement (but I'll have another check) just some horizontal

If both sides had to come off to change the springs (one cracked due to hitting a pothole) in the last couple of years would (ought) they have changed the top mounts as a matter of course?

they wont change it as a matter of cause because they can have you back to pay them to remove it all again and charge you for it.

take it to a garage for their opinion to see if the parts need replacing as they maybe ok and maybe the part under the mount that needs doing.

i am pretty sure there should be no movement perhaps something has come loose

thanks

Had a look at the TIS disc for this and there doesn't appear to be anything physical (apart from friction) with the wheel of the floor to stop the mount from moving horizontally

It's due an MOT next week and changing the bushes had been costed into the matter. It's more a matter for information as the DVSA "MOT Testers Manual" is more than a bit vague on what movement is acceptable

i think its classed as a floating suspension. my sons v reg fiesta looks the same as the top does not look like its tightend down enough but its how it is so i recon the ka is the same as the ka is based on the fiesta platform. i wold just wait and see what the mot comes back with

It's more that the vagueness of the location goes against everything I expect from my past experience with vehicle Homologation standards where requirements are getting close to a prescribed dimension of ¼" or ½%

For mot you can have alot of movement before its a failure on the ka, cant check now but can check how many mm of movement allowed tommorow for you if you want.

that would be a great help / reassurance

I can then check against finite figures in a vertical / horizontal / fore & aft direction

If what there is, is still allowable then so much less for getting it through the MOT for what is really "just in an emergency" vehicle

Jacked off ground, front is 10mm vertical. 8mm lateral. Rear is 7mm vertical

thanks

will give it a try later to see what I have got

Well top mounts just about legal but other bits all showed signs of age related problems

As you'll there is another post about looking for another Ka. For the amount I use it, it's sufficient and not totally unusable if I had to do a longer trip sometimes

what do you maen on your last post as i cannot understand mate. you looking for another ka as you will use on longer journeys ?

Am considering all vehicles not just a Ka but with having one presently costs of Tax & Ins are known

For most of the journeys I'm likely to do a Ka would be sufficient

If I had to do any longer journeys then a Ka wouldn't be all bad

if your funds can stretch to it get the mk2 ka its cheaper to run £30 road tax a year. my daughter got a mk2 zetec and its a lovely car and quiet