Hello people

Wondering if someone can help, my mk1 Focus failed its MOT on "incorrectly located front offside coil spring", the guy at the desk said its 3" out. I've been working as an amateur on cars years and have never heard of this. The front springs were replaced by a Ford main dealer 2 years ago, and this problem has not been mentioned in previous MOT examinations. How can the McPherson strut become incorrectly located?! The test was carried out by Halford Auotcentre. Their quote to fix this and replace a rear coil spring I thought was their phone number!!

Any wise words would be appreciated :)

Thanks.

get second opinion

Youve answered your own dilemma in the explanation... HALFRAUDS AUTOCENTRE, haha.

Get a second opinion from an independant garage

Couldnt agree more - sounds like an attempt to extract money from your orrifices!

If the sprint truly was 3" out, I would suggest you have a serious handling problem, as well as a ride problem and how it hasnt snapped and caused an accident is almost amazing... :p

Have a look at it yourself, if what they say means anything it will be that the spring has jumped out the spring seat and roatated round. It will still look like it is sitting in but the indent where the end of the spring should be will be 3 inches round.

As stef says it will be that the spring will have rotated round 3" and the end of the coil won't be resting in the stopper.

No big deal, I'd bet you can jack up the car, take the wheel off, grab the spring and give it a good yank to twist it round the 3" to seat it properly without having to remove the strut or spring.

Blummin' Halfords monkeys!