The car had also failed on the drop link as well. The drop link was only bought last November (2018) and I was not exactly pleased to be told the rubber had failed.
Luckily, I'd used plenty of coppaslip grease and it came off no problem at all. Absolutely nothing wrong with it. Replaced it and phoned up for an argument.
MOT tester apologised and said it should have been an advisory....
I think this is the last time I ever use the local Kwik Fit for an MOT as I've had problems with the last three appointments now.
Previously, they were very objective but now, anything but.
Split rubber should be a failure under the new rules... but as there was nothing wrong with it, it shouldn't have been mentioned at all, of course. Some garages look for work like that, if they think they can get away with it.
On the new MOT system, testers have to select faults from a predetermined drop-down list - a damaged rubber is classed as a 'major' fault, and is therefore a failure. Ironically, movement in the joint is now a 'minor', and therefore only an advisory. Potty.
I think the local place just makes things up now.
Here's the post test remarks:
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
Items removed from driver's view prior to test ()
Nothing was removed...
Nearside Front Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt ()
Child seat was not fitted.
Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))
Not corroded but certainly covered in grease.
Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))
Not corroded but certainly covered in grease. This was not mentioned at all in the first test.
Offside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))
I would have said it was the nearside as it was very difficult to compress the piston back into the caliper...
Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))
No idea about that one but it looked fine to me.