Failed MOT

Poo, the Matta has failed it's MOT, I'll just pop down to the Alfa Dealer for some spares...

Damn...I have a very friendly MOT chap who is a 4x4 fan, he gives the old girl a little pat as he walks past...but I don't think he did the MOT

Balljoint was mentioned...

wrinx

Sorry to hear about the test result, wrinx. How long do you think it will take you to get it legal again?
--Toronto

Sorry , what's wrong with it?

It failed on play in two of the steering balljoints (a track rod end and some idler arm)...but, it may be possible to shim them! Never heard of this before so need to go play.

So, it might not be as bad as it seems

wrinx

Wrinx, no pre-MoT close inspection? naughty. What is a Matta?An Italian 'jeep' or summat'?:

Originally Posted by zulu ferret

Wrinx, no pre-MoT close inspection? naughty. What is a Matta?An Italian 'jeep' or summat'?:

Zulu that's why you put it in a month early and fix it quick
Now that's a pre mot check

I think matta has something to do with and old chuck berry song.

Pomeo

Here's hoping It's ok for NAD....

or are you going to be trailering it there anyway Wrinx?

Simes.

Sounds fine Pomeo, but me bein' smart ar5ed like, enjoy playing the 'Fail me if you can' game to see if they pick up on stuff I've not noticed, or missed.Thoroughly enjoyed it when the Pug failed on Track Control Arm bushes, and the office of the MoT station started to fill in a job sheet,'til I said I would fix it myself. Now does the same still apply? Or is it pay in full if you take it away for another re-test. How's it work now, as that instance was a couple of years back now?

Originally Posted by wrinx

It failed on play in two of the steering balljoints (a track rod end and some idler arm)...but, it may be possible to shim them! Never heard of this before so need to go play.

So, it might not be as bad as it seems

wrinx

The only ball joints I ever saw you could shim are top and bottom joints(on older jags and BL stuff). Not on idlers or track rod ends tho'

Now there's a good shim question I've lost track of with the failing memory AF. Had a brake caliper overhaul kit for my HPE Beta, that came with a smallish sheet of brass shimming. Was that some sort of protection for re-assembly? I have it still, but the reason for, method deployed fails me?

Originally Posted by Simes

Here's hoping It's ok for NAD....

or are you going to be trailering it there anyway Wrinx?

Simes.

Noooo, the mad old thing gets driven everywhere

wrinx

Originally Posted by alfafamily

The only ball joints I ever saw you could shim are top and bottom joints(on older jags and BL stuff). Not on idlers or track rod ends tho'

That's bad news....bear in mind this pre-dates the cars you mention, it's 1953

I'll try and post a piccy from the parts catalogue to give an idea.

wrinx

Originally Posted by zulu ferret

Now there's a good shim question I've lost track of with the failing memory AF. Had a brake caliper overhaul kit for my HPE Beta, that came with a smallish sheet of brass shimming. Was that some sort of protection for re-assembly? I have it still, but the reason for, method deployed fails me?

Not familiar with the Beta brakes,but shims used to be used to centralise the caliper to the disc for even pad wear.I always thought it a bit picky meself.

Try these:

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g1...MOT/matta2.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g1...MOT/matta1.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g1...0038Medium.jpg

wrinx

Could be so AF, I reckon purely out of interest, may pop the question to Viva Lancia. Don't know why I keep it, other than it may perhaps be useful for something in the future. Says he, some 16 years on!

There's interesting steering components.: idler arms, etc, what type of steering box? Free play at the wheel permitted, half inch left or right of centre? What's the other, a Tracta type joint?:

Do you think you'll fix it in time for NAD then?