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[benjamind]

Hello all been a while since i have been in the forum work commitments etc. Car failed MOT today just after a bit of advice  
Report states offside outer track rod end ball joint has excessive play-- Am i as well changing just this or doing the whole arm as in maintenance guides i think i am able to follow this well written how to.

The recommendations that are getting to me are - It says brake pipes are excessively corroded, however the tester said they may be ok if i can give them a rub to show corrosion is superficial (bit wary of this) Are they easy to replace ? Is access to these a nightmare ? and what cost would a new set be ?? Hope i have described enough for you to provide answer.

Thanks Ben

[justme]

Outer track rod end 20min job but make sure you redo the tracking.
brake pipes the meega seems to suffer with this, give them a wire brushing should clean up ok smother them in grease.
however if they are pited change them. Dont know the cost of replacement but a far bigger job.

[JamesV6CDX]

Hello all been a while since i have been in the forum work commitments etc. Car failed MOT today just after a bit of advice  
Report states offside outer track rod end ball joint has excessive play-- Am i as well changing just this or doing the whole arm as in maintenance guides i think i am able to follow this well written how to.

The recommendations that are getting to me are - It says brake pipes are excessively corroded, however the tester said they may be ok if i can give them a rub to show corrosion is superficial (bit wary of this) Are they easy to replace ? Is access to these a nightmare ? and what cost would a new set be ?? Hope i have described enough for you to provide answer.

Thanks Ben

Hi Ben, nice to hear from you.

I personally would just replace the trackrod, not expensive and not difficult....

Which brake pipes is he referring to?

[benjamind]

Hi James
Nice to see you are still passing on your wisdom. He mentions all brake pipes front and back on both sides - do you think he may be being a bit overzealous? I am hoping i can give them a good brushing and smear with grease, i can imagine a full replacement would be expensive and a real pain.

[mantagte]

had all brake pipes replaced on my elite for mot last month cost £200
hope this helps

[mantahatch]

Hi Chaps
Many years ago it seemed to be a good way for a garage to make a few quid by saying your brake pipes are rusty, now I am reasonably sure most pipes these days a have a covering of some sort of protection either wax/underseal or coated with a thin coat of plastic. Look at the pipes from the master cylinder and you will see what I mean.
Brake pipes can and do corrode underneath if damaged by stones flicking up etc.
Some garages do tend to play on our fears for safety with brakes and I agree safety is paramount but my Omega is very old and MOTed at a Vauxhall dealer and never once has the tester if even advised a corroded brake pipe.

Some MOT testers seem to see a covering of wax with some dirt attached as corrosion. And if you clean it off you expose the metal to the elements.
I would say if you are having your pipes replaced, make sure you have it done with copper pipes or if using steel make sure you paint or underseal etc. or you will be doing it again 12 months time.

Regards

Mike

[ians]

I would do the whole track rod - you'll likely find it difficult to split the old one.

I have done brake pipes at the rear and its not too bad.  

[Rocketman]

This sounds so familar to me. Last year my Opel dealer found the same points during the MOT. But at the time I gave them the go-head to replace the track rod joint, which requires the tracking to be re-done afterwards, and to wirebrush the brake lines and respray with Tectel. Cost a couple of 100 but at the time I could not be bothered. Seems it's very common on 10 year old Omega's.

Knowing what I know now (from this excellent site!) I probably could of done this myself except for the tracking.