Failed mot😭 missing nut on front wheels ball joint

[Capstain411]

Hi guys,

Please can j have your thoughts. I am driving car to Paris over Xmas. Got it serviced running smooth as silk. MOT due Jan 3. I thought I will get it done before.

It failed mot today. The technician says I am incredibly lucky as both front wheels have suspension arm ball joint bolt not secured with nuts.

But he was not 100% sure.

It does looking missing, but how this got missed in last 2 mots. Only work on wheels was brake discs changed 2 years back. Please see attached picture.

[Phil Croxley]

It's hard to tell from the photo but it looks like the washer has been put on, so you would assume a nut would follow.

[V60white]

Originally Posted by Capstain411

Hi guys,

Please can j have your thoughts. I am driving car to Paris over Xmas. Got it serviced running smooth as silk. MOT due Jan 3. I thought I will get it done before.

It failed mot today. The technician says I am incredibly lucky as both front wheels have suspension arm ball joint bolt not secured with nuts.

But he was not 100% sure.

It does looking missing, but how this got missed in last 2 mots. Only work on wheels was brake discs changed 2 years back. Please see attached picture.

Can't believe that was missed either but if all that it failed on was those two nuts then put a couple and take it back for retest.....

[Capstain411]

Omg. I am even more confused, see response from another volvo forum

[GrahamBrown1]

There is not meant to be a nut fitted here, from your photo you can clearly see there has never been a nut fitted either. The knuckle is threaded. The bolt is only a pinch bolt to stop the ball joint from popping out which wouldn’t happen unless there was no weight on the suspension. It is tightened to around 110nm and will have loctite on from the factory.

Your Mot guy has been a bit cautious that’s all. If in any dought contact your Volvo parts dept ask for a picture of the parts drawing for this component on your car or just fit a nut and everyone’s happy but the car isn’t unsafe.

[Capstain411]

You are right. The parts diagram does not have nut either. I will ring volvo today to reconfirm then phonecall to MOT Centre.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Capstain411

Hi guys,

Please can j have your thoughts. I am driving car to Paris over Xmas. Got it serviced running smooth as silk. MOT due Jan 3. I thought I will get it done before.

It failed mot today. The technician says I am incredibly lucky as both front wheels have suspension arm ball joint bolt not secured with nuts.

But he was not 100% sure.

It does looking missing, but how this got missed in last 2 mots. Only work on wheels was brake discs changed 2 years back. Please see attached picture.

surely that metal insert is the "nut" try undoing the bolt and tightening it back up... volvo would never use a basic nut and bolt on a joint like that.

[magnuz]

Originally Posted by Clan

surely that metal insert is the "nut" try undoing the bolt and tightening it back up... volvo would never use a basic nut and bolt on a joint like that.

I agree, The bit that looks like a washer is a threaded insert .

[Capstain411]

Rather disappointing neither of 3 main dealers i contacted were much helpful. One parts tech helped with some info but would not email.

So ultimately called a recently retired independent volvo mech who ran a popular garage in West Midlands. He confirmed via email with exploded diagram, there is no nut. Thats design and not necessarily a bad one.

Showed to MOT centre. They retracted their decision or something like that. I had pass certificate issued now. I am still miffed as this hassled me big time today.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Capstain411

Rather disappointing neither of 3 main dealers i contacted were much helpful. One parts tech helped with some info but would not email.

So ultimately called a recently retired independent volvo mech who ran a popular garage in West Midlands. He confirmed via email with exploded diagram, there is no nut. Thats design and not necessarily a bad one.

Showed to MOT centre. They retracted their decision or something like that. I had pass certificate issued now. I am still miffed as this hassled me big time today.

I only commented yesterday somewhere else that people employed in garages now have little interest in cars . It seems some of the MOT testers don't either.