The ARB ball joint cover advisory just means the rubber boot is starting to split/deteriorate, it’ll only fail the mot when it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt.
Not what I would call urgent to replace, but it is a fairly easy/cheap job to do.
Depending on what the car is ref the suspension arms/subframe, it’s extremely unlikely they’ll need replacing anytime soon, especially if it’s just a bit of flaking rust.
Almost all cars will have corrosion underneath after a few years which is no reason to start replacing parts.
Those advisories just serve to cause people to worry more than they should.
People always seem to blame potholes for snapped springs, but it's the corrosion that causes them to fail..
The ARB ball joint cover advisory just means the rubber boot is starting to split/deteriorate, it’ll only fail the mot when it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt.
Not what I would call urgent to replace, but it is a fairly easy/cheap job to do.
Depending on what the car is ref the suspension arms/subframe, it’s extremely unlikely they’ll need replacing anytime soon, especially if it’s just a bit of flaking rust.
Almost all cars will have corrosion underneath after a few years which is no reason to start replacing parts.
Those advisories just serve to cause people to worry more than they should.
What do you reckon about treating the underside of a car, worth it? I mean, not a modern classic, just something to be driven until the wheels fall off. Mines 5 years old and no advisories for rust yet but all the suspension parts have a decent patina lets say
Perfectly normal on a car of that age, and certainly nothing to be concerned about.Here's a pic they sent me, its the outer surface flaking off
![]()
Yes, at 14 years old my plan is to drive it until it fails with big bill item
Perfectly normal on a car of that age, and certainly nothing to be concerned about.
This is a 2013 Focus that I've just MOT'd (subframe, ARB & arms etc are covered in rust, but I didn't advise it as there's nothing wrong with a bit of surface corrosion).
It's perfectly normal.
What do you reckon about treating the underside of a car, worth it? I mean, not a modern classic, just something to be driven until the wheels fall off. Mines 5 years old and no advisories for rust yet but all the suspension parts have a decent patina lets say
I reckon so, it’s why the motor trade has such a bad name.Thanks, it looks like my garage is looking for extra work!
Not a failure, but looking for advice please
Repair as soon as possible (minor defects):
Should I really do this soon?
- Nearside Front Upper Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
I have a video from the garage showing bits of rust flaking off, both arms are completely brown. What do people do? Leave and hope for next time, treat the rust or replace bits?
- Nearside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))
- Offside Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))
- Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))
The car is 14 years old and worth about £4000
I wouldn't say that. I get a similar advisory every year. If the car has been driven in the British climate, i.e. rain, then after a few years, it will get surface corrosion on the underside, it's inevitable. If there was danger of a structural issue, e.g. something snapping, work would be necessary, and it would be an MOT fail and not an advisory.Thanks, it looks like my garage is looking for extra work!
all i do just clean it off, wire brush/flap wheel de scaler if you have. treat it and give it a coat of something. i prefer to use old coach enamel (only cause i have loads kicking about , if you buy a car and its agricultural green underneath it may have been mineFix the dust cover, ignore the advisories, or get under there with a wire brush and a couple of cans of something if you feel like it. (future owners may thank you lol)
I reckon so, it’s why the motor trade has such a bad name.
We get so many people booking in for stuff that other garages have said needs doing ASAP, and when we get the car in the workshop we find that nothing needs doing and the other garage was just looking to rip them off.
It’s very frustrating.