MOT Advisory-Clarification?

[Supercell]

Hi All, Recently acquired A Nissan Qashqai+2 from a friend. Checking the MOT, there's an advisory as follows:

Nearside Front Lower Steering linkage ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Is that ball joint in the lower arm/wishbone? Or have I got the wrong end of the stick?

[GreenV8S]

That's probably referring to the ball joint that connects the track rod to the steering arm.

[E-bmw]

Can you take a couple of pics to assist?

[montyjohn]

Supercell said:

Nearside Front Lower Steering linkage ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

GreenV8S is correct.
Easiest way to be check is to look up paragraph 2.1.3 (b) in the MOT Rule Book.

2.1.3 is the "Steering Linkage Condition" and (b) is "A steering ball joint".
Basically it's the Track Rod End.
I think the word "Lower" is an error.

Edited by montyjohn on Wednesday 7th October 12:30

[stevieturbo]

Sounds like the Nearside Front Lower Steering linkage ball joint.

It's not really that vague ?

[Supercell]

Bought a track rod end and fitted it today, there was indeed some play in it when twisting it side to side, and when off the car the joint was flopping about with no resistance.

Thank you to those with the really helpful replies, and those who tried to help, it's much appreciated

[GreenV8S]

Now get an alignment check.

[Supercell]

GreenV8S said:

Now get an alignment check.

I counted 16 turns to take off the track rod end, so I made 16 turns to put the new one on. I'm going to do the other side next week, and then you're right, alignment after that!

[montyjohn]

stevieturbo said:

Sounds like the Nearside Front Lower Steering linkage ball joint.

It's not really that vague ?

On rack and pinion only have one track rod end per side so how can you have an upper and a lower?
With a steering box you can have an inner and an outer.

[stevieturbo]

montyjohn said:

On rack and pinion only have one track rod end per side so how can you have an upper and a lower?
With a steering box you can have an inner and an outer.

If there is no upper or lower...clearly you can ignore thatb aspect then.

Really, it shouldn't be hard to check all of the joints...usually before MOT.

[Supercell]

montyjohn said:

On rack and pinion only have one track rod end per side so how can you have an upper and a lower?
With a steering box you can have an inner and an outer.

See that's what confused me, I thought there's only one each side, so I thought lower meant the lower arm/wishbone ball joint. But your initial post was very helpful, thanks.