car .m.o.t question about strut and suspension sring

[goldenbolls]

i need offside suspension spring for an mot, i got 1 with a strut out of scrapyard as i cant afford new one, anyway the mecahnic fitted it but told me when i drive and steer wheels right and left there is a knocking noise, i asked mechanic was it ok and go through mot again, he said yes, im getting it book in for re-test but im afrain they will hear this knocking noise and fail again, who,s at fault if it does? mechanic for fitting it ? or scrapyard ? mechanic told me it was knocking because of a ball joint or something but i havent the slightest clue about cars.

[New Judge]

If you are looking for someone to blame should your car fail its MoT, you need only to look in the mirror.

You cannot surely in your wildest dreams think that scrapyards must somehow be responsible for the quality of the spare parts they sell. Similarly, the mechanic you asked to fit the parts can hardly be held to blame if the parts you provided do not quite work as expected.

Running a car – especially an old one – can be an expensive business. If you maintain it by using salvaged parts from the scrapyard you may find it costs you more than you think.

[chas2008]

very much false economy especially when you can buy springs quite cheap from the factors.
Knocking from a ball joint indicates play of some sort and in most cases is a failure.

[AlBags]

Your mechanic (even though used second-hand parts) should strip it down again to ascertain what is causing the knocking. Then advise and get new parts if necessary. He may have damaged a ball-joint or the top suspension mount may be worn.
Either way, your mechanic should sort the job .. and you need to pay for the parts (unless he admits did something wrong, or broke something)

[goldenbolls]

it passed yesterday, thank god, time to sell it on i reckon . mechanic assured me everything was ok and it could not fail because of the knocking as everything was mechanically sound, m.o.t guy didnt check struts ect he only checked brake cylinders and front suspension spring which it failed on, maybe a good look around and he could of come up with something else , i dont know !