My car failed it's MOT with excessive vertical movement between stub axle and axle beam? Can someone help me on what I need to be buying??
Could it be the 4 bolts holding it are loose? Stub just bolts to rear arm, 4 bolts similar to the way the Allen ones are on my mk2, except they are normal type (from memory) on the mk4, and the caliper mount is part of the trailing arm not separate. Probably best to whip rear disc off and see, then maybe remove them and retighten with some threadlock too, may have to gradually undo them in a rota if not removing the bearing hub due to clearance, also the bolts are usually pretty rusty send caked up so may need to get bearing assembly off to get good access, may be worth replacing that as they are reasonably cheap (and don't always come off too easy in one piece).
Just at a loss what I should be buying. It just said (axle has vertical movement between stub axle and axle beam such that directional stability is impaired) Flap is on to get it fixed in time for retest
That's the exploded view, 11 is stub axle that bolts to the arm. 17 is hub and bearings assembly. That's a stub with hub,you can get to bolts just behind the hub without necessarily splitting it apart. That's a photo of fitment. Bolts in bottom right snap behind hub can be seen, remove caliper and disc to get that far in, it may be possible (did it on my polo anyway) to unbolt the caliper from sliders and wiggle disc out of carrier as the carrier to arm bolts are usually rusty Allen head ones. And this is a guide to replacing the stub axles with pictures. https://www.pelicanparts.com/techar...8-SUSPEN-Rear_Wheel_Stub_Axle_Replacement.htm
As the D man says it could be as simple as loose bolts. You won’t know what else it could be until you take the disc off and have a look. Worse case scenario would be ovalised holes in the stub axle or on the beam itself. Both unlikely really.
I agree with John, sounds like they've failed it on wheel bearing play but they've given it a fancy description other than just saying wheel bearing play! Easy enough to check it anyway, could just be the nut on the stub axle preloading the tapered bearings needs nipped up slightly. Or as already mentioned the stub axle -> beam bolts are loose.
Have you jacked it up and felt to see where the play actually is ? I would ask the person that actually did the mot to tell you what he was snagging in the first place as the mot failure list can be rather generic and not specific enough
Wobble it all with wheel on, up/down and sides, odd just mentions vertical and the stub axle, could be the dust shield rotted away between it giving free play even I suppose. If wheel moves in different planes then suspect wheel bearing, try nipping centre nut up then. Are the mk4 taper or a single cartridge bearing though?
Did you jack up with wheel on and rock wheel in all directions? May be easier to see if you look while another body wobbles. Obviously support the car on something proper not just the jack, both for safety and keeping it still whilst rocking stub area.
That's me had it all off and refitted. I think it could have been the disk shield being so rusty it wasn't attached anymore. The disk shield sits between the stub and axle so I've removed the broken shield and bits left round the bolts then tightened it all up. Both bearing shields that stop water and dirt getting in are away too, but will worry about them after MOT.
Extra cooling now then result. Dint think shields are too expensive, think £8 rings a bell, but not mot required.
I've spent a fortune I don't have already and moving house end of the month so trying get it an not asap
