KIA Venga - Offside Front Track rod end ball joint issue

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Fri 29 Mar 2019 20:20
KIA Venga - Offside Front Track rod end ball joint issue - Spatacus
Hello,

Am after a bit of advise,my Kia venga failed it mot today on a “major defect” i.e Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i)),I contacted my local garage and the can’t fit me in until next Monday.So I need to know if anyone has had any experience with this “Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))” issue and if it takes a while for the unit itself to break?Thanx
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Fri 29 Mar 2019 20:35
KIA Venga - Offside Front Track rod end ball joint issue - focussed

From the MOT tester's manual.

A steering ball joint:

With excessive wear or free play = Major

Worn to the extent there is a serious risk of detachment = Dangerous

" If it takes a while for the unit itself to break?"

How long is a piece of string?

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Fri 29 Mar 2019 20:50
KIA Venga - Offside Front Track rod end ball joint issue - Spatacus
Long??guess I can wait till Monday
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Sat 30 Mar 2019 19:06
KIA Venga - Offside Front Track rod end ball joint issue - carl233

Quite normal for these to wear out. I have taken my car to 254k miles and had to replace them 3 times. Whilst my vehicle is a Ford it is quite normal to replace these and I would not be concerned. I am more concerned with the money grab MOT system but that is another story...

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Sun 31 Mar 2019 08:36
KIA Venga - Offside Front Track rod end ball joint issue - Oli rag

The track rod end is a critical part. If it fails then you will loose control of the steering.

Yes, the amount of wear is something that is open to interpretation by the mot tester, but the way I see it, a lot of people don't bother with any kind of servicing or inspection of their car and an mot test may be the only chance for a dangerous potential failure to be spotted.

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Sun 31 Mar 2019 13:55
KIA Venga - Offside Front Track rod end ball joint issue - Peter.N.

I have replaced quite a number of ball joints in my 60+ years of repairing my own cars and have never known of one break, I'm not saying it couldn't happen but its never happened to me or anyone else I know.

The ball end is much bigger that the hole it would have to fall through so its unlikely that it would.

I'm sure someone will tell me they have had one fail ....

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