The panda passed its mot today,


but icame away with these :


Nearside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)
Offside Front coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)
Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)
Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)
Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)
Tank straps corroded..




ive had a look at the Tank strap's and the springs, and theyre solid,
seem's the mot tester is Strict,


What do you rekon, Replace..or wire brush and coat them insomething,


anyone else had simalar Advisory's?


My punto had worse'r looking springs..and it wasnt mentioned.


as of rust its not rust as such, just a slight bit of coating coming off the springs in one spot.

They advise on coil springs because their coating has flaked off, the metal has started to rust and it'll be only a matter of time before one or more snaps.

I know a few mot testers and none I'd consider being picky with advisories, they point out a part that has passed, but will likely fail sometime before the next test is due, so in fact they are doing you a favour and covering themselves in case you're back in three weeks complaining your snapped springs passed back then.

Plenty moan about rusty spring advisories, but the same people moan alot more when they have to deal with a snapped spring, they can be very difficult to deal with, particularly the fronts.

I sorted my sisters 54 plate out last year, all four springs were pretty shot, the coating had flaked off and most of it missing and the metal rusted up.
Also the rear dampers casings were rotten at the bottom and paper thin and the front damper rods scabbed with rust and about to ruin the seals, I replaced the lot for around £250.

I had to clean up the rear axle too, the spring pans were pretty bad with rust, big chunks of rust flicked off as water must have pooled in them once the drain holes had become block in the bottom, probably with the coil coatings that had flaked off, that's why everything was rusting from the bottom, upwards.

Once I'd finished with the grinder, a very large bottle of Krust and some Waxoil, it was as good as new.

Looking over the rest of the car, it was pretty good, no body rust anywhere, just seems the parts bolted too it hadn't faired too well.

Thanks,




Im going to order new springs &shocks,


Still searching for new tank strap, (i'l perhaps have some made up out of 'stainless

SHOP4PARTS has German made springs for very good prices

If you are replacing the front shocks, don't forget the top bearing also at S4P