Technical Is this an MOT fail? Chassis rust

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Technical Is this an MOT fail? Chassis rust

JD82

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I had my shocks replaced last week, the mechanic that did didn't comment on anything underneath but having seen the other thread I decided to take some pictures underneath my rear end and found this.

Is it as bad as it looks or is this normal for a 5.5 year old car living in Manchester?
 

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Not seeing anything terrifying in that photo, if it bothers you give it a bit of a wire brushing but I wouldn't bother spraying it or anything as the rust will just come through again.
 
That's pretty normal.

The back axles aren't particularly well protected from the elements.
Where the springs fit into those "Pans" are water traps and tend to scabbing up first.

I tackled a fairly bad one myself and there's been one on here that rusted through and broke.

It's a bit of a job, but jacking up the body, removing the wheels then undoing the shock bolts from either end will allow the axle to lower.

Cleaning it up will slow the issue down.
An angle grinder with some sanding discs and drill with a wire brush will remove most of it.
Treat it with a rust eater like Krust, then Waxoil it up.
 
Second the Waxoil. I spray under my Panda before every winter, and the Waxoil coating is still protecting in the spring.
Messy job, but well worth it.
 
Seeing this, I went out and took a pic of mine. I'd say that mine is a good bit worse than yours (at ten and a half years though). I'll need to get it sorted.
 

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The general level of corrosion is very low but I would be concerned about the small area in the centre of my extract from your photo.
If there is any significant loss of thickness then this could lead to a fatigue failure. It may be a trick of the camera, but it does look like the surface is dented and has rusted. Perhaps a spring may have broken earlier and damaged the area.
Some MOT testers are very thorough and knowledgeable, but some just look at what the minimum they need to look at. Depends on who does the MOT and obviously how "true" the picture is. Put a few more pics on if you can.
 

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Just taken some pictures using the flash it doesn't look so bad. It is just the area highlighted on another post above I concerned about however if it is not going to rust through in the next couple of years I may leave it.

I don't have access to a ramp etc so I have no way of treating it.

PS I have compressed it this time to make the image a more reasonable size!
 

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I have also owned the car from new so know its history (unless something happened on the way from Tychy to Birmingham where it was registered).

It has had a couple of scrapes and I was rear ended once but it was a very slow speed impact and just damaged the bumper, the floorpan etc is still straight.
 
I was servicing my sisters 54 plate last year when I noticed the crusty back axle.
We already knew the springs and dampers were shot through with rust, both front and rears.
It seemed the rears were being eaten upwards from the crusty pans, which suggested water was collecting there.

I gave the car a good going over and the rest of it appeared in good nic.
I couldn't find a flake of rust on the body or floor pan, I was quite surprised as it lives up in the Peak District and they salt the roads in the summer!
There are a few battle scars on it that you'd expect to start bubbling through, but it appeared solid.

It just seems one or two of the bolt on parts down below don't fair too well on our roads.

In regards to rust and MOT's
Corrosion
A vehicle can fail with respect to corrosion for:
• Excessive corrosion in a 'prescribed area' - within 30 cms of certain components, e.g. brakes, steering, suspension, seat belt mountings etc.
• Excessive corrosion in a 'prescribed area', but which is likely to adversely affect the vehicle's brakes or steering.
Note
'Excessive corrosion' can mean a hole or a significantly weakened structure.

30 cm covers virtually everywhere on a Panda!

And I think they can pull them up on rough body work if it appears jagged.
There's a bloke at work that gaffer taped over his rusty wheel arches of his old Astra and it past for years!
 
You don't really need a ramp - I got under mine and treated the rear axle and pans without even jacking it.
 
Did you park it on a kerb? I wouldn't even be able to get my head under there!
 
And probably don't drink too many beers like I do :D
 
Hi,

I too checked my rear suspension before buying it, and only for this thread I might have overlooked this area of the panda.

It would seem that corrosion is the likely outcome unless examined and dealt with.

Maybe this issue should be placed as a STICKY under common faults section.

I had a quick look but couldn't find anything related to this concern.

John.
 
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