Technical Play in rear track control arm ?

[chr1s]

I get a lot of clunking from my rear (?) suspension on bumpy surfaces, so I took off the rear wheels today, to try to find the problem.
The suspension bushes look ok, and I can't feel any significant movement in them or see any bump marks.


But I can feel a slight movement when I push/pull the hub. The movement is at the bearing attaching the control arm. Is this movement (about 1mm at the hub) normal or is this a sign that the bearing needs replacing ?

Also, is this tested in the MoT ?

The left hand rear spring is a bit corroded too.




Does this look ok, or will it need replacing ?

(MOT expires in two weeks).

 

[chr1s]

Is this movement (about 1mm at the hub) normal or is this a sign that the bearing needs replacing ?

Also, is this tested in the MoT ?

The left hand rear spring is a bit corroded too. Does this look ok, or will it need replacing ?

I may have found the answer to my first questions:
http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_240.htm

Method of Inspection
3. Check the security and the amount of play at pins/bushe/mountings and ball joints locating ... b. trailing arms ...

Reason for rejection
. Excessive play in a pin/bush or pin/ bearing for example more than
- 2mm for a 12mm diameter pin
- 3mm for a 25mm diameter pin
- 10% of the diameter for pins over 25mm diameter

So the trailing arm bearing is checked in the MOT and 1mm play looks acceptable,
but what about the condition of the spring ?

 

[JamesAtthews]

Hi

My frog passed it's MOT last week, and the springs were more corroded than that. It seems to be a mixture of 2 things, first is personal opinion of the tester, how he feels, past experience etc and secondly, it's a hard life for a spring, they sit in the water and salt, they move so the paint cracks and moves, and then slowly corrode. For your peace of mind you could wire brush them and put waxoyl on them to prolong their life, like I will be doing tonight.

I hope this puts your mind at slight rest.

Best of luck.

 

[chr1s]

Well it passed the MoT (£45 and no work required), but with advisories for slight play in both the rear radius arm bearings and one drop link.
He was happy with the spring.

 

[BikeDoc]

MOT.
One of the most stressful things you can go through, in 'normal' life at least...