Morris Minor Owners Club

Giving the car a once over today ready for the fast approaching MOT.

I noticed that the passenger side font bump stop is missing

Are they easy to get hold of? And more importantly if I havent got and fitted one by the MOT will it be a failure?

Both stops fitted Pass
1 stop fitted Fail
Both missing Pass

Are they easy to get hold of?

Yes - try any of the Minor parts suppliers.

Remember when ordering that the top rubbers are handed and the bottom rubbers are the same although the last bottom ones I had were a real pig to fit.

Can't see any reason why one missing would fail MOT!
But - they very definitely should be there - to protect the body from damage - so fit one asap.

Can't see any reason why one missing would fail MOT

because a good MOT tester would spot the difference even if *he'd never seen a minor.
* or she, but i've never ever seen a female MOT inspector.

But - they very definitely should be there - to protect the body from damage - so fit one asap.

if it fell off because the inner wing is corroded, sort that out as well. They do protect the bodywork but if it's corroded they'll just get knocked out of the way.

The other function is to prevent overtravel of the torsion bar. Having had a Minor misshap ~6 foot of airbourne making an unexpected detour over a sand bank... it's clear to see that suspension overtravel had put permanent strain into the torsion bars - the front became a low rider!

Just because it's 'different' doesn't mean an MOT fail! It's not a moving part of the suspension - I don't see ANY reason why it should fail the MOT. Would expect it to be mentioned in an advisory.

mike.perry wrote:Remember when ordering that the top rubbers are handed and the bottom rubbers are the same although the last bottom ones I had were a real pig to fit.

Mike, bottom ones? Do you mean the ones on the rear axle? If not where are the bottom ones on the front?

Blimey three questions... I need to lie down.

At the bottom of the hole where the shock absorber arm goes through the inner wing. Little square bits of rubber on a bracket held on by 3 nuts and bolts.

These are the 'rebound' stops - every bit as important as the 'bump' stops.
Checked with friendly MOT tester - missing bump stop definitely NOT a reason for failure - unless it's missing because there is a great rusty hole where it should be ! He would note it as an 'advisory'.

Checked with friendly MOT tester - missing bump stop definitely NOT a reason for failure

Different from what my MOT man said.Perhaps you have different rules north of the border.

So - he said two missing is a PASS - but one missing is a FAIL ?? Seems unlikely!
Well oh well. MOT guy I asked is in England - so working off same rule book.

mike.perry wrote:At the bottom of the hole where the shock absorber arm goes through the inner wing. Little square bits of rubber on a bracket held on by 3 nuts and bolts.

Thank you... I know which ones you mean now..

Just because it's 'different' doesn't mean an MOT fail! It's not a moving part of the suspension - I don't see ANY reason why it should fail the MOT. Would expect it to be mentioned in an advisory.

they are within the rules to fail a Minor on this - my place never has. Personally I prefer to make sure they're in place but don't always have the luxury of time to do so, with so many Minors to fuss over...

Well - if someone can show me that rule ............

NO. You show the rule that says it is a Pass!

Unless something falls fowl of the 'Fail' rules - it IS automatically a PASS! I can assure you - a missing bump stop is NOT a fail - but it is bad news - and should be replaced urgently.

Yes, oh masterful one. Yet again you shall be right, whatever the correct answer is.

I'm fairly sure I've had a Minor fail on this before.
Never thought of removing the other one once the tester had seen one fitted.

I have always tried to find an honest MOT place that isn't looking to make work for themselves from the MOT side of the business then build up a reputation as someone knowledgeable who will sort out any problems that are found.

At the end of the day it isn't worth antagonising the MOT guy by suggesting they don't know their job and quoting chapter and verse from the book unless you wont be using them again.

My current guy has a fetish about tyres, he will spot any fault even slightly different sizes I don't think the previous guy would have picked that up. His thing was brakes.

Just to throw a spanner in the works here. The traveller passed with one bump stop missing.

Also, BMC is correct in that the MOT rules only define fails, not passes. Therefore there would be no rule to say "a car with one bumpstop should pass" (or not, as the case may be!)

I've had a quick look through http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual/contents.htm

and have been unable to find any mentions - it is, therefore a pass (unless I have missed something).