MOT - Steering and Suspension advice (pics)

[bmouthboyo]

Hi everyone,

I recently purchased a T25 (1983) camper with no MOT. It had been sitting idle for 5 years apparently without MOT, Engine works ok (k-Jet 1.8 out of a Mk2) but I am trying to go over it with a fine comb to fix most of the MOT failure jobs, so that when I do have it MOT'd most should be ok.

Now these are some of the things (no doubt will be more ) i know will need doing before it and I have a few questions:

1) What is the correct name for this? It is the rubber bush that connects to the anti-roll bar support, by the looks of it will that need replacing?



2) Rotten break disc shield. Will this fail in this condition? The plate on the other side is completely corroded and fallen off, do I have to replace it or can i just fully remove it on both sides? If i need to replace whats it called?



3) Breaks, I have looked at the front and back breaks on one side of the van and taken pictures. There seems to be enough pad left on each but its the condition of the discs and drums I'm worried about after its been sitting so long. From looking at the disc / drum pics would i need to replace them too?

Front Disc


Rear Drum


Rear breaks and components


Any help would be much appreciated, I can't wait to get this thing camping

Thanks all

[Red Westie]

1) anti roll bar drop link lower mounting rubbers: need changing as split and badly perrished.
2) Disc shield badly corroded, not needed to pass the MOT (so could be removed) but they do help to keep crap out of the brakes.
3) Front discs look badly glazed/corroded (black glaze like this can be removed with some fairly course emery cloth and elbow grease) it's up to you! I would also strip/free off and relube brake pads in the calipers (check the pistons are free and the piston seals are intact).
4) Look fine....need de-dusting/deglazing, back plates lubing on the contact/pivot points with copper slip or similar (don't get any on the brake lining material) then properly adjusting through the top centre hole of the backplate.
So mostly just hard graft with a few pennies on parts..bit more if you change the disc shields.
Martin

[big red bus]

1st item is a Anti Roll Bar link. links antiroll bar to bottom arms.
2nd, Disc back plates in any condition are not a reason for a fail on a mot test.
3rd disc's look a tiny bit surface corroded but to me seem servicable. I would remove pads and make sure caliper piston and slides are nice and free, grease and refit. If pads sre o.k just take the top surface off them using fine emery paper and a flat surface. These will then clean up the surface of the disc after period of us.
Backs look in good condition too. Just make sure wheel cylinder is not seized, adjuster free etc and then refit and re grease and readjust. Should be as good as new in a few 100 miles.
Good luck.

[R0B]

you can buy stainless steel backplates from..http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/index.php?o ... 7&Itemid=6

[bmouthboyo]

Wow sweet that wasn't the news i was expecting lol

Is replacing the anti roll bar joint a large job? i.e. does it require special tools to remove the bush, and do i need to remove any other problematic things?

Another thing i noticed is generally the underside looks in good nick, however i have noticed some small amounts of rust near the edges. I am not 100% sure what people mean by the "sills", I assume its the far edges of the underside that then but up to the side panels? Anyway is this rust going to be a problem for the MOT?





Thanks for such sound advice

[VWCamperfan]

Just something to mention. The two washers (on either side of the anit roll bar drop link) are mounted round the wrong way. The curve of the washers should face away from the rubber, not into it.

[bmouthboyo]

Ah that will probably explain why they are both so chewed up then.

I also need a upper ball joint replacing, looks like a fidly job.

Can anyone suggest a reasonable place for the parts? GFS dont seem to have many for the T25.

cheers

[andisnewsyncro]

Like Rob said, Brickwerks is a good place for parts, always good quality from their stock list. If they haven't got it they can probably get it and good prices too.
Only downside is I think they're shut til Thursday after Bank Holiday, but check that out, I could be remembering wrong

[Red Westie]

Euro car parts.....
The Top ball joints are not to bad to replace.

[dugcati]

That's an early van you have there by the looks of things the front callipers look like they are the Teves ones

[bmouthboyo]

Hi, yea i think its a 83 reg. Anything i should know about the parts i need before purchasing?

cheers

Also any advice on the sill pics? are they ok?