CV joints, boots (gaiters) and driveshafts are a common MOT failure. All drive-shafts and prop-shafts have a flexible joint at either end which needs continuous lubrication. These joints (CV joints) have a rubber boot to hold the grease within the joint itself. These split over time and allow the grease to escape.
Yes you can, however, eventually the grease contained inside the boot will leak out and cause a dry CV joint which will soon fail. When you hear a “clunking” noise during turns, the CV joint is bad. Just replace the entire axle shaft which are relatively inexpensive now.
Once split the protective CV joint grease escapes and dirt, road grime and water can enter the joint and cause the CV joint to wear rapidly and fail prematurely.
From my experience of CV boots, you need to replace them immediately if you want to keep the CV joint it covers. It doesn't take long for dirt to destroy the joint once it gets inside the boot.
Rear view mirrors and wing mirrors must be secure and provide adequate views to the rear and side. The vehicle will be inspected to check that the boot or tailgate can be closed properly. Brakes are also a worryingly common area for cars to fail there MOTs.
Universal CV Boot Repair Kit | CV Gaiter Split | How to Repair
What counts as a fail on MOT?
Your vehicle will fail if the test result lists 'dangerous' or 'major' problems with your vehicle. You might not be allowed to drive until you fix the problems. You might also get a list of 'minor' or 'advisory' problems to monitor or fix in the future.
It doesn't cover the condition of the engine, clutch and gearbox. To find your nearest authorised MOT test centre, visit these websites: England, Wales and Scotland – UK MOT.
Any CV boot leaking grease from a crack or hole is bad. How long can you drive on a leaking CV boot? One month should be enough to drive a leaking cv boot..
CV Boots should be inspected regularly and replaced immediately if torn. This type of preventative repair can save a lot of money and frustration down the road.
The CV joints play a critical role in connecting the transaxle to the drive wheels via inner and outer joints, transferring power while allowing for up and down motion of the suspension. But it's not always a worn boot that causes CV joints to fail.
CV axle boots last for quite some time (80,000 miles) and are not items needing periodic replacement. But you absolutely should inspect them at least once a year, or even more often on cars with high mileage. They are most affected by prolonged off-road driving or heavy use in transportation-industry conditions.
It really is just that the cost to get to the boot is high in terms of labor. It can easily be 140$ of labor to disassemble the wheel down to the knuckle and access the outer boot.
No, they are not any good. I once had a car with cracked rubber in the CV boot. It was replaced by a mechanic, and they replaced the grease as well. However, the repair didn't last the test of time and the thing that held the CV boot in place cracked in half after few years of use.
When shifting from drive to reverse, a worn-out CV joint makes clunking sounds, which can be deafening when accelerating in turns. Cracks or breaks in the rubber or plastic boots around the CV joint may be heard. Under heavy acceleration, the car may also shudder or shake.
If a CV boot tears, grease can leak out and moisture and dirt can get in. If left unattended, it's only a matter of time before the joint fails from lack of lubrication or corrosion. When that happens, the whole axle may need to be replaced.
Remove items in the boot and from the backseat – this will give access to the spare wheel if required. Also, note that items such as car seats secured by a seatbelt should be removed prior to an MOT test so the tester can test the seatbelts on the back seats easily.
MOT changes 2023: Major update to test and check services adds safety recall warnings. A major change to the MOT process means drivers will now be warned of outstanding safety recalls on their cars as part of the annual test.
If you want your car to be repaired elsewhere, you can still get it retested for free at the original test centre, as long as you return it before the end of the next working day. You can only take your car elsewhere if the current MOT certificate is still valid and the MOT test didn't report a dangerous defect.
If your car has failed its MOT, it will need to be re-tested for MOT certification. An MOT retest or partial MOT retest can be carried out within ten working days. This ensures you have enough time to make any required repairs prior to the retest for a pass.
You can read about the new defect categories, including the category descriptions and how it affects the test result. If a vehicle only has minor defects, it doesn't fail the MOT test. It doesn't matter how many minor defects it has.
They can access a national database which has details of all registration numbers. If your vehicle does not have an up-to-date MOT, then the ANPR camera will flag this, and you may be stopped by the police.
