Suspension MOT failures
The second most common failure area. UK potholes crack springs and wear bushes, and the faults are rarely obvious from the driver's seat.
Checked against the MOT inspection manual and GOV.UK guidance · Updated November 2026
What the tester checks
With the car on a lift and the wheels unloaded, the tester checks every suspension component for condition, security and wear, using a pry bar and wheel-play detector plates to reveal movement you'd never feel on a test drive.
- Coil, leaf and torsion springs – broken, cracked, insecure or wrongly fitted
- Shock absorbers (dampers) – missing, insecure, leaking or damaged
- Suspension arms, wishbones and links – damaged, cracked, corroded or distorted
- Bushes and ball joints – excessive play, split or deteriorated
- Anti-roll bars and drop links
- Wheel bearings – excessive play or roughness
- Drive shafts and CV joint gaiters – split or missing boots, damaged shafts
- Suspension mountings and subframes – including corrosion near mounting points
Common suspension failures
| Defect found | Usual category |
|---|---|
| Coil spring broken, but end still seated | Major |
| Coil spring broken so it could foul the tyre or brake hose | Dangerous |
| Shock absorber leaking with signs of damage, missing or insecure | Major |
| Suspension ball joint with excessive wear | Major |
| Ball joint so worn it's likely to separate | Dangerous |
| Suspension bush excessively worn or deteriorated | Major |
| Anti-roll bar link insecure or ball joint worn | Major |
| Wheel bearing with excessive play or roughness | Major |
| CV joint gaiter split or missing | Major |
| Excessive corrosion on a suspension component or within 30cm of a mount | Major |
Broken coil springs
A broken coil spring is the classic modern MOT failure. Springs usually break near the bottom coil, often on the front, after years of corrosion and pothole impacts. Many drivers notice nothing except a knock or the car sitting slightly low on one corner. Springs should be replaced in axle pairs so the car sits level and handles evenly.
Shock absorbers
Oil misting on a damper body is normal; oil running down it means the seals have gone. The MOT doesn't test damping efficiency directly, but a leaking or damaged shock absorber is recorded. Like springs, replace them in pairs.
Bushes and ball joints
Rubber bushes perish and split with age. Worn ball joints show as play when the tester levers the arm or uses the shaker plates. Many modern cars use wishbones with the ball joint and bushes built in, so the repair is a complete arm – more expensive in parts, quicker to fit.
Repair costs
| Repair | Typical cost | DIY? |
|---|---|---|
| Front coil springs (pair) | £150–£350 | With spring compressors – risky |
| Rear coil springs (pair) | £120–£280 | Often |
| Front shock absorbers (pair) | £200–£450 | With experience |
| Rear shock absorbers (pair) | £150–£350 | Often |
| Lower suspension arm / wishbone (each) | £100–£250 | Often |
| Anti-roll bar drop link (each) | £40–£100 | Yes |
| Wheel bearing (each) | £120–£280 | Needs a press on many cars |
| CV boot (each) | £70–£150 | Messy, but possible |
| Wheel alignment after arm/bush work | £40–£80 | No |
Typical UK independent garage prices including parts, labour and VAT, 2026. Main dealers and premium/4x4 vehicles cost more.