During the MOT 3 years ago

So all this has taken 3 years.

Must have past another 2 MOT's since.

If there was a serious isuue you would be dead by now.

My suggestion is to go back to the beginning and assume something broke or shifted when the MOT tester was shaking and levering the front end.

Doubtful a spring broke, it would or should have been spotted by now, but something gave way or moved and its never been diagnosed properly and people have been fixing things that weren't broke since then.

I'd remove all suspension bolts one by one first of all, especially pivot bolts, inspect and replace them in exactly the position they were removed (eccentrics) from, and i'd be examining everything steering/susp/subframes carefully for any signs of rust staining from a crack that shouldn't exist.

I'd also block the front end up securely and run the vehicle in gear whilst observing the wheels and driveshafts, also check driveshafts and CV joints carefully.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if the car had an impact with a kerb or similar at an oblique angle previously and things are out of true or slightly bent and its not been spotted, maybe an hour with a tape measure might illuminate things, first off check wheelbase both sides.

Lastly i find it very useful if anything about the way a car handles or feels to get an assistant to drive it for me over a reasonable distance whilst i follow in another vehicle and observe how the car behaves from all angles over various terrain, things like crabbing and poor shockers or a weak spring show up like a sore thumb doing this.

edit, and don't neglect to fully check the rear end too.

Edited by gordonbennet on 20/10/2014 at 16:13