Using 205 Pas As Quickrack

[steve@cornwall 100]

Went to pick up a set of 15" speedlines from a mate yesterday and mentioned in passing that I was thinking of using my pas rack- minus rams- as a quick rack. His advise was DON'T !!!- as it was designed for power steering use apparently it should earn a prohibition of use at MOT test, under construction and use regulations.

I'm sure we're all used to differing opinions from mates, enthusiasts etc. but this mate is a qualified mot tester and works as an examiner at our local VOSA test station! Guess I'll bin that idea then.

[huxley309 0]

Im sure i know of a few that have done this and been 100% fine so long as you blank off the relevant holes and drain the system of any fluid

[danpug 1]

I heard of one case of somebody being pulled up for it on an mot, could have been somebody on here?

[j_turnell 137 3 Cars]

There is absolutely no problem in running this setup, loads of people do it including myself and have no problems with MOT. I really cant see the big issue in removing a Ram and blocking off a couple of pipes, as long as the whole system is removed, i.e pump etc.

[steve@cornwall 100]

Im sure i know of a few that have done this and been 100% fine so long as you blank off the relevant holes and drain the system of any fluid

 

I got the idea of using the pas rack from a couple of threads on the forum, so thought I'd post this as food for thought. I've had many conversations with this guy about how many things are failed by testers that are actually outside the scope of the test, he actually reckons that more vehicles would be passed by vosa than a testing garage! As my car is only used for daily driving I don't think the benefits of the system would be worth the risk of a failure and having to replace a pas rack,lower column etc with original. (the tester at my usual garage is a scrutineer also so maybe more clued-up on this than usual too!)

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

I've got a PAS rack on my car with the ram removed , pipe holes blocked off & stud for ram sawn off & its been through two MOLTs (one last week) with no problems.

 

If you leave some of the obvious PAS lumps connected it is a fail point but with everything removed I can't see how they can fail it.

 

I'll ask when I take mine in for the retest, after its got a new ticket of course.

 

Graham.

[jackherer 543]

I heard of one case of somebody being pulled up for it on an mot, could have been somebody on here?

yeah it was me

 

my mates failed when I took it in and I ended up fitting a standard rack to get it to pass.

 

however I've had several 205s with pas quickracks get through the mot fine, including one at the same garage that failed my mates car!

 

so technically yes they should fail but most places dont seem to bother. I dont know what the legal situation would be, the cars are insured with the racks declared so its a grey area in some ways.

[Hilgie 16 2 Cars]

If it's a proper job one can hardly see the difference between a normal and a PAS-rack with everyting removed (including ram!)

[Wurzel 16]

I'd better sort my MOT testers out then as on three occasions now, they've passed the steering rack (still with ram fitted and holes open to the elements).

 

I will get around to removing the ram at some point, probably when it fails it's MOT (if it ever will). If you think about it, should the power steering pump fail, you'll have no power steering. You'll still have a steering facility though as it will be a fail safe system. Just because you've removed the hdyraulic lines etc, it's still going to work. The only thing I can think of that might happen is the inside of the ram corroding but the car will have to be sat for a long time for this to happen. I've had mine sitting for six months before and have had zero problems with it.

 

I guess you can only go by what the testers tell you as ultimately you have to please them. Personally I think it's a load of bollox what they're saying.

Edited May 22, 2006 by Wurzel

[jackherer 543]

I guess you can only go by what the testers tell you as ultimately you have to please them. Personally I think it's a load of bollox what they're saying.

 

I'd like to hear Taffycrooks input on this as a tester that properly knows pugs...

[Dream Weaver 2]

They never mentioned mine in last weeks MOT

[Simes 248 2 Cars]

Mine passed last year.

Spoke with several mechanics and it would normally fail on this.

Wurzel , your steering must be so heavy with the ram still attached.

[Rik 0]

Anyone know where to buy these new? or where to buy the actual quick raks?

 

Rik

[Wurzel 16]

Mine passed last year.

Spoke with several mechanics and it would normally fail on this.

Wurzel , your steering must be so heavy with the ram still attached.

 

It is heavy but not unduly. The ram is offering no resistance as I've not blocked the holes. I will get around to removing the ram at some point though.

 

From the results posted here it would seem it's a case of how the rules are interpreted and/or if they can be arsed