Steering arm for camper 1978 - London

[ljg]

we have recently purchased a 1978 ford camper transit (mark 2) and it just failed the MOT as the steering arm needs to be replaced. nobody has been particularly helpful in getting parts for us - does anyone know where we can find this quickly? we're hoping to get away in it for christmas!! we're based in london so somewhere local would be best,
thanks

[FredTransit]

How exactly did the steering arm fail, and was this the only major thing it failed on? Was the MOT computerised? The reason I ask (and this is a bit sneaky but not illegal), is I would go to another test station, but if you go cold (ie to one you are not well known) the van may fail on something else though. I run Mk2s and though have failures on god knows what else, actual steering arms have never been at fault. I am in west London, and have a clssic-friendly MOT station, but they are computerised now. THIS IS NOT AN OFFER OF A FAKE MOT, just to make it clear.

[ljg]

we took it back to the place it was tested at in north london - they also failed on things like the windscreen wiper jets not working properly! we fixed nearly everything that they listed but when we took it back to the first place, they couldn't do it as they had run out of mot forms. yes really. so as they were going to retest the whole thing and charge us again we decided to go closer to home (also in west london) and it's actually getting looked at today - we had the same thoughts, where we have fixed the main things and if they don't pull us up on the steering arm then we should be alright. i'm not entirely sure what they described as the problem, maybe worn or loose or something? there's a bit of give in the steering wheel so they must have picked that up. we'll see what they say, i wanted to try and get a replacement part now in case we need it fixed next week.

[FredTransit]

When you say 'give' in the steering wheel, do you mean play? IE, you can turn the steering whhel a bit before the raod wheels turn. That's very common in Mk1s and 2s, and is usually steering box related anyway. Our mechanic usually adjusts the box up before test. If the arm was loose, it should say so on the failure form. I have to go to our class 7 test station before christmas, if you want to meet me there PM me and we can mmet up.

[ljg]

yeah i think it just feels a bit loose when turning. my boyfriend is taking it to a mechanic at lunchtime who will then go and get it tested, so i've passed on that info - hopefully the mechanic can tighten it up before the test and we're alright! thanks for the help it's amazing how good these forums are for getting advice

[madmark]

it needs the box screewing in abit for the test! it cant be that bad unless the camper has done startreck miles! a new steering box is a pian its a crap job and will cost you alot of money!

[ljg]

it hasn't done that many miles, considering it's pretty old, the mechanic is calling me back later so i'll mention it to him if he has noticed and ask him to fix it for us. fingers xed!

[ljg]

it was just the ball joint for the drag link - so he's replaced it no problem! don't know why nobody else could do it!