My car failed its MOT just before Covid due to a leaking steering rack. I was quite peeved actually since it was literally a droplet hanging, the car never needs topping up and never leaves drops where I park it. Anyway I bought a reconditioned rack and inner/outer tie rods. Fast forward through lock-down and finally managed to get an appointment. I was all set to change the rack and get an alignment done but when I looked at it again there wasn't even a drop now. So I degreased all the area of the rack and cross member, sump etc. and power washed it. Day later still no drip so I thought sod it put it in as is. Well what do you know ... it failed. On a non-functional handbrake!

I felt pretty stupid actually for not testing that before I went for the appointment. It was fine pre-lockdown so I just assumed it was still fine and I never use it since I park on the flat. It was so bad the inspector suspected it was disconnected. During lockdown I had got around to changing my other rear wheel bearing and wondered whether somehow I'd forgotten to reconnect the cable but when I check it was there. The handbrake was moving the primary cable and pulling fine on the rear pair of cables. So I thought maybe I had forgotten to adjust the shoes back up - brakes off - left side fine, freed it off and re-adjusted it anyway. Took the other side disc-drum off and 3 pieces of shoe lining fell out onto the floor and a big clump of dust!! The shoes had lost their lining completely. New shoes both sides and an adjustment saw it sail through the re-test.

I'll stick the rack and tied rods in my "parts store" for now until they really need to be done. Meanwhile back on the road, 150km round trip today on motorway, as usual didn't miss a beat.

Next on job list:

1) Front wheel bearings - parts already here
2) Chain tensioner/cam cover gasket - ditto
3) Gearbox oil level check/top-up
4) Rear fulcrum bearings - need to order
5) Should I keep the dried out paint on the roof/boot/bonnet - genuine, albeit fairly heavy, patina - or get it sprayed nice and shiny like the rest of the car ....... opinions please on that! The MOT man said "keep it original" ....