Is this an MOT failure ?

I went to replace the old air extracting pipe from the turbo housing with a new piece Turbodog kindly got hold for me.
And noticed I had a hole in the nearside rear inner arch close to the top of the suspension turret.
At first I thought it was corrosion, but how can it be as it's fibreglass / plastic. Perhaps a large stone got thrown up and broke through it?
Anyway, do you think this is an MOT failure as it's so close to the top of the turret?
I was thinking of fibre glassing the hole from both inside and out, then undersealing it.
What I dont want to do is to overlook the importance of it if it's a safety issue.
Photo below, views anyone...please???

I don't think that's a problem, not actually the turret itself. I would floss it and paint as you say IMO

It's where the turret has deflected and moved I'm afraid to say!

If you look at the bracket, I've circled where you can see that it's moved - basically the old rust line indicates where the bracket would have sat on the turret itself (The bracket hasn't moved as it's attached to the engine cover / shelf). The turret has bent and moved inwards by a degree or two - hence you can see the line in the rust.

If you check carefully underneath the car I think what you'll find is that the box section up inside the arch has either bent or allowed the bolts to pull through slightly.

This is exactly what happened to my car - we think it was the result of repairing the box section itself and maybe the heat used when it was welded. Opinion seems to be that there was a structural glue used (plus reinforcing bolts) that has broken down and then allowed it to move.

I still haven't got round to fixing it. The easiest way to be honest is probably to drop the rear subframe, brace the turrets and then reinforce and attach within a new (or strengthened) box section.

Let me know if you want more info, photos etc.

Oh I should add of course that you need to make sure any repair does get to the root of the problem - ie reinforcing the attachment of the turret to the box section. If you don't it will pull apart again and this is definitely structural.

ive seen this type of damage befor but in the front compartment. chassie to turret arm had been bent upwards and had cracked the front floor panel.
i would start with a wheel alinement geometry check as this area seems to have suffered some impact or shock. the rerpair of the engine bay fiberglass panel is straight forward. pm sent.

Thanks for the replies.
I've checked it again and I cant see any serious rusting of the box section, so I'm still a bit puzzled as to why it's moved.
Also, I notice the distance between the top of the tyre and the bottom of the wheel arch is higher on the nearside (where the problem is) than the offside.

[BIG_MVS]

Can you put a strut brace across both rear turrets to support it?

Question is, how long has it been like that? Have you been over any big pot holes or anything recently?

Thats a good question. It may have been like it for years, I've owned the car 8 years this year and only took the turbo extractor piping off to replace it. Otherwise I'd never have known.

Yes a brace would be good, who does them for GTAs? Looked at David G. website but no luck. Anyone know of a source ?? Sounds like a good preventative measure.

Simon Autos I beleive, he does Fraonts as well as rears, 256 Euro each incl tax..
I might want one too, fancy trying to generate a group buy?

Looking at the picture if the tester spots it, that cracking would be classed as a MoT failure as it is within 30cm of a suspension mounting.
As others have said find the cause before atempting a repair.

There is something that looks like a strut brace from an A610 on the Dieppe special offer list- can't remember the price though, might be the standard cross member though.
Lee

Someone else mention that it could be heat related.

Question is, how do you re-postion the top of the strut ?

In my instance you can clearly see the exact position where it should sit based on marks from the bracket and where certain areas have been overpainted.

Actually moving the turret and tightening to the box section probably means bracing it against something solid and cranking it back into position. In all honesty you could probably do it with a cut down wooden sleeper and a car jack - I'd heat the lower section of the turret first though as they splay out from the centre of the car in structure like this:

\_[@]_/

There's not much metal at the base of each turret. The [@] represents the engine obviously

Main thing is working out how to secure the top of the turret and make sure it doesn't give way again. I'm no further down the line in this respect than you, so it'll be interesting to compare notes.

Simon Autos I beleive, he does Fraonts as well as rears, 256 Euro each incl tax..
I might want one too, fancy trying to generate a group buy?

Sounds like a good preventative measure to reinforce the strength of the top part of the suspension.

256 EUR sounds a lot for what in essence, is just a fabricated bar with a couple of holes in it.
Perhaps we could commission Clee to manufacture a few? What do think Clee ?

Took the rear wheel off this evening to examine the underside.

Looks like the small box section that the strut section bolts to, has come away (arrowed below)

[img][img]http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm226/pgoldsmith_photo/PICT0457hole.jpg[/img][/img]

It appears to have lifted slightly which has allowed the strut section to move inwards.
Do you think this small box section can have a plate welded on the top to strengthen the area? And what secures the small box section (arrowed) to the car?? is it bonded to the fibreglass ???

Big worry is that it gives way altogther and the rear end collapses.