Help me save Stella

jakesilvester · Jan 13, 2026

Hello all,

My Jeep Wrangler TJ called Stella has failed its MOT and the MOT garages I am taking her too are rather saying they aren’t confident they can do the repair and/ or they can’t get the parts. Anyone on here have any ideas or connections to get her repaired? Picture attached of the failed MOT.

Many thanks in advance, lets work together to try and stop her from dying in 2026!

GATORB8 · Jan 13, 2026

Sounds like you need a rear drum brake wheel cylinder (likely the leak), four sway bar end links, and your front track bar.

All have several inexpensive aftermarket options available through Rock-Auto in the states. Looks like they can do UK shipping either direct or third party.

None of the repairs sound like something any competent mechanic couldn't do.

Chris · Jan 13, 2026

That's easy stuff. What kind of shop can't handle that work? I'm going to assume it's because you can't easily get parts for a TJ in England?

All of those parts are easily available from Rock Auto. You could find them just about anywhere, the trick will be finding someone that will import parts to the UK. Maybe @Reign Mack or one of our UK members knows.

macleanflood · Jan 13, 2026

Or anyone can do... professional mechanic or not this is pretty basic stuff.

-Mac

CharlesHS · Jan 13, 2026

With the exception of the tracbar tie rod end the sway bar links can easily be shipped.
The contaminated brake drum may be caused by a leaking brake wheel cylinder OR an axle seal.
Locate a few Jeep owners in your area and get a wrenching party together.

Reign Mack · Jan 13, 2026

Seems like pretty basic stuff, may be better off sourcing all the parts yourself over ebay and find a good local mechanic.

Chris · Jan 13, 2026

The consensus is in, your current mechanic sucks.

Reign Mack · Jan 13, 2026

yeah if it were something niche that doesn't get done much over here like a lift or regear I would seek a garage with a "Jeep Guy" but drum brakes and sway links just aint it. Are you using one of the large chains like Halfords and Kwikfit,? Had a mechanic in Kwikfit years ago looking at my hood as if it were the rosetta stone, had show him how to operate the latches to lift it

hear · Jan 13, 2026

Standard deal: fly me there, I'll do the repair for free. The only condition is you'll have to coordinate with my transmission rebuild trip to Guam.

macleanflood · Jan 13, 2026

hear said:
Standard deal: fly me there, I'll do the repair for free. The only condition is you'll have to coordinate with my transmission rebuild trip to Guam.

You forgot Oregon...

-Mac

hear · Jan 13, 2026

macleanflood said:
You forgot Oregon...

-Mac

<checks mailbox for plane tix>

No, I didn't.

jakesilvester · Wednesday at 1:37 AM

GATORB8 said:
Sounds like you need a rear drum brake wheel cylinder (likely the leak), four sway bar end links, and your front track bar.

All have several inexpensive aftermarket options available through Rock-Auto in the states. Looks like they can do UK shipping either direct or third party.

None of the repairs sound like something any competent mechanic couldn't do.

Thank you Gator, I havdn't heard of that site before so I will search what I need on there. For the axel parts does it matter that mine is right hand drive?

jakesilvester · Wednesday at 1:38 AM

CharlesHS said:
With the exception of the tracbar tie rod end the sway bar links can easily be shipped.
The contaminated brake drum may be caused by a leaking brake wheel cylinder OR an axle seal.
Locate a few Jeep owners in your area and get a wrenching party together.

I love that

jakesilvester · Wednesday at 1:40 AM

Reign Mack said:
yeah if it were something niche that doesn't get done much over here like a lift or regear I would seek a garage with a "Jeep Guy" but drum brakes and sway links just aint it. Are you using one of the large chains like Halfords and Kwikfit,? Had a mechanic in Kwikfit years ago looking at my hood as if it were the rosetta stone, had show him how to operate the latches to lift it

I always stay away from Halfords and Kwikfit! Maybe I'll find a jeep / 4x4 shop around Swindon

GATORB8 · Wednesday at 7:52 AM

jakesilvester said:
Thank you Gator, I havdn't heard of that site before so I will search what I need on there. For the axel parts does it matter that mine is right hand drive?

Without personal experience I can't say for sure with out looking it up. Since the steering is flipped, I would assume the track bar would need to be mirror imaged the opposite direction so that probably is.

Nothing jumps out at me as a reason the sway links or the wheel cylinder/axle seal would be any different.

While the OEM parts are no longer available, you can look up the part numbers to cross reference. A bunch of factory parts lists are here:
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads...ice-manuals-fsm-technical-documentation.4618/

You'll see the RHD specific parts identified in the legend:

Once you have the part number, you can enter it in the "Part Number Search" tab on Rock Auto and it will show you the matching parts. The "OEM Interchange" numbers when you hit more info on a part will list the OEM part numbers.

Often, if you use the part drill down on RockAuto, it will list if a part is hand specific, like this:

TheBoogieman · Wednesday at 8:22 AM

I bet @jonny jeep could tell you where to get the parts you need.

hear · Wednesday at 11:40 AM

macleanflood said:
You forgot Oregon...

-Mac

But seriously, any time you're ready.

Reign Mack · Wednesday at 12:03 PM

Chris said:
The consensus is in, your current mechanic sucks.

To be fair I would rather a mechanic admit they cant do something then say they can and screw your shit up

jakesilvester said:
I always stay away from Halfords and Kwikfit! Maybe I'll find a jeep / 4x4 shop around Swindon

There is nothing on that major or minor list which requires a 4by4 shop,Use this place to find the correct parts, purchase them from all the dealers on ebay and take it to decent car mechanic. You could fit the sway bar links yourself. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/32380755...pid=5337789113&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1

hear · Wednesday at 3:45 PM

Reign Mack said:
To be fair I would rather a mechanic admit they cant do something then say they can and screw your shit up

That's completely valid but at the same time if she can't do this job then what jobs can she do??

aquatarkus · Wednesday at 3:47 PM

Hi , the list on the MOT failure is all pretty basic stuff, any competent mechanic should be able to do those items, in fact you could do the works required yourself none are that difficult.
If they can't then maybe they should be looking at a different job.

As suggested here you can get all the parts required from RockAuto in the Sates or JeepChrysler parts in Bicester UK (https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_ssn=jeep-chrysler&store_name=jeepchrysler&store_cat=15884416018), you also have Lighthouse Jeep Parts in Diss in Norfolk (https://www.lighthousejeepparts.co.uk/) Jeepey in Hull (https://jeepey.com/).

You might also want to post on the Jeep Wrangler TJ UK Facebook group,(https://www.facebook.com/groups/2297190037326044) were a friendly and helpful bunch. But this site is a wonderful source of information and help.

Regards
Keith W
From Feltham, West London UK

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