The seller said it only needed CV shafts. The safety inspection found far more

The owner had just bought a 2010 Dodge Ram 1500 with the 5.7L engine and 259,000 km on it. He brought it to us for a safety inspection so he could get it on the road.

The seller told him all it needed to pass was the CV shafts. The body and interior look clean, so there was no reason to expect much more. We went through it the way we do every safety, and it needed alot more than just shafts...

Front and rear brake pads: Only 1 mm of pad left on the front and 2 mm on the rear. This is a safety problem. Pads that thin are close to metal-on-metal contact, which lengthens stopping distances and quickly damages the rotors.

Front and rear brake rotors: Rust covering more than 25% of the rotor surface, front and rear (photo 9). Rust where the pads should be sweeping the rotor clean means less braking surface, uneven braking and often vibration. It also fails a safety inspection.

Parking brake and right rear backing plate: The parking brake didn't work, and the right rear backing plate that holds the parking brake shoes and hardware was completely missing (photo 3). Without it, the truck can't be held reliably when parked, especially on a hill or with the transmission in neutral. This is a safety item.

Right front upper control arm: The truck has been lifted, and the right front upper control arm was touching the wheel (photos 5 and 6). Metal rubbing on a moving wheel wears both parts down and can affect steering and suspension movement. This is a safety issue.

Front coil springs and struts: Front coil springs were broken (photo 8) and the front struts were leaking. A broken spring can't hold the truck at its proper height or keep the tires planted, and a leaking strut no longer controls bounce. Together they hurt handling and braking, and a broken spring can shift and damage nearby parts or a tire.

Right front lower control arm bushing: The bushing was torn and worn out. Bushings keep the control arm located. When they fail, the wheel can shift under braking and over bumps, which causes clunks, wandering steering and uneven tire wear.

Front sway bar links: The left front sway bar link was missing its rubber and the right side was knocking. Worn links cause noise and let the truck lean more in corners, which matters in a tall, heavy vehicle.

Front CV axle boot: A front CV axle boot was ripped open and leaking grease (photo 10). Once the grease escapes and dirt and water get in, the CV joint wears out quickly and can eventually fail. This was the one item the seller had mentioned.

Battery and wiring: The battery wasn't secured and a wire was disconnected and hanging loose (photo 1). A loose battery can shift and short against metal, and a loose wire can rub through or touch something it shouldn't. Both are possible fire hazards.

Exhaust: Multiple exhaust leaks at the muffler and tailpipe, including a hole in the rear muffler (photo 4). Exhaust leaks are noisy, and leaking fumes can find their way into the cab. They also fail a safety inspection.

Exterior lights: A reverse light, the high-mount centre brake light and a licence plate bulb were out, and there was water inside the headlamps. Working lights let other drivers see what you're doing, and water in a headlamp dims the beam and can damage the bulb and housing over time.

Rear axle seals: Both rear axle seals were leaking (photos 2 and 3). This isn't a safety item, but we don't know how long they've been leaking. Gear oil leaking out lowers the axle's oil level and can soak the rear brakes. Since the rear brakes are already apart for the new backing plate and shoes, doing the seals at the same time adds little labour.

Engine oil leak: An oil leak from the rear main seal area (photo 7). It wasn't forming drops, so it doesn't fail the safety, but we told the owner about it so he can keep an eye on his oil level and watch for it getting worse.

• Replaced light bulbs that were not working
• Installed battery hold down bracket
• Removed loose wire
• Replaced front strut and coil assembly
• Replaced front sway bar links
• Replaced front CV axles
• Replaced right front lower control arm
• Replace front/rear brake pads and rotors
• Replaced parking brake cables, shoes, backing plate, and hardware
• Replaced rear axle seals
• Performed wheel alignment

• Customer will replace the headlights
• Customer will repair/replace exhaust
• Customer will tackle issue with rubbing upper control arm

The full list of repairs to get this truck through the safety came to close to $9,000 after tax. The body and interior really are clean, but the mechanical problems outweigh the looks by a long way.

If you're buying a used vehicle, get a pre-purchase inspection before you hand over the money. A truck can look great and still need a lot underneath, and the seller's word isn't the same as having it on a hoist.

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