I have had two “rótulas” on order for over a month with my local garage “taller” here in Costa Tropical or Costa Granada, Spain. A rótula translates as a “ball and socket joint” which makes it one of very many spare parts that might be applicable to the general underside of my car.
After my fourth weekly enquiry as to whether the parts had turned up had received the same reply that, with luck, they would turn up next week, I told the ever friendly Antonio that, before my tyre became completely illegal and I was fined by the Guardia Civil, I would obtain the parts from the UK. He said he would be delighted to fit them.
The best dealer for TATA spare parts in England is Dennis Leslie who founded http://www.partspeople.co.uk/index.htm . I agreed that I had better send him a photo of the actual part that I needed, because ball and socket was a little vague, so I sent him this photo and outlined the piece the garage had told me to get.
Spares needed in Spain
Within half an hour Dennis had sent me a quote of £34.43 each, a discount off the list price, which compares to more than €100 each (I need two) which I was quoted in Spain. In case you have the same problem, they are called “a Tie Rod”. Interestingly, Dennis also wrote the following:-
I do not understand the delay in obtaining these parts as they are the same for both RHD & LHD vehicles? Is it a Tata dealer that is doing the work on your vehicle? We have quite a few Tata owners from Spain asking for spare parts all stating the same problem as yourself!
