MOT

[stewy1984]

I had mine in for its mot on tuesday, got to the brake test, so the guy jumped in with me driving, with his tester. Did the brake test fine and then he asked me to drive upto 15mph and pull the handbrake on! that didnt sound to clever to me, it failed anyway and is in for a retest tomorrow.

does anyone think that handbrake test sounds abit dodgy or is it normal? /i dread to think what they do to our cars when we arnt there to watch them.

[landroversforever]

Worse than dodgey ... the hand brake should never be put on until stopped! especailly not at speed!!

[errol209]

Worse than dodgey ... the hand brake should never be put on until stopped! especailly not at speed!!

You're lucky to be alive - LR specifically say not to do it (the bolts aren't big) - but having consulted the manual it's all OK . I thought that the tester could opt for parking it on a hill?

[FITZ]

there was a post about this on one of the LR forums and if I remember it had an official answer from the VOSA. Worth doing a few forum searches or someone on here will have the link I'm sure.

[Retroanaconda]

Find yourself an MOT tester who knows how Land Rovers work, it's nicer to your handbrake/centre diff

[LandyLee]

Find yourself an MOT tester who knows how Land Rovers work, it's nicer to your handbrake/centre diff

we use the decelerometer for the service brakes and use a hill to test the hand brake ,, I`ll check with vosa tomorrow as for official answer but no way would I pull handbrake up on customers when I MOT

[stewy1984]

well cheers guys, retest tomorrow, so i will ask him if he will test it another way, if not i will go elsewhere.

[FITZ]

This is a reply to a letter to VOSA re. testing Land Rover / Range Rover handbrakes. This was sent as some testers are misinterpreting the latest test requirements and are driving at 20mph and applying the transmission brake wrecking the transmission. The gist of the VOSA response is whilst the foot brake should be tested by driving with a decelerometer but the hand brake is safer tested on the rolling road at 4mph.

Thank you for your query regarding 4x4 parking brake testing which has been

passed to me for a response.

When a vehicle with more than one axle permanently engaged is presented for

test then the tester should test the brake performance by carrying out a

road test using a decelerometer (3.7B of the Light Vehicle inspection

manual). The nominated tester assesses the service brake for grab, judder,

severe pull on the steering wheel or if the vehicle swerves appreciably.

The decelerometer will record a reading when the vehicle is brought to rest

from a speed of 20mph (32kph). This test is carried out under conditions

which are probably no different than may be required of the vehicle in

normal use and should not have any adverse affect on the vehicle. In the

case of a transmission parking brake the inspection manual gives specific

advise in the information column of this section.

However there is further, dedicated, information in section 3.7A page 24

of the inspection manual, on how to test a transmission parking brake using

a roller brake tester. Though the wheels are in motion they are only

rotating at a speed of approx 4 mph and nominated testers are advised to

release the brake as soon as the minimum efficiency requirement is reached

when progressively applying the brake .

The parking brake must be tested and these methods have been used for many

years. I am not aware of recorded incedents of damage being caused to these

types of brakes when using these methods.

I hope this information is of use to you. However if you have knowledge of

recorded incidents where damage has been caused then obviously VOSA would

be pleased to hear about them in order to decide if any remedial action is

required. I would be grateful if you could send full details of all

recorded incidents to our Vehicle Specific Information Engineer Martyn Pegg

(Martyn.pegg@vosa.gsi.gov.uk) who will fully investigate the reason for

these sudden occurrences.

Regards

Richard Dixon

Standards Engineer

VOSA

Testing Standards Policy & Strategy Team"

[Retroanaconda]

At 4mph there shouldn't be any issue, especially with a standard LR handbrake.

Doing it at 20mph with an X-Brake fitted might be harmful to the transfer box though

[western]

Testing Transmission (prop shaft) Handbrakes

10. Carry out the following procedure

Place the wheels to be tested in the rollers.

Run both sets of rollers together to align the vehicle.

Chock the other wheels of the vehicle fore and aft.

Run both sets of rollers together.

Keep the handbrake ratchet disengaged for as long as the brake is applied.

Apply the brake slowly and progressively without causing transmission snatch.

Record the appropriate results of the brake test via the VTS Device, which will calculate the results. Where the VTS Device is unserviceable see the introduction section paragraph 3. 10. The transmission brake 'parking' efficiency is too low (see Brake Efficiency Table in section 3.10)

Note: To avoid possible damage, the parking brake efficiency requirement must be calculated using the appropriate vehicle weight before the brake is tested. Testing of the brake must cease as soon as the minimum efficiency requirement is reached when progressively applying the brakes.

copied from the MOT testers Manual http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_370.htm