The Automotive Blog

No more inspection sheets with “Brakes OK, On Road Test”

Since April 2014 the DVSA have been recommending commercial vehicles undertake 4PSV or  Truck brake tests per year!

Many operators have moved with the guidance but still over 2 years passed many commercial vehicle operators are unaware of the guidance.

The guidance states:

Document :Guide to maintaining road worthiness
Commercial goods and passenger carrying vehicles (Revised 2014)

Section 5: Safety inspection and repair facilities

Extract –
“Therefore it is normally expected that the vehicle or trailer should complete at least three successful brake efficiency tests spread throughout year in addition to the annual MOT test.”

An operator can take the decision to carry out brake tests using roller brake tests or a decelerometer like BrakeCheck.

Many bus & coach companies use a decelerometer, here at aide automotive we have sold many brake testers recently with feedback from one customer saying:

“A necessary piece of kit in today’s transport, does the job perfectly – Inwood Logistics”

BrakeCheck is portable brake tester that works from the principle of measuring deceleration or Brake Efficiency, BrakeCheck is cost effective for any commercial vehicle workshop costing as low as £470 for a PC Downloading Kit & £572 for a printer kit, BrakeCheck is ideal!

To discuss BrakeCheck options and requirements please do not hesitate to contact aide automotive on 0115 8456471

MOT Test Station in the area to be able to offer testing for HGVs and PSVs

The Old Mechanical Brake Tester Tapley Now Retired As DVSA Say A Print Out Required

For almost 100 years Tapley brake testers have been the market leading portable brake testing equipment.

Results of Tapley Brake meter tests have been accepted as evidence of braking efficiency in Courts of Law throughout the world.

But now it seems the Tapley Brake Tester may well be retired in the UK, recent guidance from the DVSA now says a brake test must be printed for inspection records.

Decelerometers have moved on significantly from the old mechanical brake testers such as Tapley Decelerometer. Being electronic BrakeCheck has a much higher accuracy and additional information such as average deceleration, a left/right pull measurement, speed at braking and stopping distance. All tests are time and date stamped.

Contact aide automotive to discuss the recent DVSA brake testing guidance and BrakeCheck. – Call 0115 8456471

MOT Tapley Brake Meter

DVSA Recommend 4 Brake Tests Per Year!!

Document :Guide to maintaining road worthiness
Commercial goods and passenger carrying vehicles (Revised 2014)

Section 5: Safety inspection and repair facilities

Extract –
“Therefore it is normally expected that the vehicle or trailer should complete at least three successful brake efficiency tests spread throughout year in addition to the annual MOT test.”

BrakeCheck is a portable brake tester that works from the principle of measuring deceleration or Brake Efficiency, BrakeCheck has been proved to be a good indication of brake performance and cost effective for any workshop. Over 15,000 BrakeCheck’s have been purchased since it’s introduction in January 2003, and is now a standard tool for any vehicle workshop.

In addition to BrakeCheck Standard which is marketed towards Car, Van Truck and Bus / Coaches, BrakeCheck For Truck &Trailers is ideal for trailer operating companies.

aide automotive also recommend the use of an Infra Red Thermometer to check individual wheels via temperature. This in conjunction with a decelerometer print out would be the perfect 3 times a year brake test for any commercial vehicle.

To discuss how BrakeCheck or the Brake Testing Equipment works or to review pricing please call us on 0115 8456471.

Brake Tester Using Brake Efficiency to Report On Truck Brakes

How to Use A Decelerometer For Trailer Brake Tests

Trailer maintenance requires to be as professional as truck maintenance, Carrying out a inspection brake test on trailer doe not mean an expensive Roller Brake Test.

Research has concluded that using a product like BrakeCheck to test trailers brakes is beneficial but will not indicate a below par efficiency on a particular wheel or brake, although using an Infra Red Thermometer as well will increase your awareness of a faulty brake or a low efficiency brake.

VOSA’s Mark Pattison has stated “A decelerometer is not the ideal method to test the braking of a vehicle and trailer combination. However it is of some use. You are correct that the checking of individual wheels would not show up in a test result. The way to use a decelerometer is to first test the drawing vehicle on its own. Then connect the trailer and the deceleration rate should be similar i.e. the trailer is doing its fair share of work. This is not an exact science but would be enough to give you confidence the trailer brakes were working.”

This system is ideal for commercial operations to improve maintenance records for trailers and increase awareness of a trailers brake performance between the annual roller brake tests. Offering a print out of the combination tractor and trailer performance with brake temperatures will improve quality procedures and health & safety paper work. It is often said in today’s age paper work to protect directors and managers from the corporate manslaughter or health and safety law is essential.
aide automotive have designed an inspection sheet for trailers using the BrakeCheck and thermometer, if you require a copy email info@aideautomotive.com with subject heading Trailer Inspection Sheet.

aide automotive also recommend to test the pressure on brake chambers, this will increase your past rate for trailer parking brakes.

To discuss trailer brake testing further call aide automotive on 0115 8456471.

aide automotives Brake Efficiency Tester BrakeCheck is the ideal way to test vehicle brakes.

VOSA are continually advising operators, commercial repairers and in house workshops to complete regular inspection sheet brake test.

Being electronic there is a much higher accuracy and additional information such as average deceleration, a left/right pull measurement, speed at braking and stopping distance. All tests are time and date stamped.

BrakeCheck can be used and is accepted by VOSA for many vehicles, in the commercial sector VOSA approve BrakeCheck for testing all commercial type vehicles on every inspection. Within the MOT centre this device is used as back up to the roller tester but used in principal on 4×4 vehicles.

Gary Moir of MSK Waste said ” Using a Brake Efficiceny Tester such as a BrakeCheck has saved this company hundreds of pounds as taking vehicles to rollers testers for an inspection brake test is unecessary.”

Contact aide automotive for a Brake Efficiency Tester question by clicking on BRAKE EFFICIENCY 

Brake Tester Uisng Brake Efficiency to Report On Truck Brakes

BrakeCheck 2 Year Warranty!

aide automotive are now pleased to offer a two year warranty on all BrakeCheck’s & Accessories

aide automotive have improved our customer service by increasing the warranty from 1 to 2 years on the BrakeCheck family & accessories!

BrakeCheck is the number one brake tester for commercial vehicle inspections sheets and with over 13,000 testers sold BrakeCheck is now the number one reliable tester on the market.

Matthew Burke Sales Director Said “Since the launch of BrakeCheck in 2001 we have been continually looking at way to improve the tester for reliability and operational, with BrakeCheck Series 2 we now have the over whelming confidence to offer a two year warranty, operationally the BrakeCheck product is at the very top of its product sector and now we feel its top for reliability.”

BrakeCheck is a portable battery-powered device that can be used by vehicle workshops, government traffic authorities, testing and inspection stations to test and report on vehicle brake efficiency. BrakeCheck is VOSA & MOT approved.

If you have any questions on why a BrakeCheck is used on commercial vehicles or within the MOT test station please click on Brake Tester to enquire or phone 0115 8456471.

January has seen a good start to BrakeCheck sales for aide automotive.

Since the return after Christmas and New Years holidays enquirys and orders have been flowing for us, BrakeCheck is ideal for any truck operator to carry out an inspection sheet brake test with ease or at a cost effective manner. says Matthew Burke of aide automotive ltd.

BrakeCheck is a portable battery-powered device that can be used by vehicle workshops, government traffic authorities, testing and inspection stations to test and report on vehicle brake efficiency. BrakeCheck is VOSA & MOT approved.

If you require an inspection sheet brake tester for your trucks or trailers call aide automotive ltd on 0115 8456471 or click on www.brake-tester.co.uk to read more or contact us.

BrakeCheck the UK’s Number 1 MOT Brake Tester (Decelerometer) is in the aide automotive’s January Sale !!
Used as a back up to the roller tester the BrakeCheck is an electronic tester that can be used to test vehicles that cannot go on the rollers or Quad, Trike bikes and Motorcycles.
Each MOT Garage requires a back up brake tester and aide automotive would like to offer this great deal to those who don?t have a tester or require upgrading their old mechanical meter such as a Tapley. Having the latest tools within the garage will be of benefit when VOSA carry out inspections.
BrakeCheck is easy to use and can also be downloaded to a PC or connected to a supplied printer for hard copy test reports at an optional cost, also for motorcycles a mounting clamp is required.

In the last year we have also seen garages part exchange the Auto Stop Mini, this is an electronic tester supplied by Tecalemit. As this tester is expensive to recalibrate and by reports hard to use, part exchanging to the BrakeCheck should pay back within 2 years.
To read more click on BrakeCheck for the main website page or click on www.brake-tester.co.uk for the dedicated website.

If you would like to purchase a BrakeCheck then call 0115 8456471 or send an email to shoponline@aideautomotive.com and we will call you back.

DOE Accpet Use of BrakeCheck For Irish Truck Operators & Repairers
After many years of use in England, Scotland and Wales we are pleased to advise the BrakeCheck decelerometer for use on commercial vehicles in Northern Ireland.

BrakeCheck has been proven to be an excellent inspection sheet brake tester for all commercial vehicles with over 11000 testers sold since 2002. With many commercial operators and repairers using the BrakeCheck to conduct a VOSA accepted brake test on every inspection, BrakeCheck is the number 1 decelerometer on the market today!

Richard Lee Compliant and Enforcement Manager of the DOE in Northern Ireland has recently accepted the use of a decelerometer for heavy goods inspection sheet brake testing. Richard states “I can confirm that a decelerometer may be adequate for checking brake efficiency on some vehicles especially if it is linked to a printer and a record of the brake test can be recorded. This would be consistent with our Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness which has a section (5) detailing safety inspection and repair facilities.”

The DOE are now advising commercial vehicle operators, commercial repairers and in house workshops to complete regular inspection sheet brake test, The BrakeCheck is the tester! BrakeCheck will conduct a Service, Secondary & parking brake test with ease and store in its memory for later printing via PC or portable printer.

To purchase a decelerometer or brake tester for inspection sheet brake testing click on  aide automotive ltd

Commercial Vehicle Brake Testing

The following criteria are required for all HGV brake testing.

All brake testing should be carried out away from the sites working area; this should be done in an area that has roughly level ground.

The MOT performance figures are for the Peak Reading:

Service Brake Bare Minimum                        50%

Secondary Brake Bare Minimum                   25%

Parking Brake Bare Minimum                        16%

Although the test requirement looks for a peak reading, you could use the relationship between the peak and average to determine brake performance, if you achieved a peak reading of say 51  – 58 this is not indicating good brakes, peak figures of 70 + can be achieved to indicate good brakes, even though high peaks are recorded if a low average is recorded (20 – 30 example only) this would indicate bad brakes or you will more than likely fail a roller brake test!

Brake Tester Position

The brake tester should be positioned in the foot well of the vehicle, preferably up against a bulkhead with the direction of travel arrow pointing in the intended direction and with the tester straight.

Vehicle Test Procedure

With the vehicle stationary, position and arm the brake tester, accelerate the vehicle at a constant rate in a straight line up to a safe site speed then apply the brakes in an emergency stop manner, hold the vehicle on the brake until the vehicle has come to a complete rest.

Arming The Brake Tester

Turn the BrakeCheck on by pressing and holding MENU until Sbr is displayed on the screen. Press ENTER, the display will now show the level indicator L-| |-, if this is not the case re-position the BrakeCheck until achieved. Press ENTER the display should now read 0.00 ± 5. As described above accelerate and brake. The peak reading will report at the end of the test, if the display still shows L-| |- you did not press ENTER!!

With the Peak reading displayed press ENTER, this will show the average reading. Pressing ENTER again shows further information.

For a Hand Brake Test press MENU twice, this is while the service brake results are displayed; the display should now show Hbr. Now go to the second paragraph under “Arming The Brake Tester” to carry out a test.

For a Secondary Brake Test press MENU three times, this is while the hand brake results are displayed, and the display should now show SEc. Now go to the second paragraph under “Arming The Decelerometer” to carry out a test.

Printing Stored Tests

BrakeCheck has a 1 – TEST MEMORY on the Service Brake, Secondary Brake and the Hand Brake Test

The BrakeCheck can output test results to a printer if required. A cable is provided with the serial printer.

To Print using the Cable Connect the supplied cable of the printer with the BrakeCheck cable

To Print the Service Brake:

If the BrakeCheck has powered-down due to inactivity:

Press   until the display shows Sbr. Press  twice until the BrakeCheck display shows Sbr and the bottom half of the shows to
lights, one on Service Brake Test and the other on Last Test Result Press  once, (this is not necessary if the unit has
not powered-down) the Peak Deceleration (Front/Rear) LED will be lit and the display will show a value, eg:

Make sure all cables are connected and turn the printer on by pressing the button on the front of the printer, a green light should now flash.

If a red light is flashing the printer needs recharging!! If you have an orange flash your paper is getting low!!

Press   once, the display will show: and the printer will print the results for the last test performed.

Now do the same for the Hand Brake or the Secondary Brake, but have the Hand brake test light and Last Test Result illuminated on the
BrakeCheck or the Service, Hand Brake & Last Test Result illuminated for the Secondary Brake .

To Purchase a Brake Tester, Decelerometer BrakeCheck click on aide automotive ltd