The Automotive Blog

BrakeCheck is probably the number one decelerometer for MOT garages as back up to the roller brake tester.

It is by a legal requirement for all MOT garages to have a back up to the roller brake tester and to have facility to test brakes of vehicles that cannot be tested on the roller brake tester. Such vehicles are 4 wheeled drives and vehicles with low suspension.

BrakeCheck is also approved for Class 1 & 2, quad and tri bike MOT testing.

BrakeCheck replaces the old traditional mechanical meter such as Tapley.

With over 10,000 brake testers sold, BrakeCheck is the number 1 decelerometer for an MOT Garage.

aide automotive market the BrakeCheck.

BrakeCheck the MOT Garages Number 1 Decelerometer

Heavy vans have the worst MoT pass rate of any vehicle type seen on UK roads, so commercial vehicle workshops could get new business if they aim their direct marketing at van users, according to the Retail Motor Industry Federation. 

Data from the UK’s Vehicle and Operator Services Agency show vans between 3.0 and 3.5 tonnes had failure rate 44.7%, the worst of any vehicle in the year 2007-2008. 

Stephen Coles, head of the RMIF’s MoT technical operations says that high failure rate clearly shows a lack of maintenance.  “Owners may not realise that prevention could be cheaper than cure in the long run.  This means that with correctly targeted marketing, commercial vehicle repairers could generate new business.”

aide automotive offer workshop test tools for commercial garages, BrakeCheck, ABS Sesnsor Tester, Midtronics Battery Testers and diagnostics tools are mention a few.

To improve commercial vehilce maintenance any of the above products would be of value to a commercial workshop stated Matthew Burke Sales Director of aide automotive ltd.

Fleet maintenance is crucial in running a safe, efficient and cost effective transport operation. The penalties for your failure to do so, or your failure to the adherence of your Operator License requirements are severe, and can result in the closure of your business.

Drivers and Operators must have a system in place to be able to report promptly any defects or symptoms of defects that could adversely affect the safe operation of their vehicles.

Safety inspections must include those items covered by the appropriate Department for Transport annual test. They should be pre-planned preferably using a time based programme and must be regularly monitored particularly in the early stages. There must be a system to ensure that unroadworthy vehicles are removed from service. Any remedial work carried out arising from safety inspections must be the subject of a written record.

The above text is extracted from the Transports Friend Website.

aide automotive’s products help operators complete vehicle inspections, BrakeCheck is highly accepted by VOSA for inspection sheet brake testing, other products such as TrailerCheck can test and prep a trailer for inspections or MOT.

Brake Light Check is a low cost easy to install device to check brake lights are operational.

Brake efficiency and balance is usually checked on a roller brake tester. In certain cases where a roller brake tester may not be used (for example on certain 4-wheel drive vehicles) it may be necessary to check brake efficiency and balance on a road test, with a portable decelerometer.

What Is It?

The Tapley Brake Test Meter is a scientific instrument, indisputable in its accuracy as it is based on one of the basic laws of applied physics. It consists of a finely balanced pendulum free to respond to any changes in speed or angle, working through a quadrant gear train to rotate a needle round a dial. To damp out all vibration, the instrument is filled with a special fluid not sensitive to changes in temperature. No maintenance is necessary. The same meter can be used to test all types of vehicles, from heavy trucks and buses to vans and passenger cars. It needs no electrical connections and it’s so portable that you can take the Tapley Meter to the vehicle instead of the other way around.

How Does It Work?

To set the instrument for a brake test, start by loosening the two butterfly nuts at the sides of the swivel-mounting bracket. Tilt the head until the main needle (with arrow) is set at 3.5 if the unit is in meters or 13.4 if in feet with the face of the instrument JUST BACK FROM THE VERTICAL. This is important because it can be set with the face nearly horizontal, but it would then be near the end stop and would not move anticlockwise. When set in this manner the butterfly nuts can be tightened again, and the instrument is ready to start the test as pictured to the left.

With the main needle set, the recording needle (without arrow) should be turned clockwise by means of the chrome knob in the middle of the dial until it is against the left hand side of the main needle. The vehicle is then driven along a level road at about 20 miles per hour or 30 kph, and the brakes fully applied by means of the foot brake pedal only. When the vehicle has stopped the brake efficiency reading can be taken from the figure shown by the recording needle on the inner brake scale. Stopping distance readings are taken from the outer scale figures. A similar reading should now be taken from a lower speed using the handbrake only.

Tapley Testers have now been replaced with mordern electronic testers such as BrakeCheck from aide automotive ltd

Testing batteries of any vehicle is a great start to confirm vehicle efficiency. With increased battery technology testing batteries is now a scientific test. Using a multi meter is an unreliable test, and also with testing comes proving.

Our testers can provide a print out for your customer or records. Midtronics Battery Testers can be used on any type of vehicle, from cars, motorcycles to light or heavy commercials.

Critical parts like tyres and brakes can always be replaced before they fail, but what about a battery? Using a Midtronics battery tester, it will be possible to identify the efficiency of a battery at service or replacement level and the customer can be quickly advised of the current status of the battery and its future functionality. All data can be detailed on an optional   infra red printer or downloaded to a PC.

A Midtronics battery tester is the most up to date and cost effective and easy to use tester. The unique technology makes testing of discharged batteries possible, and once tested, a hard copy print out is available for the customer.

Midtronics test method allows battery testing and diagnostic charging to be safer, fast, simple and able to be performed in front of the customer. Each battery test takes just 7 seconds.
Midtronics Battery Testers will provide an increased level of service, increase     battery revenue and efficient battery management for the workshop. Each tester is supplied with 2 years warranty.

New Company Vehicle Law came into force in January 09

Not breaking news, but something we felt important enough to blog about to bring it to your attention again.

Individuals responsible for commercial vehicles are now subject to tougher penalties for illegal tyres and faulty brakes. The Health and Safety Offences Act 2008 came into force last month making it easier to enforce the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Penalties have been raised from a maximum of £5,000 to £20,000.

Increased emphasis on corporate responsibility stresses the need for commercial vehicle owners to carefully manage the safety checks of their vehicles. Particular attention should be paid to regularly checking tyre pressures and brakes.

aide automotive have two products that help manage these two health and safety issues;

Air Alert a proactive solution to warn when tyre pressures are low, as opposed to relying on checking tyres on a regular basis.

BrakeCheck a portable battery-powered device that can be used to test and report on vehicle brake efficiency. BrakeCheck is VOSA & MOT approved.

For more information on either product you can visit the links above, or visit our web site at www.aideautomotive.com