The Garage 362

NEWS
How to replace a brake
tester reducing the business
inconvenience and cost
While standalone garage equipment is simple to replace, some heavier, fixed position items, may
prove more problematic. In the case of brake testers, which are often installed in bespoke floor
recesses in front of workshop doors, the potential for business disruption is larger.
So, what can garages do to reduce both inconvenience and cost impacts?
Plan for brake tester replacement
Leaving a brake tester to fail at the end of its life creates an
impossible situation where disruption is inevitable. Therefore,
being proactive is the best approach to reduce the impact of
replacement, by taking control of the situation.
Talk to a few garage equipment suppliers like Straightset, and
work out what will fit into the old unit’s place. Understanding what
is involved is also crucial. Very often, brake testers can be replaced
using the existing floor recesses. This saves both the cost and time
required to dig out the existing recess to modify it to a new unit. It
can also save you days in lost productivity waiting for concrete to
dry.
Know the options available
Just replacing one brake tester with one the same is not always
giving you the best bangs-per-buck. Therefore, it is always best to
know the available options before deciding on the product, and
action, to take.
Rollers that were originally only 600mm wide are often too small
for the largest class IV vehicles. Increasing the size of the roller
bed can enable you to test a wider range of vehicles, increasing
potential profitability. Uprating the roller bed to a heavier capacity
would be a wise investment, and one that cannot be done
retrospectively after your new unit has been installed. Brake testers
can also have Class I and Class II adaptors for motorcycle testing.
Features such as tablet control, repeat monitors, weighbridges
and many other features that could be useful to your operation
are available, but not always off the shelf. Research is key, to
understand what your business needs, what it can work with, and
how this may impact installation time.
No need to panic buy
Planning for a brake tester replacement ahead of time gives the
opportunity to consider the options available.
A panic buy can severely limit these options as you try to get your
MOT bay operational again as quickly as possible. The list of DVSA
accepted equipment comes with all the information you need to
ensure it is suitable for the types of vehicles you are testing.
It is also worth remembering that just because a brake tester
appears on the accepted list, it does not mean they are all equal.
Research is essential.
If you buy an existing business with equipment already installed,
and the equipment is not already MTS DVSA connectable, you will
need to either upgrade (if available from the manufacturer) or
replace.
Key points to remember
● Be aware of the condition of your existing brake tester and
its service bills.
● Do not leave brake tester replacement until it becomes a
panic buy.
● Think about the shortcomings in your existing equipment
and what features you would like in the replacement unit.
● Talk to equipment suppliers.
● Avoid companies that code-lock your equipment, thereby
restricting who can service and calibrate. Otherwise, you
risk becoming captive to their services only.
To find out more about Straightset’s range of MOT and ATL brake
testers, please call on 01909 480055, email info@straightset.co.uk
or visit www.straightset.co.uk.
32 THE GARAGE
32, News Straightset.indd 1 30/04/2024 13:40