What if your car has really small clicks? Or massive, gargantuant clicks?
Most service manauls specify the correct number for the car, but its so variable between cars that it couldn't possibly be part of the mot
Handbrakes and MOT's
- Thread starter [TW]Fox
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What if your car has really small clicks? Or massive, gargantuant clicks?
Most service manauls specify the correct number for the car, but its so variable between cars that it couldn't possibly be part of the mot
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Or an electronic parking brake..
I see what your saying, but if the handbrake is at the end of its travel or nearly hits you in the face then its a fail.
I think i got 6 clicks as thats what i set them to.
[TW]Fox;17703475 said:
In that case it cant be tested. Just like if you have a seatbelt not working, take the seat out and then the belt doesn't come into the test.
The first thing you learn when it comes to an mot test is, All common sense goes out of the window.
Caporegime
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Why can't you test an electronic parking brake?
Soldato
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That's not a failure of common sense though, that's just a different system that negates the need for the MOT tester to even consider testing a physical lever for excessive travel.
Much like your previous example of not having a seat fitted therefore belt isn't tested - because clearly it can't be used to restrain someone as there's no fitment for someone to sit there.
They need things like that so that cars that have modified seating arrangements, or things that fall outside the norm, can be tested and entered as normal.
I cant see anywhere in the testers manual it defines travel as a fail point?
Only the earlier 7 Series.
i had both my rear brakes rebuilt for this MOT with some new shoes etc, handbrake was again brilliant for about 2 weeks and now wont even hold it on my road (i live on a very steep hill).
Is there any actual long term fix for this papness? It's really annoying.
Is there any actual long term fix for this papness? It's really annoying.
Shoes? As in drums???
Caporegime
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If its anything like the E36 it has drums at the rear just for the handbrake.
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[TW]Fox;17703524 said:
You can fail an MOT for your handbrake having excessive travel to the point where there is no reserve.
Reason for rejection: e. has inadequate reserve lever travel
That's what they'll could fail it on, if they feel that they have to excessively operate the handbrake to get it to provide the necessary braking - as it's a reflection on the mechanical condition of the parking brake. It also, obviously, is used for situations where the system is so worn or out of adjustment that there's no reserve travel on on the lever.
-edited for clarity. Again-
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[TW]Fox;17703251 said:Thats because the brakes are tested on rollers..
I'm specifically after some educated opinion or perhaps people who have had a car with a frankly naff handbrake tested and still not even got an advisory
My e30's handbrake may as well not work, even a slight incline and all but the most intense handbrake pull and it'll be as good as nothing. It still passed though.
Soldato
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Fox, to be honest, it depends on your tester, so we can't give a dead cert answer. My local MOT tester is very appreciative of the fact that certain cars will only ever entertain a certain standard of handbrake operation, and tests them to that level, so it's usually a non-issue.
The general rule of thumb that seems to be applied is that provided the handbraking effort is balanced, the system operates correctly, and it can hold the car on an incline without issue, then it's a pass.
The general rule of thumb that seems to be applied is that provided the handbraking effort is balanced, the system operates correctly, and it can hold the car on an incline without issue, then it's a pass.
