This needs a re write

[flyerncle]

Its the age old story and when the human element is involved the crap hits the fan,there are no "grey" area's in testing as the method and reasons for refusal are written in black and white and as far as I remember the only specific must have is class 7 tyres load rating numbers.

The only way to solve the mot test problem is let VOSA do all the tests at one fixed price,ask any VOSA guy what his opinion on an item is and gauranteed you will get this answer "what does the manual say".

Its all down to the tester at the time and what he thinks the book say's but that is the way it is and as others have posted it is up to the presenter to complain at the time,but as I said before they will pray on the unwary ,as for the tester Mark mentioned he should be stopped testing as there is nothing in the manual to suggest advising braided hoses in any shape of form and he is talking rubbish.
I have tested since I was 18, and am now a lot older (55) and seen the test change over the years and some of the things they bring in are ridiculous,the condition of brake discs has been altered and unless they are totally donald ducked you cannot fail them,question this,the guy has an accident two days later and kills someone,you advised the discs and he took no notice what would happen.

[les g]

Paul i agree 100%
you have to complain
dont know of a tester who likes a visit from the Vosa man.
When i worked for it was worse for us as we were continually audited and the auditers were tough and sharp as pins..
and they have all the answers......
The brake tester used to cause us no end of grief with presenters.
1% under and its a fail and they used to whine and moan but just 1% over and its a pass they would be high kickin their heels out the test centre.
Now thats an odd one 1% effort over minimum on a 44 ton arctic is ok..
scary stuff really but a pass is a pass
cheers les g

[flyerncle]

Should not admit this but nobody reads it anyway,I used to take units for test and used to watch the brake meter and if it was failing percentage wise I loaded the axle more with the airbag control,backfired when they installed a new meter and you could see the weight increase.

ATL brake testers will and do fail brakes if the wrong weight is used compared with VSI and axle weights from tester and also kerbweight.

As for testing,yes people should complain there and then but lack of knowledge and the belief that the person testing actually knows the what,why ,and wherefore of what he is actually doing and placing trust in the tester.

VOSA in there wisdom (?) have stopped supplying hardback manuals and everything is available on the net to all and sundry,so with regard to previous posts regarding braided hose,s being a fail or an advisory item its there in black and white so try and find it, Guaranteed you will not as it is not there in any shape or form to be interpreted by all and sundry.

The old cherry,brake pipes. RFR is excessive corrosion not really rusty

Rust is the cause of corrosion,dictionary definitions.

Bob,no re-write will happen as its law but it should more user friendly.