What you need to know about roller brake testers before investing

Here's what you should consider before purchasing a roller brake tester for your workshop

What you need to know about roller brake testers before investing

Boston Equipment has revealed everything you need to know about roller brake testers before purchasing the equipment for your garage workshop.

All MOT brake testing equipment must be DVSA approved – the DVSA produce a list of approved models of roller brake testers which is available to view online.

Next, Boston advises garage owners to check the manufacturer’s warranty policy.

A Boston spokesperson said: “In the case of roller brake testers, it is especially important that you verify the warranty provided on the rollers.

“Although some may look good initially, they may have a poor quality surface coating and could thus require regular re-gritting, costing time and money.

“Furthermore, re-gritting rarely lasts very long and is not a substitute for good quality MOT brake tester rollers.

“Some manufacturers offer a five year warranty on the rollers as standard; be wary of anyone offering less than a three year warranty.”

Installation and maintenance

It is important that the equipment is installed, set-up and maintained by an experienced engineer who is fully trained and accredited by the manufacturer of the roller brake tester in question.

Most models are installed directly into a concrete recess; however some suppliers also offer the option of an installation cartridge, which can increase reliability, making service and maintenance much easier.

Remote control brake tester operation

Remote control operation is a must and many manufacturers rely on cheap infra-red line of sight controls with limited range.

The Boston spokesperson said: “Always look for a supplier that provides Radio Frequency (RF) remote controls with extended range so that you can perform a test reliably from within the vehicle without requiring a clear line of sight.

“Some manufacturers also offer tablet or smartphone remote controls using Wi-Fi.

“In our experience, mobile or tablet operation simply isn’t practical in a workshop environment and these devices are much fiddlier to use during an MOT brake test than a simple handheld remote would be.”

Motorcycle and four wheel drive brake testing

Motorcycle brake tests can be carried out on both Class 4 and Class 7 roller beds provided there is a DVSA approved adapter plate and the software to test motorbikes is available.

Although most high end models include four wheel drive brake testing, not all manufacturers offer this feature as standard so it is important to check this first too.

Support and software

Boston say support or remote assistance is much easier if built-in to the software directly.

It means users won’t need to exit or toggle through different screens and applications.

The spokesperson added: “Another point to consider, especially for new garages, is whether the manufacturer allows other equipment to be managed using the same software.

“If your brake testing and emissions equipment are all operated using the same program, you’ll save time by not having to repeatedly enter vehicle and customer details into different software, probably at different computer stations.”

Boston Garage Equipment is a manufacturer and supplier of MOT, vehicle testing and workshop equipment.

It offers a range of high specification DVSA-approved brake testing equipment with all the above mentioned features as standard, except for motorcycle testing which is available as an optional extra.

For more information, call 01708 525585 or select ‘more details’ below.

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