Car mot (brakes)

[Panthor]

I had my car mot about 4 weeks ago and have since done approx 500 miles. It started making a hell of a noise when braking so thought I'd have a look and found that the pads on front were all completely work out and one side had been making a nice big groove into the discs. Shouldn't this have been picked up during the mot? It had no advisories.

Thanks

[bigsteve]

Hi
From what i know depends if they can see pads with out removing anything  and if it passes on brake rollers jobs done

I drive a old mondao ( dont laugh ) it passed MOT but i felt brakes werent right before it went in so i asked garage to just check

  turned out both rear cylinders were leaking but passed MOT like this

[Panthor]

Well it's got alloys so you can see the brakes through the gaps

[bigsteve]

can you see pads are low with out removing wheels ?????

[Panthor]

Well I can, u can see through the gaps in the alloys at the brake pads and looking at the new ones I fitted its obvious they have plenty on them, so I though they would have noticed that the metal of the brake pad was nearly touching the disc

[bigsteve]

well sounds as if you should have had a advisory on pads

[Chris]

Sounds like the MOT guy wasn't looking very hard. Good that it passed for you and you noticed and have replaced the pads but some cars get through that definately shouldn't!  :eek

Chris

[red98]

should have failed  :eek  if i were you i would take it else where next time 

[Panthor]

The thing that I'm annoyed about is if it had failed I could have changed the pads and been ok, but know its wrecked the discs so i had to change them aswell as the pads.
Just wanted to know if it should have passed as I have to take it back to have my exhaust re-done

[VNA]

I'm not sure you can blame the MOT test centre for your own lack of servicing.

The main part of the brake test is simply testing to see they work to MOT standard.

As far as I know they don't have to remove wheels to inspect, so it's what they can see without doing so (which happens to be what you can easily see)

Google is of course your geek;

You might find your answer here - http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/htdocs/

[robby boy]

The advisory side of the test is not manditory, some testers do it some don't, none of them are wrong.

[AdieR]

Brakes are simply tested on a roller for effort, and not necessarily physically inspected.

[pitternator]

yes, its  a rolling  road brake test which measures brake strength. It can pass even if pads are at limit of wear.

I agree with VNA- service the vehicle properly in future either at  a mileage or time deadline.. I always look to get the pads checked at annual service.It also will pick up bearing or suspension issues too.

[mcsuffolk]

The mot testers are trying to get their heads round all the new changes in the morning but should still advise, but as stated earlier and not forced to.....


I would also add if only one side is grooved make sure the floating caliper is free and lubricated as it may not be..... Which is not something covered by the mot unless it shows a braking imbalance on the rolling road......

[kaybee]

Brake pads have to measure less than 1.5mm thickness to fail the mot test,if the pad can be clearly seen then it is good practice to advise that the brake pads are wearing thin