Brake Pipes & MOTs

[doubleboost]

I test cars 4 days a week normally do 7 tests per day .
I tested a 8 year old VW polo yesterday .
Failed on a couple of tyres but a very tidy car .
Went on to the roller brake test , burst a pipe .
**** happens , all the visible pipes were plastic coated originals in very good condition .
A pipe had failed behind a exhaust heat shield .
The pipe was mint except for one small rusty hole .
No rubbing or chafing just this in the middle of a pipe run .
This is why i advise on under trays on older vehicles .
Proves the value of a test under controlled conditions .

 

[JOEPRO]

Not good, I restore cars of my own and since they are at least 20 years old I go ahead and replace all brake and fuel lines with Kunifer.

Steel is cheap and easy to produce/ keep its shape but they all rot out. Kunifer is more durable than copper also being guaranteed against the effects of road salt for what that is worth.

I have a few stories over here in NI of our MOT dudes failing stuff that should not be failed just for badness. Like this



Wasn't me or my car but they failed it on rear brake pipes (2011 S class) and put MUST REPLACE REAR BRAKEPIPES DANGEROUS in capitals on the failed sheet.

As can be seen here above the sub frame the pipes were not rusted at all just very light surface rust.

Owner did nothing, booked a full test (not re test) at the next town over and passed zero issues.

 

[tom2207]

Not good, I restore cars of my own and since they are at least 20 years old I go ahead and replace all brake and fuel lines with Kunifer.

Steel is cheap and easy to produce/ keep its shape but they all rot out. Kunifer is more durable than copper also being guaranteed against the effects of road salt for what that is worth.

I have a few stories over here in NI of our MOT dudes failing stuff that should not be failed just for badness. Like this

View attachment 384337

Wasn't me or my car but they failed it on rear brake pipes (2011 S class) and put MUST REPLACE REAR BRAKEPIPES DANGEROUS in capitals on the failed sheet.

As can be seen here above the sub frame the pipes were not rusted at all just very light surface rust.

Owner did nothing, booked a full test (not re test) at the next town over and passed zero issues.

if they are that dangerous they put a no movement order on it so it has to be transported home and not driven on the roads ,, either its fit to drive home or its not. If its dangerous should the tester be letting it back on the road to drive home ,,,, just saying.

 

[doubleboost]

if they are that dangerous they put a no movement order on it so it has to be transported home and not driven on the roads ,, either its fit to drive home or its not. If its dangerous should the tester be letting it back on the road to drive home ,,,, just saying.

If the brake pipes are in that bad a condition that they will burst .
A roller or decel brake test is not carried out .
Believe it or not if we burst a pipe on a test it is our fault .
The fail would be a "Dangerous Fail".
We have no power at all to prevent people driving there car away .
All we can do is advise them against it .

 

[JohnH]

I'm surprised that plastic coated steel pipes are allowed at all.
You cant beat German Wehrmacht green painted steel pipes as in @JOEPRO pic above. You can see any early rust spots developing.

 

[indy4x]

Have had a few Jeep Cherokee XJ's, their brake pipes have wire wrapped around them, can't tell the condition of the pipe under the wire wrap. Had a few pass MOT and then burst so they all got replaced with Kunifer

 

[maroon]

Tester restrictions are abserloutely bizarre. Can't give good prod to see how bad rot is (as it's their fault) can't remove anything as must be judged "as seen" they should be allowed to take undertrays off if suspicious Imo.

Had brakes fail on me once driving. Shoe piston missed the shoe. Fluid all over. Made it home gearing with a handbrake staying a good distance away from traffic.
Never had a pipe burst.

 

[Coo]

...The fail would be a "Dangerous Fail".
We have no power at all to prevent people driving there car away .
All we can do is advise them against it ....

I had this once on the wife's Tigra, "dangerous do not move"
But I had to get it to my unit to fix it.
Decided to go home first, and turned right out of test station...erm no brakes at all....Arghh !!

Nursed it home and called a mate to recover it to the unit!!
That was a danger ride I won't repeat.

 

[doubleboost]

I'm surprised that plastic coated steel pipes are allowed at all.
You cant beat German Wehrmacht green painted steel pipes as in @JOEPRO pic above. You can see any early rust spots developing.

As long as you can see the pipe . Old volvos used a conifer type material from new they never needed replacing .

 

[Morris]

As long as you can see the pipe . Old volvos used a conifer type material from new they never needed replacing .

Wooden you know it.