Here, I'm sure is a really easy one.
MOT (passed) on motor caravan yesterday. K plate. Low milage (possibly a clue eh?)
Quote from MOT inspection check list 'advise unable to see pads; discs starting to corrode'
1. Anything I can do to delay further damage to discs ?
2. If pads cannot be seen, even by the experts, how do I know when it's time to change them before even more damage is done to the discs ?
Sorry if these questions are sub-reception class, but I'm good at Latin American dancing, honest.
Thanks in advance for any inspirational thoughts.
Colin Standing
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Colin
You don't say what history the vehicle has, have you recently bought it, or had it for ages?
Brakes thrive on normal useage so light or intermittent use will give rise to corrosion and damage as the bare metal of the disk is exposed to atmospheric damp and starts to rust. IMO, your K-plate vehicle is overdue for disk, pad and probably brake fluid replacement.
Inspection; unless you have alloys with huge gaps between the spokes and low profile tyres, it would be unusual to be able to inspect the pads whith the wheels on. Take the wheels off once a year minimum before the season starts to inspect the tyres, discs and pads and to ensure you can get the wheelnuts off in the event of a puncture.
Hope this helps.
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These vehicles are notorious for disc corrosion as they stand around half the year doing nothing only corroding.Its not unknown for transit type caravanettes to have there discs replaced in under 18 months.
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Just use it and brake hard when you do. Surface corrosion is normal, left too long it eats in and that's when the big problems occur.
If the inspector didn't remove the wheels he wouldn't be able to see the brake pads. Remove the wheel and look at the pad. You should be able to see a difference between the metal back of the pad and the material facing the disk. This should be a couple of mm thick. If you aren't mechanically confident get a competant garage to do brake related stuff. But if anyone swaps pads for you make sure it's because the old ones are worn not because they can con you with 'do you want your family to die, can't be too safe etc.' type stuff.
Piers
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I've had a warning of disc corrosion from an MOT bloke - on inspection it was the edge of the disc. What the hell was the bloke on about, they all do that?? If you get rust in the braking surface it can pit and knacker the disc, sure, but the edge?
MOT blokes are muppets - I had the BX fail for rusty sill, patched it, went back and he said "you haven't had it done" I said "yes, look", he said "not that side, this", I said "!@$£@!". Goes away and patches other side. Goes back for retest and he says "sorry I forgot to tell you about this hole, I'm not going to pass it until that's done". I took advice and the guy is within his right to do this as many times as he wants, will not do his reputation any good, but within his rights.
Take your car somewhere else and they dont spot a thing, or else they're failing on a different special that week. Isn't it about time we got this all computerised and sorted so the idiots/con men could be found out - not like we dont pump enough cash into the Exchequer.
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My only extra offering is that "experts" will have no problem looking at the condition of your brake pads. The MOT is no substitute for a service. I would never rely on an MOT to indicate anything, other than the fact you can use it for taxation purposes.
David
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It's not part of the MOT test to remove wheels. No time is allowed for this. But the guys are dead right about disc corrosion on little-used vehicles. Bare metal out in the open or subject to saline spray corrodes. Using the brakes scrubs off the surface corrosion. But once the corrosion eats into the discs they've had it. This is very common in rear discs because in normal use they rarely get clamped by the pads. See recent column about rear disc corrosion on Porsche 996s.
HJ
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when i do an mot, i check the condition of the brakes by taking the wheels off, when you think that this is the main thing that will stop the car.
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How long does an MOT take you?
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with me it takes about 45- 55 minutes, alot of people want to know if the car is roadworthy, so i do a full check for them. but somebody who just wants a quick mot, i will do a mot in about 20 minutes.
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And drum brakes??
David
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i also check the drums, ok its not an easy job, but it makes sure that the car is safe, after all its pointless going 30 mph in a 30 zone, if the brakes are u/s.
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