Brakes are one of the most important safety features on any vehicle. They allow drivers to slow down and stop safely, which is essential for avoiding accidents.
However, brakes can wear down over time and need to be regularly inspected and repaired, so for any garage having the correct tools to test and repair brakes is essential.
A roller brake tester (RBT) is a valuable tool that helps to ensure the safety of their customers’ vehicles. It is a machine that measures the braking performance of a vehicle by applying a controlled amount of force to the wheels. This allows technicians to identify potential problems with the braking system, such as uneven braking, low brake fluid levels, faulty brakes, or pads.
What is a Roller Brake Tester?
A roller brake tester is a diagnostic tool that measures the braking force of a vehicle’s wheels. It simulates real-world braking conditions by applying a controlled force to each wheel as the vehicle sits on rollers. This allows mechanics to assess each wheel’s braking performance and identify any imbalances or weaknesses such as drake pad or disk wear, or issues with other drivetrain, suspension or steering components.
Benefits of Using Roller Brake Testers
There are many benefits to using a roller brake tester in a garage. Here are just a few:
- Improved safety: Roller brake testers can help prevent accidents by ensuring that the vehicles you are working on have properly functioning brakes.
- Increased customer satisfaction: Customers appreciate knowing that their vehicles are being properly maintained, and a roller brake tester can provide them with peace of mind.
- Reduced liability: By identifying and repairing brake problems before they cause an accident, a garage can reduce its liability risk.
- Increased efficiency: Roller brake testers can help garages complete brake inspections more quickly and easily, compared to, for example, Decelerometers. This can free up technicians to work on other vehicles, which can improve efficiency and profitability.
- Compliance with regulations: It is mandatory for MOT testing stations to use a brake tester to inspect vehicles’ brakes as part of the annual MOT test.
If you are a garage owner or manager, you should consider investing in a roller brake tester. It is a valuable tool that can help you to improve the safety of your customers’ vehicles, increase customer satisfaction, reduce liability risk, and improve efficiency. If you are thinking of upgrading to include a MOT Bay, then an MOT Brake Tester is an essential bit of kit you are going to need.
Choosing a Roller Brake Tester
Here are some additional things to consider when choosing a roller brake tester for your garage:
- Capacity & Size: The capacity of the roller brake tester should be sufficient to accommodate the largest vehicles that you typically service.
- Accuracy: The roller brake tester should be accurate enough to detect even small problems with the braking system, so go for a good quality unit.
- Installation & Training: Ensure your garage equipment supplier will offer both installation and training on how to best use the brake testing equipment.
- Ease of use: The roller brake tester should be easy to use for both experienced and junior mechanics. With suitable supplier or installer support if you need help.
- Maintenance: The roller brake tester should be easy to maintain and repair, or consider having a garage equipment service contract in place with your supplier.
By considering these factors, you can choose a roller brake tester that is right for your garage and your needs. RBTs are a valuable investment that can help drive revenue whilst improving vehicle safety, customer satisfaction, efficiency, and compliance with regulations. If you are looking for a way to improve the quality of your brake inspections, a roller brake tester is the way to go.
Can a Roller Brake Tester be re-gritted?
Yes, a Roller Brake Tester can be re-gritted. As shown on our roller brake tester re-gritting page, the process involves removing the worn-out friction material or grit from the rollers, grinding the roller down to bare metal and applying a new adhesive coating before re-gritting the surface to bring it back to both the look and efficiency of a brand new roller, and to ensure that brake tests are accurate and true.
Concept Garage Equipment have a bespoke roller brake tester re-gritting service, and it can save you hundreds getting your RBT regritted vs replacing the rollers or the entire brake tester unit.
Roller Brake Testers for Garages and MOT Testing Stations
Roller brake testers play a critical role as part of an MOT Bay in ensuring vehicle brake compliance.
MOT testing stations must use roller brake testers or decelerometers that comply with DVSA regulations. These regulations specify requirements for minimum brake force capabilities, measurement accuracy, and data recording.
However for any garage, even if you don’t perform MOT tests, a roller brake tester is a very useful piece of equipment for testing the brakes particularly before or after working on the brake, suspension or steering of a vehicle, to check that it’s got the stopping power it needs to keep the customer safe and legal.
Roller Brake Tester Supply, Installation, Re-Gritting or Repair
If you are looking for a new Roller Brake Tester for your garage, MOT Bay or tyre servicing department, give Concept a call today on 0113 469 0572 to get booked in for a quote, site survey or simply order your Roller Brake Tester online today.