What does this advisory mean on MOT?

FutureGirl

Had an MOT on our car and got this advisory, but i'm unsure what it means....

"Service brake requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair (1.2.1 (c))"

I don't think it refers to the handbrake, as there was an advisory on that last time which we dealt with.

EdGasketTheSecond

Yes it means the handbrake. Probably not very effective but could also mean imbalanced between the nearside and offside wheel.

FutureGirl

Thank you very much!

tedted

service brake is the foot brake not the parking brake

AdrianC

As "tedted" says, it means the main footbrake. 1.2.1c is a brake "grabbing severely".
https://www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/documents/manuals/class3457/Section-1-Brakes.html#section_1.2.1

Has the tester told you which wheel?

mattyprice4004

It's not grabbing severely - it's only just working enough to pass the test. Grabbing would be a brake which is binding without any input, this advisory means the opposite - that the brakes are only just good enough to pass.

AdrianC

mattyprice4004 wrote: »

It's not grabbing severely - it's only just working enough to pass the test. Grabbing would be a brake which is binding without any input, this advisory means the opposite - that the brakes are only just good enough to pass.

Then the tester picked the wrong section...

1.2.1c is grabbing.
Efficiency is 1.2.1a(i), imbalance is 1.2.1b.

Also, the text does not mention efficiency - only that it only just met requirements. That could easily be grabbing, but not severely enough to fail.

Either way, it's irrelevant. There's a problem with that brake (whichever it is), and the fix is probably the same... It might just be a good clean-up, it might need a replacement caliper/wheel cylinder and/or friction material. The only way to find out is to get grubby.

System

Most likely the self adjusters on the rear brakes have failed. You can test this for yourself by driving down the road. Pull the handbrake on so that it starts to slow the car down then back it off a little. Try the brakes and if the car appears to brake a lot better than it normally does then its the self adjusters on the rear brakes which have stopped working. In the test I've described partially putting on the handbrake compensates by taking up some of the slack which the self adjusters should have so some of the brake pedal travel isn't taken up moving the rear brake pads/shoes over a gap that should not exist.

jimjames

I had that a couple of years ago. On investigation one caliper was leaking, once replaced the problem was sorted.

daveyjp

Whatever it is where brakes are concerned get it sorted. A full inspection, strip down, clean and replace parts as required.

The above does not mean take wheels off and spray lots of brake cleaner all over the brakes and put wheels back on.

EdGasketTheSecond

Whoops my bad; service brake = foot brake