Handbrake for MOT

[Muffsy]

I have an 06' Mercedes Vito Van. The Handbrake works on a Footbrake beside the Clutch Pedal with the release Lever situated under the Steering Column.
The Handbrake does work but you have to step really hard with all your force to make the Handbrake hold the Van on a hill.
Over the course of a few weeks the release spring has broken/snapped whatever and the Handbrake is released but the. audible Warning just goes on and on. When you lift the foot brake up the noise goes away but the Footbrake doesn't hold up cos of the Spring...To stop the Warning Noise I just simply cabled-tied the footbrake into position so I then had no footbrake for a short time while I was waiting for the MOT to come round.
Anyway the MOT garage failed the Van on the Audible Warning light but not on the FootBrake because the Footbrake stopped the Van although heavy force needed to be applied.
Anyway, MOT was sorted, Van was being used and one day I parked on a steepish hill. Applied the FootBrake but it will not hold the Van so have to apply force again. It worked. Later when. Releasing the Footbrake the Spring broke again. This is not even a week since the MOTwas done.
So I goes back and tells the Guy you passed my Van with a dodgy Hand/Foot Brake and the Audible Warning is on again and it's Cable-Tied up again.
He said the Van passed the MOT and its not their problem. I says how could the Handbrake pass when the Van moves still with the Hand/Foot Brake on. He said on a flat. The Handbrake was tested and enough force was applied to stop the wheels therefore it was passed..
My argument was that too much pressure was needed to apply the Brake and therefore the Brake was not functioning as it should and it should have been adjusted by them to pass but they will not have it and insist the Van was okay.
So now I don't have a Hand/Foot Brake anymore.

Anyone have an opinion. Should this be an MOT failure? or am I being unreasonable?

[stevieturbo]

How well it holds for purposes of the test would depend entirely on any test method and of course the vehicle itself

Over here it is on rollers, and handbrake must hold a % relative to axle weight. There is no tester guesswork or estimation involved.
And yes it should hold with only reasonable force applied to the handbrake mech.

I assume a government based test centre over there might offer the same proper test ? As opposed to a dodgy local garage tester with no equipment ?

But regardless.

You are aware there is a problem, so why dont you just take it to a garage and get it fixed ?

MOT certificate is largely irrelevant in this respect, it's still up to the vehicles owner to ensure it is properly maintained and roadworthy. That isnt the job of an MOT tester. their role is just to inspect/test once a year to usually fairly average testing standards.

And if they dont have any proper equipment to carry out a test properly...go elsewhere.

[tr7v8]

MOT for handbrakes (technically a parking brake) is 16% on dual circuit vehicles & to be honest a stage coach with wooden blocks should manage that! So it needs fixing properly. The MOT bit is almost irrelevant

[paintman]

The MoT tests the prescribed items on a vehicle at the time of presentation. If the handbrake reached the required standard at the time it was tested then its a pass.
Subsequent failures of items - other than corrosion - is nothing to do with the tester.
I suggest you get it repaired properly so if you do need to use it in emergency you have a chance.

Edited by paintman on Sunday 1st June 22:05