M.O.T.

[jessica]

Do I need to find a TVR sympathetic Garage for my MOT or can i get my main dealer to do the deed whilst it's in for a service? any experiences would be grateully recieved

[T88CAN]

In my experience stick with your dealer they will understand the little glitches like, hand brake,emmissions and even the rear number plate, i had to go into my local MOT station when i had the Chim i ended up showing them how to turn the lights on, open the boot, ect ect and guess what? it failed

[li'l pugs]

Jess, take it anywhere you like......I had 2 this year (long story), one at RRG Toyota and one at a small place in Leigh.........both fine........

[Big Al.]

Just make sure they don't put it on a rolling brake test dyno!

Ask them if they know what a limited slip diff is?

If they don't take it to someone who does.

[steve_l]

Big Al. said:

Just make sure they don't put it on a rolling brake test dyno! Ask them if they know what a limited slip diff is? If they don't take it to someone who does.

Al,could you explain this in a little more detail please.
I'm sure my MOT garage use a rolling brake test dyno!

Why does the chim have excellent footbrakes and a useless handbrake? It's been concerning me, as MOT is not too far away
Steve

[wolosp]

Big Al. said:

Just make sure they don't put it on a rolling brake test dyno! Ask them if they know what a limited slip diff is? If they don't take it to someone who does.

Or ask them if they have a brake-tester that reads the retardation on a dial - my local garage uses this gadget - I suspect the mechanic just likes to have a ride in my TVR
Big Al : "....Tiv's have to be taken out on the road and checked using a brake dynamometer"
That's what my local garage uses - it sits on the floor and you drive at 10mph or so and brake firmly.

>> Edited by wolosp on Sunday 1st February 17:01

[Big Al.]

steve_l said:

Al, could you explain this in a little more detail please. I'm sure my MOT garage use a rolling brake test dyno! Why does the Chim have excellent footbrakes and a useless handbrake? It's been concerning me, as MOT is not too far away Steve

OK I'll try, not an expert at this so here goes..

As I understand then you take a "normal" Car for an MOT they put it on a rolling road type machine. The rear wheels are located in a set of independent rollers. IIRC the brakes are applied and each rear wheel is powered independently to check for brake affectivity. Now the independent powering up of each rear wheel is detrimental to a limited slip differential.

Tiv's have to be taken out on the road and checked using a brake dynamometer. This usually sits in the front passenger foot wheel and register the braking force applied to the vehicle.

Hope this makes sense.

"open to be shot down in flames by the experts"

Hand brakes on some Chims do work mine does.

OH

Just get it adjusted correctly.


>> Edited by Big Al. on Sunday 1st February 16:09

[steve_l]

Big Al. said:

Hope this makes sense.

Thanks Al, it does - I just thought that brake dynamometers were a thing of the past, I did'nt realise there was a problem with diffs and rolling roads.

[Big Al.]

steve_l said:

Thanks Al, it does - I just thought that brake dynamometers were a thing of the past, I did'nt realise there was a problem with diffs and rolling roads.

Don't think there is a problems with Tiv's on rolling roads as such, it's only the type they use to test the brakes during the MOT that appears to be the problem.

[steve_l]

Just found this thread - www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=13&h=&t=16819
Useful info in link
Two hands and one foot for the handbrake seems the norm.

[lateconvert]

Probably 50% of modern cars have limited slip differentials so I don't know how they cope.
(I had one on a 1974 Alfa 2000 GTV)

[T88CAN]

What Big Al says, in theory is correct, however how many of you have had your Tiv MOTed on a "while you wait" agreement? How many of you have watched as your car is driven down the road? Not many i`m afraid? the rear brakes are on the rollers for around 3/4 secs under any type of load so you will find the tester will
just test in the "normal" way, again like Big Al i`m prepared to be shot down in flames how ever in the real world thats how they are tested in my experience

[tvradict]

But you can request that the tester do it properly, or get him/her to sign a form saying that they take FULL and Unconditional responsibility for damage caused to the LSD

That'll make them do it your way

[the dodger]

This was discussed recently on another thread - can't remember title. Anyhow I've had both answers at my MOT station. I've used the same place for my Tivs for 6 years and get on well with the boss who is a car & bike nut - only once did the tester suggest using a decellerometer (because of the LSD). Last year (first for my Chim) the boss did the test with my assistance at the wheel and pedals. I naturally mentioned the LSD concern but he said it would only be a problem if the L/R brake ballance was excessivly out (like over 50%). In this case you would have already been in a ditch or the other side of the road when you braked on the way to the test centre. So, if that's the case brake dyno shouldn't have an effect on LSD. Locked diffs another story however.

[alex.mcintosh]

Been through this loop before and spent ages checking out old threads

Conclusion seemed to be that since the speeds on the roller are low, there should be no damage to the LSD. Spoke to the testing station about this and they confirmed that it was OK. Since this particular testing station is used by a main dealer and they do 20 or 30 a week, surely a problem would have come up by now....

[shadowninja]

*phew*

Been using local generic MOT station since I bought the TVR. They did take it out previously but I think that was because the tester just wanted to try the car. (Fortunately he's owner Porsches so knows about RWD and high power.) However, the last time I took it in for MOT I told him the brakes were biased to the rear so its easy to spin if you brake hard... asked him if he was going to take it out... he said it wasn't necessary

[jessica]

right and Insurance if an MOT garage takes Trevor out and smashes him up ????what next...??????
any experiences ?

[Voltaire53]

steve_l said:

Why does the chim have excellent footbrakes and a useless handbrake?

AIUI (and I probably don't) the handbrake, unusually, uses a totally separate system to the footbrake and can be a problem when hot because when it cools the metal contracts and then can lose the grip and go for a roll by itself...

On my first test drive of a Chim the salesman had to let the handbrake off for me since I wasn't used to having to yank so hard! Now i'm used to it and with a good pull it seems to stay on (but I always leave it in gear, as advised, just in case).

[Incorrigible]

Voltaire53 said:

AIUI (and I probably don't) the handbrake, unusually, uses a totally separate system to the footbrake

In this case you don't

The hand and foot brake HAS to be a seperate by law IIRC it has to be a cable too (no hydraulic handbrakes)

When you put your foot on the brke you're helping the handbrkae mech to push the pad onto the disk (the best way on a tiv)

[li'l pugs]

jessica said:

right and Insurance if an MOT garage takes Trevor out and smashes him up ????what next...?????? any experiences ?

Surley they will be insured for this sort of occurence anyway ?? Wouldn't matter what car they tested, if they smash it up, they go through their insurance.