Keeping brakes in check with Bowmonk
Equipment provider Bowmonk-Tapley has outlined the advantages for vehicle workshops of its brake testing product portfolio.
“Ask most of those in the motor trade, past and present, to describe the affectionately known Tapley meter and I`ll bet most will say they marvel at the quality of the workmanship of the storage box or reminisce at how their fathers and grandfathers used the same tool in their day,” said Chris Bailey, UK technical executive at Bowmonk-Tapley.
“There ensues a recollection of how long ago they will remember using the Tapley. Indeed, I remember watching my dad using one back in the mid-1960s.
“This obviously bears testament to the quality, longevity and accuracy of this popular workshop tool – so much so that it is still approved for performing decelerometer tests in MOT stations and workshops across Great Britain where a roller brake tester is not appropriate; for example, vehicles fitted with permanent 4WD or belt driven transmission.
“As with most mandated procedures, there will always be a requirement to improve upon the amount of detailed information we can provide for the authorities and, of course, the customer. So what other information can we provide?
“Well, just as important as braking efficiency is the level of braking imbalance, as there is a potential danger element here also, pulling the vehicle to the left or right under braking.”
Chris continued: “The DVSA-approved Bowmonk BrakeCheck has installed within it a dual axis decelerometer, which in addition to overall efficiency will record the percentage of braking imbalance – the cause of which is not always attributed to irregular braking effort.”
Contributors to this could be an under-inflated tyre, uneven suspension or even a binding brake, he says, all of which would not be detected with a mechanical unit.
“Aside from the mandatory MOT testing, there is a perfect opportunity to add value (and revenue) to the service a garage can provide,” he continued, “for example, performing a ‘before and after’ brake test to complement a routine service or a complete brake overhaul, providing the customer with a detailed brake test report with their invoice.”
