my MOT..

[sara3]

well it passed today! they noted that the rear brake pads were worn but not yet needing replacing.

but.... last year it passed with a note that the front nearside brake pad was worn. I didn't get it done... has it magically improved, or is something not right with the MOT test?

should I do anything?

[gary2411]

i would get it checked out seems abit sus to me with one pad wearing on one side could be the caliper has sized up
both pads should wear at the same rate as they do nearly all the work to stop the car

[sara3]

thanks Gary. I expected them to say I needed the front brake pads done (as I hadn't since last year) but they seemed to think they're okay.

I'm so confused. I hate mechanics! (if you are one, I apologise!)

[cazzz1975]

I would change the brake pads all round, dont query the MOT otherwise they may revoke it and you will have to pay to have it re MOT'd

[sara3]

good point, cazzz.. but it just shows how irregular these tests are. I'm surprised they don't show similar results.

[Nkakamasembe]

Whats the mileage between last years mot and current?

[cazzz1975]

its more of an opinion than a test, it varies from tester to tester, the brakes obviously work okay as they passed the rolling road test. but if you want to avoid long term damage to your discs and/or drums you should replace them as soon as you can.

[sara3]

about 10k.

I just don't know if last year's "warning" was accurate..

[sara3]

you're right cazzz.. at least it can wait until after next payday. July is a financially painful month for me!

[gary2411]

heres a tip if when you brake the car pulls either way its time to have the calipers checked average milage is about1200 a year just keep an eye on how the brakes
work and feel

[sara3]

I haven't noticed it pulling but the brakes sometimes squeal a bit when I brake from a slow speed to a stop.

if that makes sense!

it's due a service in a couple of months. I might just hold out and get ripped off in one hit :o/

thanks for your advice :o)

[Nkakamasembe]

With 10k between , I CAN safely assume the first mot ADVISORY WAS precautionary, not an indicator of pending doom. Therefore the current Tester in his opinion did not see the need for an Advisory.The difference in front brake pad wear by a mature driver over 10k would be 1.5-2mm.
The other issue is that a tester can only ADVISE OR FAIL ON WHAT HE CAN SEE ,Unless of course one pad out of a set of 4 is abnormally worn the others a need to mention may arise.
No nothing is wrong with the test. Its a question of either a cup is half full or half empty.

[carrot99]

Don't economise with brakes - get them sorted as soon as you can - if you ever need them in an emergency you'll really want them to be up to the job.

Last year it was a front brake and now your back brakes are wearing - don't put yourself at risk.

[sara3]

okay, thanks for your help.

I just thought there were set standards and that MOTs shouldn't be open to various opinions.

[sara3]

you're right, carrot, but this year the front brakes tested okay.

I will get them done though!

[cazzz1975]

if it had failed the rolling road test then they would have investigated further, its passed but they are just advising that the brakes may not last another 12 months

[carrot99]

talking of economising, Asda do a litre of car oil for about �1.60 - bargain!

[sara3]

if only Asda did brake pads............ :o)

[carrot99]

one day sara, one day!!!

[sara3]

or Tesco Value brake pads, wrapped in a blue and white striped packet!

they'll cost me a bloody fortune, everything's expensive on my car :o/