a few weeks ago I failed my SVA and was given the usual fail sheet with the only major fail being emissions - not great news but I was relieved that I had passed the brake test.

However I got a message on my answering machine this evening from the tester informing me that he was reviewing my file and discovered that he should have failed me on the brake test and that this will be added to my retest list.

I am not complaining as I would obviously prefer the car to be safe but was just wondering if anyone had come across this before ?

looks like its time to read up on bias bars yet again

Not heard of that before!

Brake efficiency is all done on those figures from the machine. I can see he may have made a mistake.

I have not heard of them adding it back onto your fail cert.

However, Bottom line, is (as you say) You want your car to be safe to drive.

Its not a major issue.

Did he say exactly what was wrong? I would ring back and ask what is needed to pass, or it could be another retest, if you havent properly addressed the problem.
Fronts MUST lock up before the rears. Thats a good yardstick.


Its not that bad really.


[Edited on 29/3/2009 by wilkingj]

As said above it's best done right! Fair dues to the tester for admitting his mistake. What would have been 'interesting' would have been if he'd have passed you then realised his mistake! You could have been on your way to the DVLA with your pass certificate! That would have been interesting to see how DVLA would have managed that!

Best of luck with the retest - plenty of advice on here about balance bars!


Wyn

Could be down to axle weights, don't fully understand how it's calculated but I know just by reading the numbers off the machine will not tell you pass or fail. They have a computer stimulation package that they put all the data in & it then decides if it's acceptable.

They enter information for all 4 brakes at P1 to P6 & there's also a bind, I assume these are amounts of pressure, they wear a thing on their foot. Weights for both axles, with & without driver, then the design weights, wheelbase, centre of gravity, some more dimensions & number of seats. It then works out Brake distribution ratios at all 6 pressures, the weight distribution ratios & either passes or fails each.

I again assume from this it works out 5 more pass/fail fields, Design Axle Weight, 30% weight on axle 1, DAW1/FACW which all I can assume is design axle weight divided by Front axle calculated weight, then DAW2/RACW & finally DGW/GCW which again seems to be Design Gross Weight divided by Gross Calculated Weight.

I know one buggy that was submitted with a lower design weight on the back axle for A frame reasons & that failed on the DAW2/RACW & had to take a letter from the manufacturer to state wrong data had been submitted.

Lot of assumptions in this post so migt be wrong, but worth a call to find out.

Alan...