Anyone have a rough guesstimate of the axle weights for a BEC. I'm filling the form and although I wouldn't want it on my foot I have no idea how heavy the car will be

You need the design axle weights, not the actual weights. In theory you could put the same as the donor but 400/400 ish would be fine. As long as what they weigh at SVA is less then there's no problem.

Don't overestimate your gross weight though as it comes into the brake calulations.

Edit: Your axle weights can (and should) add up to more than the gross vehicle weight to allow for load distribution differences).

[Edited on 5/9/07 by matt_claydon]

so 400/400 and 800 would be ok?

The only real issues are that:

a) the design weights do not exceed the mechanical capabilities of the components.

b) you put a high enough gross weight so that you never exceed it even if you load the veihcile up heavily, otherwise you could open yourself up to prosecution for overloading!

I can't remember what figures I put (CEC)but it was probably something like 550 front, 450 rear and 900 gross.

When they push it through the DVLA computor the weights dictate the axle percentages for the MOT brake weight so you need can be a little high.

My BEC weighs front axle around 180kg, rear axle around 220kg but for the test I went for total of 600kg whiched passed the brake efficiency test.

If you go very heavy the wheel will lock up before it reaches the minimum % allowed.

Regards Mark

Good point, but as far as I know with design axle weights it's only the proportion that matter though, not the magnitude. The % efficiency is dictated by the vehicle gross weight.

Also at MOT if wheels lock is that not automatically a pass?

thanks for the replies,
I went for 400, 400 and 600.

I have tippex just in case there are any late bids.
This is as nerve racking as drilling hole in the bonnet

600 seems a bit restrictive TBH. 450kg car + 80kg driver + 80kg passenger will put you over.

Even if your car is lighter than that it doesn't leave much room for luggage, fuel or other stuff. And 80kg isn't exactly a large person Maybe consider around 700 unless your car weights more like 350.

Here goes the tippex

since I'm a bit of a fat kn&cker, it's altered to 750
cheers
Dave