8am in the rain. 4 hrs later I had failed but nothing too serious- the examiner was an experienced and good guy, v helpful and explained what he was doing. So back in a couple of week after fixing things- job done just in time for cold weather


Key points of note:

Speed was fine then dropped off massively when he got to 70mph- looks like sensor gap to magnet but no way to test unless I fork out for a RR so will take tools and adjust again on retest if I need.

Brake bias - too little on fronts but not linear- worked fine on heavy foot but not soft braking-how to test again without RR?

Spark plug cables now need to have branding every 120mm- can you believe it so need new set.

Now need directional indicators on my front wings- the ones I fitted on side panels wont do according to new regs

Lots of radius projections to fix including the weld edging on my 4-1 exhaust pipe joins and the bevel edges on front mushrooms

Wiring- I need a telltale to show sidelights are on as my instruments lights are on all the time- not good enough

Need a label saying don't mess with bias bar settings- now compulsory to go with my brake reservoir one I had on.

Overall a stressful and great experience but another £90 + to come....

No need for a rolling road for checking the speedo gap. Put the back of the car on wooden blocks so the wheels are off the ground, sit in the car and test.

Hard luck.

Brakes might just be a case of not bedded in enough. Did you drive there and give them a good hamering? It might improve once you've put more front bias on.

Indicators and ignition leads have come up a few times recently. Make sure you "perminently" disconnect the old side repeaters when you fit new ones as thats a fail.

adrian

Local friendly MoT place will be able to test brakes.

quote:

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Originally posted by loggyboy
Local friendly MoT place will be able to test brakes.

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Thanks for feedback on testing speedo- yes of course great idea- I can do that.

No I didn't blat the car to the VOSA station but will do next time and change bias as well.

No an MOT station wont do it as you say VOSA do progressive pressure testing so will have to guess it....

good bunch at leighton, where i had mine svad, had issiues with my brakes as well, especially with balance, mot test station is where i had mine reckecked, (had to replace cylinders and shoes in the end). had to replace my ignition leads as well, strict on radious edges, (add lots of protection to edges of parts, ie lights, panels, brackets etc) not sure what materials you can use these days.

what markings are supposed to be on the HT leads? - First time I've heard of that one? - I got a complete new set from wwwperformanceleads.co.uk - they are marked up with the manufacturer's www(as above).

I also thought the mushroom top would come in to the new exempted area bounded by the wishbones? (maybe it's just outside, though?)

Rule of thumb on Brakes is the front MUST lock up before the rears.
Its a way of testing in your street and winding up the neighbours

I failed twice on front to back ballance. Its not something you can get right easily. Without a IVA set of rollers you are on a hiding to nothing.
As said above MoT only do efficiency and not F/R ballance.

IF it fails next time, talk very very nicely to the man, and say you cant adjust randonly for ever etc etc. They will probably go for a coffee whilst you DONT adjust the brakes. You are NOT allowed to tinker or adjust the car during the test, hence their "Tea break" (So they dont see you do it)

They let me adjust mine until was right, then I had to go back for a retest as the roll pins needed fitting in new places. (Take a battery drill?) (SVA insisted that the adjuster bar was locked with roll pins to prevent adjustment, but that was 5 years ago, its IVA rules now)

Passed 3rd time, easily.
IVA blokes are usually very good, and want to pass your car, but they wont break the rules.
Also if you car is neat and tidy, and looks like you took care in assembling / building it, they know you have done your best, and will help within their rules, but they wont break them!

Certainly not a bad fail... you are almost there in getting your car finally on the road... Then its only the DVLA... Hmmm... IVA was easy in comparison

Cheers and well done.

quote:

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Originally posted by wilkingj

(SVA insisted that the adjuster bar was locked with roll pins to prevent adjustment, but that was 5 years ago, its IVA rules now)

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quote:

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Originally posted by 40inches

quote:

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Originally posted by wilkingj

(SVA insisted that the adjuster bar was locked with roll pins to prevent adjustment, but that was 5 years ago, its IVA rules now)

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For IVA you can use lockwire instead of pins

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Thanks for your support. The IVA guy said I can use wire and he will let me adjust brake bar it if I need to- so I will take tools to do this if I must- yes the balance was non linear- so not easy to get it right without progressive pressure test of the IVA rollers.
The spark plugs leads were a total surprise- will need to get a new non fleabay set now.

On the mushrooms- this surprised me- the new rules need reading carefully- I am going to have to cover up quite a few areas around the suspension on the inner wheel side including the light mounting bracket edges.