Which brake testing system is right for your workshop?

By Pavan Jheeta

When you’re looking at brake testing systems, you’ve got a huge range of options:

Do you go for a fixed installation, or a mobile one? Standalone, or integrated with your pit? Do you need load simulation, or a standard brake tester?

For any new workshop, the options can be overwhelming. So we’ve laid out some of the most common setups for brake testing systems — and the types of workshops who need them most.

Here’s what you need to know:

 

1. In-ground Brake Testers

 

Good for:

  • Workshops that mostly use inspection pits
  • Larger workshops with plenty of space
  • Workshops with a high volume of tests

 

An in-ground brake tester is a fixed installation — one that involves some groundworks, and some changes to the flooring of your shop.

That makes it a good fit for larger workshops, where floor space isn’t an issue, and there’s less need for flexibility. For smaller workshops (where space is precious), a mobile brake tester could be a better fit.

Because of the groundworks needed to install an in-ground brake tester, you’re usually looking at a higher initial investment. But it’s also a long-lasting investment, giving you a strong and durable piece of kit that can easily last for many years.

In lots of cases, they’re installed over an existing vehicle pit, giving your teams a single location to carry out multiple services without the need to move your vehicles.

But some models can also come as standalone installation without a pit — and the best suppliers can offer both types of installation for their in-ground brake testers.

 

2. Mobile brake testers

 

Good for:

  • Workshops that need flexibility
  • Smaller workshops with limited space
  • Workshops with an outdoor area

 

This is by far the most flexible brake testing system, giving you more options for storage, floor space, and additional workstations.

There’s no fixed installation, and no groundworks required. That means you can pack up your brake tester and change locations as the demands of your workshop schedule change.

With additional brake tester in storage, you can be ready to set up new testing stations during busy times — or even make use of an outdoor space to create extra testing areas to give your throughput a boost.

But despite its mobile flexibility, it’s just as useful as a fixed installation:

With a maximum axle load of 20,000kg (depending on the model), our Mobile Brake Testers can be used with the same heavy-duty vehicles as our in-ground testers — so you don’t have to compromise to give your workshop more flexibility.

 

3. In-ground with load simulation

 

Good for:

  • The most realistic brake performance data
  • Workshops with diverse fleets
  • Fleets with strict regulation compliance

 

Modern DVSA guidance now requires that goods vehicles need to be ‘appropriately laden’ for their annual MOTs.

So if you’re looking for the most accurate in-house test results, you’ll need a brake testing system that includes load simulation.

By applying a downward force to the vehicle while testing, you can simulate the same real-world forces that your vehicles will face when they’re in use on the road.

Our own load simulation brake tester uses a skate and chain attached to the vehicle to apply a downward force, with raised roller beds on hydraulic cylinders to accurately measure the performance of your laden brakes.

That means more accurate brake performance data, and safer vehicles — as well as the certainty that your vehicles will show the same performance later in their official MOTs.

 

Still not sure what’s right for you?

 

That covers the basics. But in practice, there are lots of variables to think about.

So if you’re setting up shop (or ready for an upgrade), we’re ready to give you the expert advice you need.

Our teams have installed brake testing systems for workshops and fleet operators of every type and size — from simple mobile brake testers to advanced in-ground testers with integrated load simulation.

But we’re not just suppliers: we’re here to advise.

Our expert installers can help you to choose the system that’s the best fit for your business and the vehicles you service. So if you’re not sure what you need, we’re ready to help — start a chat with one of our brake-testing specialists to see exactly what we can do.