Intended use of any motor vehicle may determine whether it should go fast or slow, carry small or large loads; accordingly the braking system may be required to deliver varied levels of performance.

There is nothing new in that but, with some segments of the motor vehicle industry coming under greater scrutiny at present, higher levels of enforcement are on the horizon.

Rob Gosling from Sulco Equipment points out "whether you are looking at more ways to increase workshop revenue or you are a transport operator considering the changes to brake coding and how best to meet compliance, the first place to start is test equipment".

Test equipment is often thought of as too expensive but make sure you have all the facts before writing it off.

The workshop operator knows all too well the cost of equipment for such things as diagnostics and WOF/COF compliance.

You can own a brake tester for a similar cost to one of the latest scanners; they’re not really that expensive.

How many times have you had an irate customer come back after you’ve done brake work, which didn’t get that critical "pass" at the testing station?

Your own test unit will eliminate comebacks, keeping you ahead of the competition and adding perceived value to the workshop as a whole.

Remember, customers are looking more and more for the one-stop shop that can do everything.

The transport operator needs to consider a number of factors.

Repeated visits to the brake test lane are not only a hassle, they take additional time out of your repair man’s already busy schedule. More importantly, it’s more time off the road, less billing time for the truck!

Test equipment allows the operator to optimise brake performance, ensuring that the right balance between steer axle and drive axle braking is achieved, ensuring that the trailer assists the process rather than hinders.

Not only will this improve the overall safe operation of your truck but also by measuring individual wheel and axle performance, operators are able to maximise component life.

Finding it’s one thing, having the gear to fix it is another.

Sulco has a full compliment of on-car and off-car lathes, as well as on and off-vehicle lathes for trucks and buses.

"We’ve taken braking seriously at Sulco" says Rob, "there’s always someone coming out with a new diagnostic tool to isolate the problem, we’ve made sure we can provide the solution too". l