Brake Test successful
 

My prayers were answered. Last Thursday was fine, actually too fine at 40 degrees C plus at Oran Park Raceway near Camden in Sydney. The main thing is that my car passed the Engineering Brake Test with flying colours. Have to do the Noise Test and full mechanical inspection in a couple of weeks. A couple of small issues to iron out first.

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d..._up_Small_.jpg

THE STIG LOVED THE CAR

I take it that means you stopped before you ran into the tester? :D

Beautiful color combination there, BTW.

Well done Baz, your nearly home.

Regards

Well done Baz. You're one step closer.
Merv

Bloody Big Steps though Merv.

A little more info about the Brake Tests relative especially to New South Wales.

My biggest tip is to arrive there first. I arrived on time at 8.30am, but there were two Clubman's there in front of me. Each car takes about 2 hours to test so it was nearly 1pm by the time my turn came around and the temperature had risen to about 44 C. Not a tap in sight either, so if your going in Summer, take plenty of supplies.

The Engineer then assembles various computers onto the passenger's seat and places three large sand bags on the nearside foot well to simulate the weight of a passenger. He then drives the car alone.

Incidentially, the Test is now done from 100 kph and NOT 160kph.

The first test and the most grueling on the car is a series of 10 crash stops from 100kph, measured from a defined point. This is the 'Fade Test' and really got those rotors red hot on such a warm day.

For the the next test, the front brake hoses are clamped and the Engineer does 4 crash stops from 100kph, each one mesured and logged, with only the rear brakes working.

Next test involves unclamping the front brake lines and clamping the rears, doing 4 crash stops from 100kph with only the front brakes working.

Next test involves re-connecting all brake lines and disconnecting the booster to simulate a 'Booster Failure'. He then does one crash stop from 100kph and records the data.

Oran Park closes for good tomorrow and the race track will be replaced with State Government Landcom Housing lots for sale. I was lucky to get done.

The Tests were conducted on the Grand Prix Go Kart Circuit for which we were charged $1,600 shared by the three of us who were having our vehicles tested.

I suppose Sydney-Siders who are still to have Brake Tests conducted will now have to travel to Wakefield or pay a small fortune for Eastern Creek.

I hope this information helps someone else who is about to experience this interesting aspect of a 'Build.'

Baz

Congratulations Baz.

Thanks for posting a bit of detail about the test.

What brake set up are you using (calipers and master cylinder)? I was told last year that everything has to be from the same doner car but i need to reconfirm this with the Engineer. Did this topic come up at all?

How did the car perform only using front and rear seperately? Any spins?

Liam.

Baz, did the engineer lockup the wheels at any stage and if so have you got any flatspots on the tyres?

Regards.

Hey there Baz, sounds like a good day for you.

I would be a little concerend about clamping the braided brake flex hoses I have fitted, as I think it would distort the braiding beyond a reasonable limit.

In any case congratulations.

Hi Liam,
I am using Jag brakes front and rear with a VZ Commodore master cylinder. No problems there with the Engineer as it has a similar internal chanber capacity as the Jags, but is a better unit.

Fortunately no spins, just took a fair bit longer to pull up.

Baz

Mando,

He did have a couple of brief lockups, but I had an old set of tyres fitted just to cover that contingency. My Sumitomos are still virtual virgins.

Baz

That is so daunting! Nothing like in QLD so far. I think I would give up in advance. That sounds so pedantic. I wonder how many cars driving around everyday could even come close to those standards? What day and all that heat as well. It MUST get easier from now.

Dave,

I only had rubber hoses fitted for the brake test so they could be clamped. The new braided hoses were locked up safe and sound back home and will be going onto the car on Monday.

Baz

thanks for sharing the detail. what are the conditions/paperwork for the engineer driving the car????? what if he has a major lockup and screws your tyres, or worse, puts it in the wall????

Baz, did you know in advance they were going to clamp your lines and what else have you left of the car to get through the registration process?

Regards.

Congradulations Baz, Shame you couldn't do a few victory laps around the main track.
All these questions ! I suggest to these fellas to talk to their engineer before doing any more work...there's nothing worse than having to do a major modification after 'finishing' the job.

Good Question Modena,

As I mentioned earlier, I had an old set of tyres fitted and there is no walls in the near vicinity, only red witches hats to mark the commencement of the Brake Test. Besides that, my Engineer is an experienced Open Wheeler driver and knows how to apply the brakes correctly.

The car is fully insured so I wasn't worried.

Baz

Good suggestion Rob,

Especially relevant for those who are not living in NSW. Hopefully, it will be a lot easier for them.

Baz