AutoTest shares essential insights for Australian workshops

There are several key factors affecting brake performance that determine how effectively a vehicle can stop.
These include speed, weight, brake adjustments, and anti-lock braking systems (ABS).
For local workshop owners and brake professionals, looking beyond basic maintenance is essential.
Understanding how different loads, speeds, and vehicle designs interact on Australia’s diverse roads helps ensure robust, reliable braking every time.
Take heavy rigid trucks as an example: doubling the load doesn’t just add a bit of strain on the system, it effectively doubles the stopping distance. And when drivers push the speed limit, braking demands grow exponentially. This can lead to excessive wear, premature brake fade, and a real risk to road safety.
Heat build-up is often overlooked but can compromise braking efficiency. Driving habits also affect the amount of heat that develops in the brakes. Constant start-stop traffic in city centres boosts temperatures, leading to reduced friction and forcing drivers to brake harder. Over time, this cycle can trigger brake fade.

Brake adjustment and anti-lock braking systems
Proper brake adjustment is the backbone of reliable braking. When the pushrod stroke in an air brake system becomes excessive, the resulting loss in braking pressure translates into dangerously extended stopping distances.
Overextended pushrods also accelerate brake wear, raising both maintenance costs and the risk of brake failure in high-demand situations – such as driving downhill or carrying heavy loads.
Brakes that are out of adjustment cannot be detected except by inspection.
Although anti-lock braking systems help to prevent wheel lock, you should not expect the stopping distance for your vehicle to be shortened.
Vehicles equipped with ABS have dashboard warning indicators that alert drivers to system malfunctions, though standard braking remains functional.

Specialist testing equipment
AutoTest says it fits into this picture by delivering specialised testing equipment that offers real-time, data-driven assessments of brake performance.
It reports that its AutoStop Maxi records average Deceleration, stopping distance, speed and other key metrics; information that is indispensable for thorough inspections.
For larger vehicles, fleets, or more rigorous demands, AutoStop Heavy provides GPS-enhanced measurements, including brake delay, brake performance and brake capability helping you comply with both local and international standards. This is backed up by an internationally traceable NATA calibration.
AutoTest says that when you work with its team, you are not just meeting compliance requirements, you are raising the bar for quality and reliability in your workshop. It states each test helps pinpoint issues early and demonstrates your commitment to safeguarding drivers and road users.

For more information, contact AutoTest on 03 8840 3000 or sales@autotest.net.au or visit to www.autotest.net.au