MOT tester with a tablet inspecting the underside of a car raised on a vehicle lift

MOT Tester study notes

Braking Requirements (Group A)

Brake condition and performance, efficiency requirements, pads and discs, and the defects each finding carries.

What this topic covers

Brake condition and performance, efficiency requirements, pads and discs, and the defects each finding carries. The full MOT Tester Annual Assessment app contains 45 questions on this topic, each referenced to its section of the DVSA manual.

Worked examples

Here are a few practice questions from this topic. Try answering each before reading the explanation.

Example 1

A motorcycle's brake lever pivot is found to be too tight in operation. What is your action?

A. Major ✓ correct
B. Minor
C. Pass
D. Dangerous

Explanation: A lever or pedal pivot that is too tight is Major, as is one with excessive wear or free play. Both defects listed for the pivot carry that category, so no lesser tier applies. Passing would leave a control that does not move freely. (Section 1.1.1, defect (a))

Example 2

The anti-slip provision on a motorcycle's brake pedal is worn smooth. What is your action?

A. Major ✓ correct
B. Minor
C. Pass
D. Dangerous

Explanation: Brake pedal anti-slip provision missing, loose or worn smooth is Major. Minor at this section covers a control not releasing correctly while the brakes still work. Passing would leave a pedal the rider's boot can slip off under braking. (Section 1.1.2, defect (c))

Example 3

Brake fluid in a motorcycle's transparent reservoir is not visible at all. What is your action?

A. Dangerous ✓ correct
B. Minor
C. Major
D. Pass

Explanation: Fluid level is graded in three steps: below the minimum mark is Minor, significantly below is Major, and not visible at all is Dangerous. No visible fluid therefore reaches the top tier. The same three-step scale appears in the car manual, so it is one of the few places the two papers agree exactly. (Section 1.1.10, defects (d)(i) to (d)(iii))

Example 4

Brake fluid on a motorcycle can clearly be seen to be contaminated. What is your action?

A. Major ✓ correct
B. Minor
C. Pass
D. Dangerous

Explanation: Contaminated brake fluid is Major, and it is the only defect listed for brake fluid. Note the judgement rule that goes with it: you should fail only where contamination can clearly be seen, and on many machines it will not be visible at all. (Section 1.8, defect (a))

Ready to test yourself?

Take the interactive quiz for Braking Requirements (Group A).

Start Braking Requirements (Group A) quiz →

More MOT Tester study notes

Get all 45 questions on this topic in the MOT Tester Annual Assessment app.