Removing wheels for Service and Safety Certificate

[biggav]

Hi All,

After having my VY II SS in for a service and safety certificate I have been informed that the 225/35/20 tyres are illegal and i needed different tyres.
That's fine I had them changed and it now has 245/30/20s. Upon changing them the tyre shop found two cross threaded studs and had to snap them to get the wheel off.
After talking to the dealership that serviced the car and did the safety certificate they informed me they didn't remove the rear wheels off the car the previous day so it wasn't them that wrecked the studs.
They said they didn't need to remove the wheels because the mags were so big they could inspect the brakes without removing them.

Does anyone know if legally they have to remove the wheels to properly inspect the braking system for a service or safety certificate. (This is in QLD).

Thanks.

[Sean880]

I do not see how you can visually check pad wear and thickness in the calipers without removing the wheel. If the wheel was not removed then they could not have adequately checked the brake pads.

If they reckon they can check a vehicle with 20inch rims then they would be able to do it on one with smaller wheels also.

Either they did not properly check the brakes as required (possible) or they removed the wheels. The response to you? Just so typical of some trades people out there unfortunately - not to mention the expert that cannot even put a wheel nut on straight.

Finally, I would write to the authorities concerned in QLD and advise them that the business concerned issued a safety certificate without removing the rear wheels (their admission to you) to properly check the brakes - and send the culprit a copy of your letter.

[VYMAD]

Yep, as Sean 880 says, how can they check the pads without removing the wheels?
Bloody get pissed right of with these assholes who don't give a rat's ass about peoples pride and joy! And yeah, how can an "expert" cross thread wheel nuts? Makes ya wonder. If it was them that inspected the brakes in the first place then tell them they are lying to you and you want the studs replaced at thier expense.

[VYMAD]

BTW, what is illegal about having 225/35/20's? You sure they weren't taking you for a ride? Or were the other two tyres on your car the other size? (245/30/20)

[Bravotwozero]

BTW, what is illegal about having 225/35/20's? You sure they weren't taking you for a ride? Or were the other two tyres on your car the other size? (245/30/20)

Incorrect load rating I'd say.

[Sean880]

BTW, what is illegal about having 225/35/20's? You sure they weren't taking you for a ride? Or were the other two tyres on your car the other size? (245/30/20)

The load rating on these 225/35s would be way too low. To be legal replacement tyres must meet the minimum load rating as per the tyre placard.

[Drewie]

You can see the outer pad on each wheel without taking the wheels off, I have often checked my pads with a mirror on my VX SS with the 17 inch rims. Can't see the inner pads though.

[RiCeY]

Easy to see remaining pad thickness without removing rims especially when youre running 20s.

[GenReaper]

Yep most mechanics use a small mirror and torch thru the rims to see pad thickness.
Used to do it all the time.

[Commydoor]

checking brake pads for roadworthy?...i doubt it...they do a brake test with a meter but pad thickness is a service requirement not registration one...the authorities will put the ph down saying what a w**k...complain to the service dept in question...

[VRAddiction]

I do not see how you can visually check pad wear and thickness in the calipers without removing the wheel. If the wheel was not removed then they could not have adequately checked the brake pads.

If they reckon they can check a vehicle with 20inch rims then they would be able to do it on one with smaller wheels also.

i dont know if you have noticed you get a hell of a lot more clearance around the brakes so there for making it easy as to check brakes through the weeks.....i always remove wheels when i do roadworthys just to be safe but if you are able to check the brakes without removing the wheels than its fine! just half assed

20 inch rims arent unroadworthy on the vy's as you can go 2inch from factory and as the clubbys and etc came with 18's its fine so i think he needed to clairfy exactly what part of it was unroadworthy

hope i have helped

[whitey66]

Easy to see remaining pad thickness without removing rims especially when youre running 20s.

Spot on,especially when vehicle is on a hoist.
It is not a requirement to remove wheels to check pad thickness in NSW for a roadworthy,i'm not sure in QLD though.
I thought you guys don't get annual roadworthy checks,or is this the similar to our Blue Slip?

[whitey66]

i dont know if you have noticed you get a hell of a lot more clearance around the brakes so there for making it easy as to check brakes through the weeks.....i always remove wheels when i do roadworthys just to be safe but if you are able to check the brakes without removing the wheels than its fine! just half assed

20 inch rims arent unroadworthy on the vy's as you can go 2inch from factory and as the clubbys and etc came with 18's its fine so i think he needed to clairfy exactly what part of it was unroadworthy

hope i have helped

I think you'll find that it depends what tyre placard is fitted to your car from the factory.If the placard states 15" only,you can only go to 17" i'm pretty sure.If you had a clubby or similar with 18" on the placard,then you could go to 20".This is for NSW though.