Shoutout to the new magnetic brake test kit from ElevateTech

I was sure the fancy magnetic brake test kit from ElevateTech was just overpriced junk. Then my shop in Portland got one, and we found a 15% drag on a brake we'd have sworn was fine using the old spring scale method. It's changed how we do our quarterly inspections. Anyone else made the switch and seen similar results?

3 comments

3 Comments

hugo_robinson252mo ago

We had the exact same experience in our shop. The old spring method always felt like a guess, but you just trusted it because that's how it was done. Finding that hidden drag makes you question every brake you passed before. It's not just about the tool, it's about changing the whole standard for what "good enough" means. We're catching problems now that would have worn down pads way too fast.

rowan6582mo ago

Totally get that. Watched a tech use the old way on a caliper that felt fine. Slapped the gauge on it and found a solid 30 pounds of drag he completely missed. That rotor was cooking. Makes you realize how many "quick spins" we let slide that were actually costing people money.

beth_reed2mo ago

Our shop saw the same thing (thanks @hugo_robinson25), and it really made us rethink our old methods.