Brake checklist before the annual inspection

Trucks, tractor units, buses and trailers are inspected once a year. Brakes are the first system checked, and a vehicle that fails the brake test cannot go back on the road — the job stops. Knowing the state of the brakes before the inspection takes less time than queuing for a second attempt.

Check these yourself first

If you notice any of the following, have the vehicle tested before the inspection:

• The vehicle pulls to one side under braking.
• Noise, judder or vibration when you brake.
• An air leak can be heard from the air system while the vehicle is stationary.
• The ABS or EBS warning lamp is on.
• If a semi-trailer is coupled, its brakes are also assessed separately at inspection — check it together with the tractor unit.

What the test line measures

On a TÜV-compliant roller brake tester, the wheels are braked on the rollers. The test measures:

• Brake force imbalance: the difference in brake force between the left and right wheels on the same axle.
• Braking efficiency: total brake force relative to the vehicle’s weight.
• Component condition: faults in drums, discs, linings and pads, brake chambers and cylinders.

The measurement follows the vehicle inspection regulations, and you receive the result as a written report.

ADR vehicles

ADR vehicles carrying fuel, chemicals or LPG have their brakes inspected twice a year. For these fleets, pre-inspection testing can be put on a fixed schedule, with a separate report filed for each vehicle.

After the test

If the report shows a problem, the repair can be done at the same facility. Fuat Oto is the authorised Knorr-Bremse distributor for Türkiye, and repairs use genuine parts. Testing and repair take place at the Büyükçekmece Brake Test Center; the test itself takes about 30 minutes.

The test does not replace the official inspection — it means you arrive prepared.