Thread: Victorian RWC - Failed Inspection!

Originally Posted by garrycol

The Vehicle Unit of Monash University have actually investigated this and found that there is no difference of accident rates caused by mechanical failures between jurisdictions that have annual roadworthys and those that don't.

The reasons were complex but the main reason was that in the states with roadworthies drivers tend not to maintain their cars as well and let the tester pick up things once a year and if things like tyres are noticed before hand they are left until testing time and do it then. In states with no roadworthys owners tend to fix things when they pick them up - now these are overall findings and we all know people who do nothing and others who do a lot.

Garry

No surprises for anyone Old & Cynical like myself. Human error was, is and always will be the major cause of car crashes. - Even when there are obvious defects (bald tyres, brakes pulling savagely etc) it is still the 'human' who makes the decision to drive with that condition... Or despite it.

Complex reasons? Yes, agree, and I'd suggest that the Powers That Be are the culprits.... Treat people like idiots and crooks, and many folk will eventually fall to that expected level, even the best of us. Far better to 'expect' better of people, and save the energy for the relatively few who won't or can't lift themselves to the (higher) bar.
Anyone remember that experiment done in Holland? - where the authorities designated a certain inner-city area as a common zone for pedestrians, bicycles cars and trucks shared the space... NO road rules or right of way etc... except be equally nice to others and don't skittle anyone. Scared the daylights out of everyone at first, but then worked fantastically well.

I'd be very interested if Monash did some in-depth studies of the school-zone speed limit, how the 40 limit has saved so many lives.. and why. Lower impact speed? More effective braking at 40 than 50 or 60? What about the rate of 'encounters' or 'near misses', has that risen or fallen?
Or are the relevant statistics not....available.

I don't have a problem with the 40 limit.... especially if it is preserving life & limb, and not training the parents & kids to be complacent...

My sympathies to our Kiwi cousins...

I wasn't expecting to generate so much discussion with my original post. Clearly RWC is an emotive subject.

I measured the lean on my car. On the passenger side the distance from the ground to the top of the wheel arch is 850mm both front and rear. On the drivers side the same measurement is 830mm at the rear and 815mm at the front.

The tyres are similarly shaped and inflated so the height difference is not coming from them.

I measured the difference between the height of the front springs and sure enough the Drivers side spring is 35 shorter than the passenger side.

So here's what I've decided to do. I've got to replace the brake discs all round as they are worn and not roadworthy. So while I have the car up on the axle stands I figure I might just as well replace the springs, shocks and wheel bearings at the same time. After all I bought the car as a project with the intention of having some fun fixing it up.

The parts all arrived today so I'll start the work this weekend and see how I go.

Cheers .......... Paul

Originally Posted by lidvii

I wasn't expecting to generate so much discussion with my original post. Clearly RWC is an emotive subject.

I measured the lean on my car. On the passenger side the distance from the ground to the top of the wheel arch is 850mm both front and rear. On the drivers side the same measurement is 830mm at the rear and 815mm at the front.

The tyres are similarly shaped and inflated so the height difference is not coming from them.

I measured the difference between the height of the front springs and sure enough the Drivers side spring is 35 shorter than the passenger side.

So here's what I've decided to do. I've got to replace the brake discs all round as they are worn and not roadworthy. So while I have the car up on the axle stands I figure I might just as well replace the springs, shocks and wheel bearings at the same time. After all I bought the car as a project with the intention of having some fun fixing it up.

The parts all arrived today so I'll start the work this weekend and see how I go.

Cheers .......... Paul

Good plan. i did the same with mine. I put tough dog suspension in mine. The front springs from mine were labeled left and right. Just a tip incase yours are too.

... And give the inspector a nice big fat yellow or white paint marker-pen, insist he initial every item he finds fault with...

Your lean is excessive in my book I personally would of failed it.
If its an obvious lean them the spring is too tired and needs replacing. If its not obvious to look at from looking head on then I'd always let it go. One shouldn't be measuring for a rwc.
Saying that though my old classic had bad lean and it passed a rwc before I bought it.

BUT yes vic rwc are a total joke half the time, my classic failed on boot gas struts......

Since moving to queensland I've since found the best rwc places are performance workshops that have dynos.....they tend to be the best if you are just transferring the vehicle into your name

Originally Posted by goingbush

This would make all Landrovers unroadworthy , They All lean to one side.

And would make ALL 1999 onward Defenders unroadworthy, The Fuel filter IS factory fitted in the Right hand rear wheel arch

Good luck

I think the inspector picked on the LPG supply line in the front wheel arch, because its a braided rubber hose and in the wheel arch it is subject to external damage.

In my '85 RR we covered the LPG supply line in the same place with spiral wrap tightly wound, which seemed to satisfy the inspector.

Swap the coils over Left to Right and see if it changes.

Originally Posted by lidvii

4. Relocate Fuel filter from Right hand rear wheel arch area

Looks like all TD5 disco 2s will fail as well. That's the way they come from the factory.


cheers

Steve

Originally Posted by Rok_Dr

Looks like all TD5 disco 2s will fail as well.

And a brand new Defender...