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I have a 1997 Toyota Sprinter Carib. In May, to pass the WoF, new front brake hoses had to be fitted. In October a different workshop failed the car for a new WoF: "Front brake hoses to comply! Have been secured with cable ties!"

According to VIRMS A flexible hydraulic brake hose (including connections) would fail the test if insecure.

The first workshop said the cable ties met the requirements, the second workshop said they did not.

I'm now running with the most expensive brake hoses in the country, but who is right? Can I make any claim on either workshop? If these after market brake hoses which need to be secured by cable ties are unsafe, why has there not been a recall? Are all the other cars on the road fitted with after market brake hoses, held in place by cable ties all accidents waiting to happen?

Hi there,
You are right, the VIRM states that it is a fail if the brake hoses are insecure, it doesn't specify by what method they are to be secured.
If the hoses are secured correctly on the calliper and at the brake pipe end, then I would see no reason for failure if cable ties were used to secure the centre of the brake hose to the shock (which is common to have an issue with non-genuine hoses).
However if a cable tie was used to secure the joining point of the brake hose and steel pipe, this may not be adequate, as it may still allow the steel pipe to vibrate and potentially cause fracturing of the pipe.