Quality assured parts after Roadsafe evaluation

ENSURING aftermarket parts are up to the right quality and safety standards is the brief held by Melbourne based Roadsafe, a suspension and steering “chassis specialist” that’s part of the Bapcor organisation which owns Burson Auto Parts, Autobarn, Autopro and Midas among a raft of related businesses.

Roadsafe caters for the automotive aftermarket through a wide distribution and retail network with an extensive product range and a focus on 4WD. With parts coming from all points of the compass, Roadsafe has implemented a stringent validation and testing program for every part it sells.

The company operates an extensive research and development facility based in Melbourne to ensure the quality and safety of its product line up. It also enables Roadsafe to constantly design and develop new automotive chassis and suspension component parts specifically to suit the Australian automotive aftermarket. 

The firm has been around under different names and ownership for 40 years and claims to “lead the way in parts excellence “. The purpose-built R&D product testing factory at head office utilises local sealed and unsealed roads to support the ongoing development and assessment of its 4WD, suspension and chassis products.

At the forefront of its R&D activities are an impressive array of tools and machinery a prime example being shock absorber dynamometers for assessing shock absorbers for potential sale here.

Employing rigorous durability, gas pressure, drag, valving forces and speed tests, Roadsafe can meticulously analyse the performance and longevity of their aftermarket (replacement) shock absorbers, ensuring their reliability in our arduous driving conditions.

This emphasis on aftermarket shock absorber product quality includes visual inspections from welding areas to the paint finish. Roadsafe says every detail is meticulously examined and vehicle fitment inspections play a critical role in validating correct mounting, including L-min, L-max, droop, and fouling issues.

The company says “such comprehensive scrutiny guarantees Roadsafe products not only meet but exceed Australian standards”.

Looking at other auto parts, the Roadsafe R&D department strives to push the envelope in other chassis components using cyclic testing that simulates the stresses these parts would experience under relevant vehicle curb weights. Pull-out testing measures the force required to pull a component from its assembly, while drop testing determines the resilience of the part on impact.

Hardness measurement further reveals the strength and durability of the part’s material, with each test compared with the original OEM product to provide a benchmark for the Roadsafe product.

To thoroughly carry out its brief, the Roadsafe R&D department is equipped with a range of scientific testing and general automotive trade equipment. These high-tech products include equipment such as the Hunter Elite wheel aligner along with an engineering standard lathe and mill and a range of saws and presses.

Yes, Roadsafe goes as far as to cut up its products for close scrutiny.

The precision equipment also includes a Vernier, Micrometer, Durometer and Hardness testers. Adding credence to its findings, Roadsafe partners with the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) for local assessment as needed and as a part of the ongoing quality assurance process.

This collaboration assures Roadsafe products are compliant with globally recognised standards, bolstering their reputation and trade customers' trust. Roadsafe's innovative R&D is not confined to traditional testing methods leveraging 3D scanning, finite element analysis (FEA) and 3D test printing for their newly designed products.

Employing cutting-edge 3D scanning and printing capabilities, the Roadsafe R&D team can create, analyse and refine prototypes until satisfied with a final version before actual production, thereby expediting the product development process while ensuring the highest level of precision.

Over the past four decades, Roadsafe has distributed steering and suspension products that reflect the R&D team’s relentless pursuit of perfection. The company says its name is a promise, a commitment to safety and durability through robust R&D practices that play a pivotal role in its operations.