The present invention relates to a process and device for determining the surface friction coefficients of bodies, in particular of catheters. In the invented process, the to-be-examined catheter (1) is pulled with a defined velocity through a gel-like viscoelastic substance (2) and the frictional force required therefor is measured. A defined pressure is applied to this viscoelastic substance in such a manner that a defined surface normal force acts on the catheter surface. By applying a given, defined pressure on the substance, the surface pressure on each area element of the catheter surface is precisely given and can be held constant. By holding the area to which pressure is applied constant, the entire acting normal force can also be held constant and the friction coefficient can be determined for any catheter diameter and for any catheter consistency. Determination of the friction coefficient is reproducible and only depends on the surface friction.