diff --git a/activerecord/test/abstract_unit.rb b/activerecord/test/abstract_unit.rb
index d9c60ab6bd128117c8610b8b4185fc3bc8c1aa38..6348394685e8c27d7759a717531575f78d16c0a4 100755
--- a/activerecord/test/abstract_unit.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/abstract_unit.rb
@@ -18,6 +18,17 @@ class Test::Unit::TestCase #:nodoc:
   def create_fixtures(*table_names, &block)
     Fixtures.create_fixtures(File.dirname(__FILE__) + "/fixtures/", table_names, &block)
   end
+  
+  def assert_date_from_db(expected, actual, message = nil)
+    # SQL Server doesn't have a separate column type just for dates, 
+    # so the time is in the string and incorrectly formatted
+    
+    if current_adapter?(:SQLServerAdapter)
+      assert_equal expected.strftime("%Y/%m/%d 00:00:00"), actual.strftime("%Y/%m/%d 00:00:00")
+    else
+      assert_equal expected.to_s, actual.to_s, message
+    end
+  end
 end
 
 def current_adapter?(type)
diff --git a/activerecord/test/associations_test.rb b/activerecord/test/associations_test.rb
index b329968f228428fddf6b42df403442c1c31428aa..79c7cc8120cf1656b85d8b2b1e63439ebafe46fc 100755
--- a/activerecord/test/associations_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/associations_test.rb
@@ -1170,7 +1170,6 @@ def test_habtm_adding_before_save_with_join_attributes
     no_of_devels = Developer.count
     no_of_projects = Project.count
     now = Date.today
-    sqlnow = Time.now.strftime("%Y/%m/%d 00:00:00")
     ken = Developer.new("name" => "Ken")
     ken.projects.push_with_attributes( Project.find(1), :joined_on => now )
     p = Project.new("name" => "Foomatic")
@@ -1185,13 +1184,7 @@ def test_habtm_adding_before_save_with_join_attributes
     assert_equal 2, ken.projects(true).size
 
     kenReloaded = Developer.find_by_name 'Ken'
-    # SQL Server doesn't have a separate column type just for dates, 
-    # so the time is in the string and incorrectly formatted
-    if current_adapter?(:SQLServerAdapter)
-      kenReloaded.projects.each { |prj| assert_equal(sqlnow, prj.joined_on.to_s) }
-    else
-      kenReloaded.projects.each { |prj| assert_equal(now.to_s, prj.joined_on.to_s) }
-    end
+    kenReloaded.projects.each {|prj| assert_date_from_db(now, prj.joined_on)}
   end
 
   def test_habtm_saving_multiple_relationships
@@ -1298,10 +1291,7 @@ def test_removing_associations_on_destroy
   end
 
   def test_additional_columns_from_join_table
-    # SQL Server doesn't have a separate column type just for dates, 
-    # so the time is in the string and incorrectly formatted
-    expected = (current_adapter?(:SQLServerAdapter) ? Time.mktime(2004, 10, 10).strftime("%Y/%m/%d 00:00:00") : Date.new(2004, 10, 10).to_s)
-    assert_equal expected, Developer.find(1).projects.first.joined_on.to_s
+    assert_date_from_db Date.new(2004, 10, 10), Developer.find(1).projects.first.joined_on
   end
   
   def test_destroy_all
@@ -1316,15 +1306,9 @@ def test_destroy_all
   def test_rich_association
     jamis = developers(:jamis)
     jamis.projects.push_with_attributes(projects(:action_controller), :joined_on => Date.today)
-    # SQL Server doesn't have a separate column type just for dates, 
-    # so the time is in the string and incorrectly formatted
-    if current_adapter?(:SQLServerAdapter)
-      assert_equal Time.now.strftime("%Y/%m/%d 00:00:00"), jamis.projects.select { |p| p.name == projects(:action_controller).name }.first.joined_on.to_s
-      assert_equal Time.now.strftime("%Y/%m/%d 00:00:00"), developers(:jamis).projects.select { |p| p.name == projects(:action_controller).name }.first.joined_on.to_s
-    else
-      assert_equal Date.today.to_s, jamis.projects.select { |p| p.name == projects(:action_controller).name }.first.joined_on.to_s
-      assert_equal Date.today.to_s, developers(:jamis).projects.select { |p| p.name == projects(:action_controller).name }.first.joined_on.to_s
-    end
+    
+    assert_date_from_db Date.today, jamis.projects.select { |p| p.name == projects(:action_controller).name }.first.joined_on
+    assert_date_from_db Date.today, developers(:jamis).projects.select { |p| p.name == projects(:action_controller).name }.first.joined_on
   end
 
   def test_associations_with_conditions
diff --git a/activerecord/test/base_test.rb b/activerecord/test/base_test.rb
index 42fefa90016bca994876a354063672e6d5653d57..d2f347e0cb8e7b08e1a42998951985d5664b4ca1 100755
--- a/activerecord/test/base_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/base_test.rb
@@ -649,27 +649,21 @@ def test_mass_assignment_protection_inheritance
   end
 
   def test_multiparameter_attributes_on_date
-    # SQL Server doesn't have a separate column type just for dates, so all are returned as time
-    return true if current_adapter?(:SQLServerAdapter)
-
     attributes = { "last_read(1i)" => "2004", "last_read(2i)" => "6", "last_read(3i)" => "24" }
     topic = Topic.find(1)
     topic.attributes = attributes
     # note that extra #to_date call allows test to pass for Oracle, which 
     # treats dates/times the same
-    assert_equal Date.new(2004, 6, 24).to_s, topic.last_read.to_date.to_s
+    assert_date_from_db Date.new(2004, 6, 24), topic.last_read.to_date
   end
 
   def test_multiparameter_attributes_on_date_with_empty_date
-    # SQL Server doesn't have a separate column type just for dates, so all are returned as time
-    return true if current_adapter?(:SQLServerAdapter)
-
     attributes = { "last_read(1i)" => "2004", "last_read(2i)" => "6", "last_read(3i)" => "" }
     topic = Topic.find(1)
     topic.attributes = attributes
     # note that extra #to_date call allows test to pass for Oracle, which 
     # treats dates/times the same
-    assert_equal Date.new(2004, 6, 1).to_s, topic.last_read.to_date.to_s
+    assert_date_from_db Date.new(2004, 6, 1), topic.last_read.to_date
   end
 
   def test_multiparameter_attributes_on_date_with_all_empty