§ 175.123. Braking systems.
(a) Condition of braking systems. Braking systems and components shall be in safe operating condition as described in § 175.130 (relating to inspection procedure).
(b) Service brakes. A trailer shall be equipped with a service brake system. See 75 Pa.C.S. § 4502 (relating to general requirements for braking systems).
(1) The service brakes shall act on all wheels upon application except for the following:
(i) On interconnected dual wheels, the brakes may act upon only one wheel.
(ii) A vehicle being towed in driveaway-towaway operation.
(iii) A trailer of a gross weight not exceeding 3,000 pounds, if the gross weight of the trailer does not exceed 40% of the gross weight of the towing vehicle.
(2) The service brakes, when required, shall be capable of stopping the vehicle in not more than the maximum stopping distance prescribed in Table I.
(3) Surge or inertia type brake systems are authorized.
(4) The brake lining and brake fluids shall be of a type approved by the vehicle manufacturer or shall meet the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standards (J998, January 1980)—see Appendix A (relating to minimum requirements for motor vehicle brake linings—SAE J998).
(5) Metal from the shoe may not contact the brake drums or rotors.
(6) A vehicle to which additional axles and wheels have been added shall be equipped with brakes on the additional wheels.
(7) Brake lines shall be approved for use as brake lines.
(c) Breakaway system. A trailer operated on a highway which is equipped with brakes or which has gross weight in excess of 3,000 pounds shall be equipped with a breakaway system which shall stop and hold the vehicle automatically upon breakaway from the towing vehicle.
(d) Air chamber push rod. The air chamber push rod travel may not exceed the manufacturer’s specifications maximum stroke allowance. See Chart 4 (relating to brake chamber push rod travel (typical)) for a drawing of the air chamber push rod.
Authority The provisions of this § 175.123 amended under the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § § 4103, 4301, 4501, 4521 and 6103.
Source The provisions of this § 175.123 adopted December 2, 1977, effective February 1, 1978, 7 Pa.B. 3499; amended October 29, 1982, effective February 1, 1983, 12 Pa.B. 3862; corrected November 12, 1982, effective February 1, 1983, 12 Pa.B. 3947; readopted December 2, 1988, effective December 3, 1988, 18 Pa.B. 5362; amended November 13, 1998, effective May 13, 1999, 28 Pa.B. 5670. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (221278) to (221279).
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