§ 175.94. Braking systems.
(a) Condition of braking systems. Braking systems and components shall be in safe operating condition as described in § 175.110 (relating to inspection procedure).
(b) Service brakes. Every medium and heavy truck, bus and school bus 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 motor vehicle being towed in driveaway-towaway operation.
(iii) The steering axle of a truck or truck-tractor having three or more axles was manufactured before July 25, 1980. The steering axle of truck or truck-tractor having three or more axles manufactured between July 24, 1980 and October 27, 1986 shall be equipped with functioning service brakes not later than February 26, 1988.
(2) Service brakes, when required, shall be capable of stopping the vehicle in not more than the maximum stopping distance prescribed in Table I (relating to brake performance).
(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) A vehicle specified under this subchapter manufactured or assembled after June 30, 1967 and designated as a 1968 or later model shall be equipped with a service brake system of a design that rupture or failure of either the front or rear brake system will not result in the complete loss of braking function. Braking function may be obtained by hydraulic or other means through a normal brake mechanism. In the event of a rupture or failure of an actuating force component, the unaffected brakes shall be capable of applying an adequate braking force to the vehicle.
(6) Metal from the shoe may not contact the brake drums or rotors.
(7) If a vehicle has air brakes, warning signal devices or gauges, it shall be maintained in proper operating condition, as described in § 175.110.
(8) A vehicle to which additional axles and wheels have been added shall be equipped with brakes on all additional wheels.
(9) An 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.
(10) Brake lines shall be approved for use as brake lines.
(c) Parking brake system. A vehicle specified under this subchapter shall be equipped with a parking brake system. See 75 Pa.C.S. § 4502.
(1) The parking brake system shall be adequate to hold the vehicle on a surface free from ice or snow on a 20% grade with the vehicle in neutral.
(2) The parking brakes shall be separately actuated so that failure of any part of the service brake actuation system does not diminish the vehicle’s parking brake holding capability.
Authority The provisions of this § 175.94 amended under the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § § 4103, 4301, 4501, 4521 and 6103.
Source The provisions of this § 175.94 adopted October 29, 1982, effective February 1, 1983, 12 Pa.B. 3862; corrected November 12, 1982, effective February 1, 1983, 12 Pa.B. 3947; subsection (b)(1) superseded March 27, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 1306; amended March 25, 1988, effective March 26, 1988, 18 Pa.B. 1368; 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 (221252) to (221254).
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