R714-162-11. Brakes

  (1) When examining the brake system of a vehicle, the inspector shall:

  (a) check to ensure that the vehicle is installed with the required brakes;

  (b) check the service brakes for proper operation;

  (c) check for broken, missing, or loose components, brake lining air leaks in the brake chambers, brake readjustment limits, mismatch across the steering axle of air chamber sizes, and slack adjuster length;

  (d) check wedge brakes for movement on the scribe that exceeds 1/16 inch; and

  (e) issue a rejection inspection certificate when:

  (i) there is absence of any braking action on any axle required to have brakes upon application of the service brakes such as missing brakes or brake shoes, failing to move upon application of a wedge, S-cam, cam, or disc brake;

  (ii) there are missing or broken mechanical components such as shoes, linings, pads, springs, anchor pins, spiders, cam rollers, push rods, or air chamber mounting bolts;

  (iii) a brake lining is contaminated with oil, grease, or brake fluid;

  (iv) a brake lining is broken, has a crack that exceeds 1-1/2 inch in length, has a crack or void that exceeds 1/16 inch observable from the edge of the lining, or a pad or lining is not firmly attached to the shoe;

  (v) there are loose brake components such as air chambers, spiders, and cam shaft support brackets;

  (vi) there is an audible air leak at the brake chamber, including a ruptured diaphragm or loose chamber clamp;

  (vii) a brake is beyond adjustment limits listed in tables or instructions in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations;

  (viii) a brake lining has a thickness less than 1/4 inch at the shoe center for air drum brakes, 1/16 inch or less at the shoe center for hydraulic and electric drum brakes, and less than 1/8 inch for air disc brakes on either the steering or non-steering axles; or

  (ix) there is a mismatch across any power unit steering axle of air chamber sizes or slack adjuster length;

  (e) check the parking brake system; and

  (i) issue a rejection inspection certificate when the brakes on the vehicle or combination are not applied upon actuation of the parking brake control, including the driveline hand controlled parking brakes;

  (f) check brake drums and brake rotors for damage, wear, and contamination; and

  (i) issue a rejection inspection certificate when:

  (A) any portion of the brake drum or rotor has any external crack or has any crack that opens upon brake application, except for short hairline heat check cracks;

  (B) any portion of the brake drum or rotor is missing or is in danger of falling away;

  (C) there are fluids contaminating the friction surface of either the brake drum or rotor;

  (D) the inside diameter of the drum measures more than the discard diameter stamped on the drum or more than OEM specifications if drum is unmarked; or

  (E) the thickness of a disc is less than the minimum thickness stamped on the disc.

  (f) check the brake hoses for any damage, bulges or swelling, audible leaks, and proper fittings; and

  (i) issue a rejection inspection certificate when:

  (A) a brake hose has any damage extending through the outer reinforcement ply;

  (B) there is color difference between cover and inner tube;

  (C) bulges or swelling are evident when air pressure is applied;

  (D) there are any audible air leaks;

  (E) two brake hoses are improperly joined, such as a splice made by sliding the hose ends over a piece of tubing and clamping the hose to the tube; or

  (F) an air hose is cracked, broken or crimped;

  (g) check brake tubing for any damage, leaks, and general condition; and

  (i) issue a rejection inspection certificate when:

  (A) there are any audible air leaks; or

  (B) any brake tubing is cracked, damaged by heat, broken, or crimped;

  (h) check the low pressure warning device; and

  (i) issue a rejection inspection certificate when:

  (A) the low pressure warning device is missing, inoperative, does not operate at 55 PSI and below or 1/2 the governor cutout pressure, whichever is less, on a vehicle manufactured after March 1, 1975; or

  (B) the vehicle does not have a visual warning device, if manufactured after March 1, 1975;

  (i) check the tractor protection valve or device on the power unit; and

  (i) issue a rejection inspection certificate when the tractor protection valve or device is inoperative or missing.;

  (j) check air brakes and compressor for proper operation and condition; and

  (i) issue a rejection inspection certificate when:

  (A) compressor drive belts are in a condition of impending or probable failure;

  (B) compressor mounting bolts are loose;

  (C) pulley is cracked, broken, or loose; or

  (D) a mounting bracket, brace, or adapter is loose, cracked, broken, or missing;

  (k) check electric brakes and breakaway braking device; and

  (i) issue a rejection inspection certificate when:

  (A) there is absence of braking action on any wheel required to have brakes; or

  (B) breakaway braking device is missing or inoperable;

  (l) check hydraulic brakes, including power assist over hydraulic, engine drive hydraulic booster and dual hydraulic circuits for proper operation; and

  (i) issue a rejection inspection certificate when:

  (A) The master cylinder is below the add line or less than 3/4 full;

  (B) there is no pedal reserve when the engine is running except by pumping the pedal;

  (C) the power assist unit fails to operate;

  (D) a brake hose is seeping or swelling under application of pressure;

  (E) the check valve is missing or inoperative;

  (F) hydraulic fluid is observed leaking from the brake system;

  (G) a hydraulic hose is abraded (chafed) through the outer cover to the fabric layer;

  (H) fluid lines or connections are leaking, restricted, crimped, cracked, or broken; or

  (I) brake failure or low fluid warning light is on or inoperative;

  (m) check the Vacuum Braking System for proper operation.

  (i) issue a rejection inspection certificate when:

  (A) there is insufficient vacuum reserve to permit one full brake application after the engine is shut off;

  (B) a vacuum hose or line is leaking, restricted, abraded (chafed) through the outer cover to the cord ply, crimped, cracked, broken, or collapsed when vacuum is applied; or

  (C) the low-vacuum warning device is missing or inoperative; and

  (n) check for leaking wheel seals; and

  (i) issue a rejection inspection certificate when a wheel seal is leaking.