Sec. 11.14.09.05. Brakes

A. Hydraulic System.

(1) Tests and Visual Inspection Procedures. Results will indicate whether or not a vehicle has reasonably safe brakes at the time of inspection. These procedures are applicable to vehicles equipped with hand controls for the physically handicapped. If equipped with power assisted hydraulic brakes, system shall be functioning as designed.

Procedures:	Reject Vehicle If:
(a) Hydraulic System Leakage Test. While the vehicle is stopped, depress brake pedal under moderate foot force. The pedal height shall remain constant for 1 minute.	(a) Brake pedal height cannot be maintained for 1 minute.
(b) Pedal Reserve Test. While the vehicle is stopped, depress brake pedal under moderate foot force.	(b) Less than 1/3 of the total available pedal travel remains.

(2) All four wheels shall be removed for brake inspection. Do not remove wheel cylinder dust boots for inspection. Leakage can be determined by pushing on the outside of the boot.

Procedures:	Reject Vehicle If:
(a) Hydraulic System. Visually inspect condition of hydraulic system. (i) Inspect wheel cylinders and calipers for leakage and operation. Do not pry or remove dust boot. (ii) Inspect hydraulic hoses for leaks, cracks, knots, bubbles, chafing, flattened or restricted sections, improper support, and improper material. Proper inspection of rubber brake hoses would be to gently flex the hose to determine if there are cracks. (iii) Inspect brake lines for leaks, flattened or restricted sections, improper support, rusting causing pitting, and improper material and connections. Any repairs must meet or exceed manufacturer's standards. (iv) Inspect master cylinder for leakage and fluid level of all sections of reservoir. Be sure no dirt gets into reservoir when cover is removed and the gasket is serviceable.	(a) (i) Wheel cylinder or caliper leaks or fails to operate. (ii) Hoses are leaking, chafed, flattened, restricted, contain knots or bubbles, or are improperly supported. Cracked brake hoses if the second layer, that is the cord layer, is cut or exposed. (iii) Brake lines are leaking, flattened, restricted, or rusted and pitting is visible, improperly supported, or lines have been repaired or replaced with copper tubing or other material not designed for hydraulic brake lines. (iv) There are improper connections, for example, compression fittings in the brake lines. Hoses or brake lines are mounted to allow contact with wheel, tire, or body during steering or suspension movement. (v) Master cylinder leaks. (vi) Fluid level in any section of master cylinder reservoir is below the manufacturer's minimum specification, or is less than 1/2 full when no minimum is specified. (vii) The gasket does not properly seal master cylinder.
(b) Dual Hydraulic Circuits-In addition to the above, if vehicle is equipped with a brake warning light: (i) Follow the manufacturer's testing procedure for operation of light; and (ii) With power key switch on, apply moderate foot force to brake pedal and observe light.	(b) (i) Brake warning light fails to function as designed by vehicle manufacturer, or lights indicating a malfunction. (ii) Light comes on when brake pedal is depressed.

B. Drums and Discs.

(1) All four wheels shall be removed for brake inspection. On vehicles equipped with disc brakes some drag can be felt when turning the wheel and tire. This drag is not excessive if the wheel can be turned readily with one hand.

Procedures:	Reject Vehicle If:
(a) Brake Drums. (i) Inspect the condition of the drum friction surface for substantial cracks extending to the open edge of the drum. Short hairline heat cracks should not be considered. (ii) Inspect for cracks on the outside of the drum. (iii) Inspect for mechanical damage. (iv) Inspect for contaminated friction surface. (v) Measure inside diameter of drum.	(a) Brake Drums. (i) There is a substantial crack on the friction surface extending to the open edge. (ii) There is an external crack. (iii) There is evidence of excessive mechanical damage other than wear. (iv) Friction surface is contaminated with oil, grease, or brake fluid. (v) Inside drum diameter is greater than the maximum diameter stamped on the drum. If the drum is not stamped, refer to the Agency Note below.
(b) Brake Discs. (i) Inspect for substantial cracks extending to edge of disc. Short hairline heat cracks should not be considered. (ii) Inspect for mechanical damage. (iii) Inspect for contaminated friction surface. (iv) Measure thickness of disc.	(b) Brake Discs. (i) There are substantial cracks extending to edge. (ii) There is evidence of excessive mechanical damage other than wear. (iii) Friction surface is contaminated with oil, grease, or brake fluid. (iv) Thickness of disc is less than manufacturer's minimum thickness stamped on the assembly. If the disc is not stamped, refer to the Agency Note below.
Agency Note: Brake discard specifications for brake drums and brake discs may not be provided by all manufacturers of low speed vehicles. If brake drums are not stamped with a maximum diameter specification, or brake discs are not stamped with a minimum thickness specification visible without disassembly of the rotor, the determination of passing or failing the brake drum or brake disc based upon measurements obtained in comparison to brake discard specifications will therefore be waived. The recording of maximum specifications of brake drums or minimum specifications of brake discs, will also not be required as stated in COMAR 11.14.01.11B(7) on the vehicle inspection report. All brake drums and brake discs will be inspected as otherwise required and measurements recorded on the vehicle inspection report along with corresponding brake lining and pad thickness readings.

C. Linings and Pads. Remove all wheels and drum assemblies for inspection of linings on drum brakes. On vehicles equipped with disc brakes, only removal of the wheels is necessary.

Procedures:	Reject Vehicle If:
(1) Condition of Linings and Pads.	(1) Condition of Linings and Pads.
(a) Bonded Linings. Measure the lining thickness at the thinnest point.	(a) Bonded Linings. Thinnest point of lining is less than 2/32 inch.
(b) Riveted Linings. Inspect for loose or missing rivets. Measure lining thickness above rivet head at thinnest point.	(b) Riveted Linings. (i) Any rivets are loose or missing. (ii) Lining is worn to where less than 2/32 inch remains above any rivet head.
(c) All Linings. (i) Inspect for broken or cracked linings, and parts of linings not firmly attached to shoe or pad backing. (ii) Inspect for contamination and excessively uneven lining wear.	(c) All Linings. (i) Lining is broken, cracked, or not firmly and completely attached to shoe or pad backing. (ii) Friction surface is contaminated with oil, grease, or brake fluid. (iii) Lining wear is extremely uneven.
(d) Pads (Disc Brakes). Inspect thickness of friction pads. If the pad thickness cannot be determined with pad thickness gauge, caliper shall be removed for measurement. (i) Bonded pads-measure thinnest point of lining. (ii) Riveted pads-measure thickness of lining above rivet head at thinnest point.	(d) Lining on any bonded pad is less than 2/32 inch, or less than 2/32 inch lining remains above rivet head.

D. Mechanical Linkage. Mechanical linkage includes the service brake mechanism, parking brake, and manual controls on vehicles equipped for physically handicapped persons.

Procedures:	Reject Vehicle If:
(1) Condition of Mechanical Components.	(1) Condition of Mechanical Components.
(a) Inspect for worn pins and missing or defective cotter pins.	(a) Mechanical parts are missing, broken, or badly worn.
(b) Inspect for broken, missing, or worn springs, cables, clevises, couplings, rods, and anchor pins.	(b) Grease retainers or axle seals are leaking. Slight dampness is not cause for rejection.
(c) Inspect for frozen, rusted, or inoperative connections, missing spring clips, and defective grease retainers or axle seals.	(c) There is excessive friction in pedal and linkage, or in brake components.
(d) Inspect pedal shaft and bearings for high friction, wear, and misalignment.	(d) Pedal levers are improperly positioned or misaligned.
(e) Inspect for restricted shoe movement at backing plate, and for binding between brake shoes and anchor pins.	(e) Rubber service brake pedal pad is excessively worn to expose metal pedal or rubber pad is missing.
(f) Foot operated controls shall have a slip resistant surface. Inspect service brake pedal rubber pad for excessive wear or missing pad.

E. Power Assisted Brake Systems (If so equipped).

Procedures:	Reject Vehicle If:
(1) Inspect power assisted brake system for its ability to function as designed and for general condition. Perform testing/inspection procedures necessary to determine power assisted brake system is in proper condition and functioning as designed. Consult vehicle manufacturer if necessary.	(1) Power assist brake system fails to function as designed by vehicle manufacturer or contains any loose, leaking, low fluid, damaged, or worn parts.

F. Parking Brake.

(1) Parking Brake Function. A positive locking brake shall be provided. It shall be either a hand or foot operated type mechanism as described in SAE J2358, which is incorporated by reference in Regulation .02 of this chapter.

(2) Any parking brake shall hold a stopped vehicle firmly on all normal road grades.

Procedures:	Reject Vehicle If:
(a) Parking Brake Function. (i) Set the parking brake firmly and check the ability of parking brake to hold the vehicle. (ii) Vehicle shall have a mechanical parking brake, which will hold the vehicle to the limit of traction in either direction on any grade. (iii) Due to the inability to road test vehicle and if no grade is present at inspection facility, set parking brake and attempt to push vehicle forward and backward by hand. (iv) Inspect for operation of manufacturer's warning devices designed to remind operator to set parking brake, if so equipped.	(a) Parking Brake Function. (i) Parking brake fails to hold the vehicle on any grade on which it is operated, or absent a grade, the vehicle is capable of being moved by hand. (ii) Manufacturer's warning device reminding operator to set parking brake fails to function as designed, when equipped.
(b) Linings and Drums. (i) If the vehicle is equipped with parking brakes, which are separate from the service brakes, inspect the linings and drums in the same manner that those on the service brakes are inspected.	(b) Linings and Drums. (i) Parking brake drums are cracked, broken, or otherwise damaged. (ii) Linings are loose, worn out, or contaminated with grease, oil, or brake fluid.

G. Definitions.

(1) "Brake system" means a combination of one or more brakes and their related means of operation and control and is equipped with brakes acting on all wheels.

(2) "Emergency brake system" means a brake system used for retarding and stopping the vehicle in the event of a malfunction in the service brake system. This function may be performed by the parking brake system or by a portion of the service brake system, or by a separate brake system.

(3) "Parking brake system" means a brake system used to hold and maintain a vehicle in a stationary position with a positive mechanical means employed to hold the brake applied when the vehicle is unattended.

(4) "Pedal reserve", as applied to hydraulic, mechanical, or power-assisted hydraulic brakes, means the amount of total pedal travel left in reserve when the pedal is depressed to the brake-applied position. The pedal reserve check is to ascertain the degree of the brake adjustment and to demonstrate satisfactory brake actuating system condition.

(5) "Service brake system" means a brake system used for retarding, stopping, and controlling the vehicle under normal operating conditions.

(6) "Stopping distance" means the distance traveled by a vehicle from the point of application of force to the brake control, to the point at which the vehicle reaches a full stop.