49 CFR Part 570 — Vehicle in Use Inspection Standards

PART 570—VEHICLE IN USE INSPECTION STANDARDS Authority: Secs. 103, 108, 119, Pub. L. 89-563, 80 Stat. 718 (15 U.S.C. 1392, 1397, 1407); delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50. Subpart A—Vehicles With GVWR of 10,000 Pounds or Less Source: 38 FR 23950, Sept. 5, 1973, unless otherwise noted. § 570.1 Scope. This part specifies standards and procedures for inspection of hydraulic service brake systems, steering and suspension systems, and tire and wheel assemblies of motor vehicles in use. § 570.2 Purpose. The purpose of this part is to establish criteria for the inspection of motor vehicles by State inspection systems, in order to reduce death and injuries attributable to failure or inadequate performance of motor vehicle systems. § 570.3 Applicability. This part does not in itself impose requirements on any person. It is intended to be implemented by States through the highway safety program standards issued under the Highway Safety Act (23 U.S.C. 402) with respect to inspection of motor vehicles with gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less, except motorcycles or trailers. § 570.4 Definitions. Unless otherwise indicated, all terms used in this part that are defined in 49 CFR part 571, Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, are used as defined in that part. § 570.5 Service brake system. Unless otherwise noted, the force to be applied during inspection procedures to power-assisted and full-power brake systems is 25 lb, and to all other systems, 50 lb. (a) Failure indicator. (1) Inspection procedure. (b) Brake system integrity. (1) Inspection procedures. (c) Brake pedal reserve. (1) Inspection procedure. Determine the percentage as [(A−B)/A] × 100. The engine must be operating when power-assisted brakes are checked. The pedal reserve check is not required for vehicles equipped with full power (central hydraulic) brake systems, or to vehicles with brake systems designed to operate with greater than 80 percent pedal travel. (d) Service brake performance. (1) Roller-type or drive-on platform tests. (i) Inspection procedure. (2) Road test. (i) Inspection procedure. (e) Brake hoses and assemblies. (1) Inspection procedure. Note: To inspect for paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section, remove at a minimum one front wheel and one rear wheel. (f) Disc and drum condition. (1) Inspection procedure. (g) Friction materials. (1) Inspection procedure. (h) Structural and mechanical parts. (1) Inspection procedure. [38 FR 23950, Sept. 5, 1973; 38 FR 25685, Sept. 14, 1973, as amended at 39 FR 12868, Apr. 9, 1974; 39 FR 17321, May 15, 1974] § 570.6 Brake power unit. (a) Vacuum hoses shall not be collapsed, abraded, broken, improperly mounted, or audibly leaking. With residual vacuum exhausted and a constant 25 pound force on the brake pedal, the pedal shall fall slightly when the engine is started, demonstrating integrity of the power assist system. This test is not applicable to vehicles equipped with full power brake system as the service brake performance test shall be considered adequate test of system performance. (1) Inspection procedure. § 570.7 Steering systems. (a) System play. (1) Inspection procedure. Table 1—Steering System Free Play Values Steering wheel diameter (inches) Lash (inches) 16 or less 2 18 2 1 4 20 2 1 2 22 2 3 4 (b) Linkage play. (1) Inspection procedure. (c) Free turning. (1) Inspection procedure. (d) Alignment. (1) Inspection procedure. Table I—Toe-in Settings From Vehicle MFR's Service Specifications Wheel size (inches) Nominal tire diameter (inches) Readings in feet per mile sideslip 1 16 1 8 3 16 1 4 5 16 3 8 7 16 1 2 9 16 13 25.2 13.1 26.2 39.3 52.4 65.5 78.6 91.7 104.8 117.9 14 26.4 12.5 25.0 37.5 50.0 62.5 75.0 87.5 100.0 112.5 15 28.5 11.5 23.0 34.5 46.0 57.5 69.0 80.5 92.0 103.5 16 35.6 9.3 18.6 27.9 37.2 46.5 55.8 65.1 74.4 83.7 (e) Power steering system. (1) Inspection procedure. [38 FR 23950, Sept. 5, 1973, as amended at 39 FR 12868, Apr. 9, 1974] § 570.8 Suspension systems. (a) Suspension condition. (1) Inspection procedure. (b) Shock absorber condition. (1) Inspection procedure. [38 FR 23950, Sept. 5, 1973, as amended at 44 FR 68470, Nov. 29, 1979] § 570.9 Tires. (a) Tread depth. (1) Inspection procedure. (b) Type. (1) Inspection procedures. (c) General condition. (1) Inspection procedure. (d) Damage. (1) Inspection procedures. [38 FR 23950, Sept. 5, 1973, as amended at 39 FR 12868, Apr. 9, 1974; 39 FR 19781, June 4, 1974] § 570.10 Wheel assemblies. (a) Wheel integrity. (1) Inspection procedure. (b) Deformation. (1) Inspection procedure. (c) Mounting. (1) Inspection procedure. [38 FR 23950, Sept. 5, 1973, as amended at 39 FR 12868, Apr. 9, 1974] Subpart B—Vehicles With GVWR of More Than 10,000 Pounds Source: 39 FR 26027, July 16, 1974, unless otherwise noted. § 570.51 Scope. This part specifies standards and procedures for the inspection of brake, steering and suspension systems, and tire and wheel assemblies, of motor vehicles in use with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds. § 570.52 Purpose. The purpose of this part is to establish criteria for the inspection of motor vehicles through State inspection programs, in order to reduce deaths and injuries attributable to failure or inadequate performance of the motor vehicle systems covered by this part. § 570.53 Applicability. This part does not in itself impose requirements on any person. It is intended to be implemented by States through the highway safety program standards issued under the Highway Safety Act (23 U.S.C. 402) with respect to inspection of motor vehicles with gross vehicle weight rating greater than 10,000 pounds, except mobile structure trailers. [39 FR 28980, Aug. 13, 1974] § 570.54 Definitions. Unless otherwise indicated, all terms used in this part that are defined in part 571 of this chapter, Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, are used as defined in that part. Air-over-hydraulic brake subsystem Electric brake system Vacuum brake system § 570.55 Hydraulic brake system. The following requirements apply to vehicles with hydraulic brake systems. (a) Brake system failure indicator. (1) Inspection procedure. (b) Brake system integrity. (1) Inspection procedure. (c) Brake pedal reserve. (1) Inspection procedure. [(A − B) / A] × 100 The engine must be operating when power-assisted brakes are checked. (d) Brake hoses, master cylinder, tubes and tube assemblies. (1) Inspection procedure. [39 FR 26027, July 16, 1974, as amended at 40 FR 5160, Feb. 4, 1975] § 570.56 Vacuum brake assist unit and vacuum brake system. The following requirements apply to vehicles with vacuum brake assist units and vacuum brake systems. (a) Vacuum brake assist unit integrity. (1) Inspection procedure. (b) Low-vacuum indicator. (1) Inspection procedure. (c) Vacuum brake system integrity. (i) The vacuum brake system shall provide vacuum reserve to permit one service brake application with a brake pedal force of 50 pounds after the engine is turned off without actuating the low vacuum indicator. (ii) Trailer vacuum brakes shall operate in conjunction with the truck or truck tractor brake pedal. (2) Inspection procedure. (ii) For a combination vehicle equipped with breakaway protection and no reservoir on the towing vehicle supply line, close the supply line shutoff valve and disconnect the supply line. Apply a 50-pound force to the brake pedal on the towing vehicle and release. Trailer brakes should remain in the applied position. (d) Vacuum system hoses, tubes and connections. (1) Inspection procedure. § 570.57 Air brake system and air-over-hydraulic brake subsystem. The following requirements apply to vehicles with air brake and air-over-hydraulic brake systems. Trailer(s) must be coupled to a truck or truck-tractor for the purpose of this inspection, except as noted. (a) Air brake system integrity. (1) With the vehicle in a stationary position, compressed air reserve shall be sufficient to permit one full service brake application, after the engine is stopped and with the system fully charged, without lowering reservoir pressure more than 20 percent below the initial reading. (2) The air brake system compressor shall increase the air pressure in the reservoir(s) from the level developed after the test prescribed in § 570.57(a)(1) to the initial pressure noted before the full brake application, with the engine running at the manufacturer's maximum recommended number of revolutions per minute with the compressor governor in the cut-off position, in not more than 30 seconds for vehicles manufactured prior to March 1, 1975. For vehicles, manufactured on or after March 1, 1975, the time allowed for air pressure buildup shall not exceed 45 seconds. (3) The warning device (visual or audible) connected to the brake system air pressure source shall be activated when air pressure is lowered to an activating level that is not less than 50 psi. For vehicles manufactured to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 121, the low-pressure indicator shall be activated when air pressure is lowered to an activating level that is not less than 60 psi. (4) The governor cut-in pressure shall be not lower than 80 psi, and the cut-out pressure shall be not higher than 135 psi, unless other values are recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. (5) Air brake pressure shall not drop more than 2 psi in 1 minute for single vehicles or more than 3 psi in 1 minute for combination vehicles, with the engine stopped and service brakes released. There may be an additional 1 psi drop per minute for each additional towed vehicle. (6) With the reservoir(s) fully charged, air pressure shall not drop more than 3 psi in 1 minute for single vehicles or more than 4 psi in 1 minute for combination vehicles, with the engine stopped and service brakes fully applied. There may be an additional 1 psi drop per minute for each additional towed vehicle. (7) The compressor drive belt shall not be badly worn or frayed and belt-tension shall be sufficient to prevent slippage. Inspection procedure. (b) Air brake system hoses, tubes and connections. (1) Inspection procedure. (c) Air-over-hydraulic brake subsystem integrity. (1) The air brake system compressor shall increase the air pressure in the reservoir(s) from the level developed after the test prescribed in § 570.57(a)(1) to the initial pressure noted before the full brake application, with the engine running at the manufacturer's recommended number of revolutions per minute and the compressor governor in the cut-out position, in not more than 30 seconds for vehicles manufactured prior to March 1, 1975. For vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 1975, the time for air pressure build up shall not exceed 45 seconds. (2) The warning device (visual or audible) connected to the brake system air pressure source shall be activated when the air pressure is lowered to not less than 50 psi. (3) The governor cut-in pressure shall be not lower than 80 psi, and the cut-out pressure shall not be higher than 135 psi, unless other values are recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. (4) Air brake pressure shall not drop more than 2 psi in 1 minute for single vehicles or more than 3 psi in 1 minute for combination vehicles, with the engine stopped and service brakes released. Allow a 1-psi drop per minute for each additional towed vehicle. (5) With the reservoir(s) fully charged, air pressure shall not drop more than 3 psi in 1 minute for single vehicles or more than 4 psi in 1 minute for combination vehicles, with the engine stopped and service brakes fully applied. Allow a 1-psi pressure drop in 1 minute for each additional towed vehicle. (6) The compressor drive belt shall not be badly worn or frayed and belt tension shall be sufficient to prevent slippage. Inspection procedure. (d) Air-over-hydraulic brake subsystem hoses, master cylinder, tubes and connections. (1) Inspection procedure. [39 FR 26027, July 16, 1974, as amended at 40 FR 5160, Feb. 4, 1975; 41 FR 13924, Apr. 1, 1976] § 570.58 Electric brake system. (a) Electric brake system integrity. (1) Inspection procedure. (b) Electric brake wiring condition. (1) Inspection procedure. § 570.59 Service brake system. (a) Service brake performance. (1) Roller-type or drive-on platform tests. (i) Inspection procedure. (2) Road test. (i) Inspection procedure. Note: Inspect for paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this section on vehicles equipped with brake inspection ports or access openings, and when removal of wheel is not required. (b) Disc and drum condition. (1) Inspection procedure. (c) Friction materials. (1) Inspection procedure. (d) Structural and mechanical parts. (1) Inspection procedure. § 570.60 Steering system. (a) System play. (1) Inspection procedure. Table 2—Steering Wheel Free Play Values Steering wheel diameter (inches) Lash (inches) 16 or less 2 18 2 1 4 20 2 1 2 22 2 3 4 (b) Linkage play. (1) Inspection procedure. Table 3—Front Wheel Steering Linkage Free Play Nominal bead diameter or rim size (inches) Play (inches) 16 or less 1 4 16.01 through 18.00 3 8 18.01 or more 1 2 (c) Free turning. (1) Inspection procedure. (d) Alignment. (1) Inspection procedure. (e) Power steering system. (1) Inspection procedure. Note: Inspection of the suspension system must not precede the service brake performance test. § 570.61 Suspension system. (a) Suspension condition. (1) Inspection procedure. (b) Shock absorber condition. (1) Inspection procedure. § 570.62 Tires. (a) Tread depth. (1) Inspection procedure. (b) Type. (1) Inspection procedure. (c) General condition. (1) Inspection procedure. (d) Damage. (1) Inspection procedure. (e) Special purpose tires. (1) Inspection procedure. § 570.63 Wheel assemblies. (a) Wheel integrity. (1) Inspection procedure. (b) Cast wheels. (1) Inspection procedure. (c) Mounting. (1) Inspection procedure.

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