§ 393.45 Brake tubing and hoses; hose assemblies and end fittings.
Current wording, effective July 21, 2026.
(a) General construction requirements. Brakefor tubing and brakehoses, hoseassemblies, must—and
(1)Beend designedfittings. andAll constructedbrake intubing aand mannerhoses, thatbrake insureshose properassemblies, adequate, and continuedbrake functioninghose ofend fittings must meet the tubingapplicable orrequirements hose;of
(2)BeFMVSS installedNo. in106 a(49 mannerCFR that571.106).
(b) insuresBrake propertubing continuedand functioninghose ofinstallation. theBrake tubing orand hose; must—
(31) Be long and flexible enough to accommodate without damage all normal motions of the parts to which it is attached;
(42) Be suitably secured against chafing, kinking, or other mechanical damage; and
(53) Be installed in a manner that prevents it from contacting the vehicle's exhaust system or any other source of high temperatures; and.
(6) Conform to the applicable requirements of paragraph (b) or (c) of this section In addition, all hose installed on and after January 1, 1981, must conform to those applicable subsections of FMVSS 106 (49 CFR 571.106).
(b) Special requirements for metallic brake tubing, nonmetallic brake tubing, coiled nonmetallic brake tubing and brake hose. (1) Metallic brake tubing, nonmetallic brake tubing, coiled nonmetallic brake tubing, and brake hose installed on a commercial motor vehicle on and after March 7, 1989, must meet or exceed one of the following specifications set forth in the SAE Handbook, 1985 edition:c)
(i) Metallic Air Brake Tubing—SAE Recommended Practice J1149—Metallic Air Brake System Tubing and Pipe—July 76.
(ii) Nonmetallic Air Brake Tubing—SAE Recommended Practice J844—Nonmetallic Air Brake System Type B—OCT 80.
(iii) Air Brake Hose—SAE Recommended Practice J1402—Automotive Air Brake Hose and Hose Assemblies—JUN 85.
(iv) Hydraulic Brake Hose—SAE Recommended Practice J1401 Road Vehicle-Hydraulic Brake Hose Assemblies for Use with Non-Petroleum Base Hydraulic Fluid JUN 85.
(v) Vacuum Brake Hose—SAE Recommended Practice J1403 Vacuum Brake Hose JUN 85.
(2) Except as provided in paragraph (of this section, brake hose and brake tubing installed on a motor vehicle before March 7, 1989, must conform to 49 CFR 393.45 effective October 31, 1983.Nonmetallic brake tubing. Coiled nonmetallic brake tubing may be used for connections between towed and towing motor vehicles or between the frame of a towed vehicle and the unsprung subframe of an adjustable axle of
(c) thatthe motor vehicle if—
(1) The coiled tubing has a straight segment (pigtail) at each end that is at least 51 mm (2 inches) in length and is encased in a spring guard or similar device which prevents the tubing from kinking at the fitting at which it is attached to the vehicle; and
(2) The spring guard or similar device has at least 51 mm (2 inches) of closed coils or similar surface at its interface with the fitting and extends at least 1138 mm (1
1/2 inches) into the coiled segment of the tubing from its straight segment.
(d) Brake tubing and brake hose, usesconnections. MetallicAll andconnections nonmetallic brake tubing is intended for useair, invacuum, areas of the brake system where relative movement in the line is not anticipated. Brake hose and coiled nonmetallic brake tubing is intended for use in the brake system where substantial relative movement in the line is anticipated or thehydraulic hose/coiledbraking nonmetallicsystems brakeshall tubingbe isinstalled exposedso to potential tension or impact such as between the frame and axle in a conventional type suspension system (axle attached to frameensure by suspension system). Nonmetallic brake tubing may be used through an articulationattachment pointfree providedof movement is less than 4.5 degrees in a vertical planeleaks, andconstrictions 7.4or degreesother inconditions awhich transversewould horizontaladversely plane.affect
(49U.S.C.the 304,performance 1655;of 49the CFRbrake 1system.48(b) and 301.60)
[3870 FR 433348050, FebAug. 1315, 19732005, as amended at 4491 FR 2545745661, May 1, 1979; 45 FR 46424, July 1021, 1980; 47 FR 47837, Oct. 28, 1982; 53 FR 49400, Dec. 7, 19882026]
(a) General construction requirements for tubing and hoses, assemblies, and end fittings. All brake tubing and hoses, brake hose assemblies, and brake hose end fittings must meet the applicable requirements of FMVSS No. 106 (49 CFR 571.106).
(b) Brake tubing and hose installation. Brake tubing and hose must—
(1) Be long and flexible enough to accommodate without damage all normal motions of the parts to which it is attached;
(2) Be secured against chafing, kinking, or other mechanical damage; and
(3) Be installed in a manner that prevents it from contacting the vehicle's exhaust system or any other source of high temperatures.
(c) Nonmetallic brake tubing. Coiled nonmetallic brake tubing may be used for connections between towed and towing motor vehicles or between the frame of a towed vehicle and the unsprung subframe of an adjustable axle of the motor vehicle if—
(1) The coiled tubing has a straight segment (pigtail) at each end that is at least 51 mm (2 inches) in length and is encased in a spring guard or similar device which prevents the tubing from kinking at the fitting at which it is attached to the vehicle; and
(2) The spring guard or similar device has at least 51 mm (2 inches) of closed coils or similar surface at its interface with the fitting and extends at least 38 mm (1 1/2 inches) into the coiled segment of the tubing from its straight segment.
(d) Brake tubing and hose connections. All connections for air, vacuum, or hydraulic braking systems shall be installed so as to ensure an attachment free of leaks, constrictions or other conditions which would adversely affect the performance of the brake system.
[70 FR 48050, Aug. 15, 2005, as amended at 91 FR 45661, July 21, 2026]
Amendment history
3 distinct wordings on file since Oct. 1, 1996- [70 FR 48050, Aug. 15, 2005, as amended at 91 FR 45661, July 21, 2026]
- [70 FR 48050, Aug. 15, 2005]
- Oct. 1, 1996 → Oct. 1, 2005annual editions 1996–2004[38 FR 4333, Feb. 13, 1973, as amended at 44 FR 25457, May 1, 1979; 45 FR 46424, July 10, 1980; 47 FR 47837, Oct. 28, 1982; 53 FR 49400, Dec. 7, 1988]
A new entry appears whenever the regulatory words change between government snapshots. Day-precise from the eCFR (2017 onward); before that, one snapshot per annual CFR edition (revised as of October 1). Bracketed citations are the Federal Register history printed with the section. Set a case date in the header to read any earlier wording.