§ 393.47 Brake actuators, slack adjusters, linings/pads and drums/rotors.
Wording in the annual edition revised as of Oct. 1, 2005, superseded by the 2009 annual edition.
(a) General requirements. Brake components must be constructed, installed and maintained to prevent excessive fading and grabbing. The brakemeans liningof inattachment everyand physical characteristics must provide for safe and reliable stopping of the commercial motor vehicle.
(b) Brake chambers. The service brake chambers and spring brake chambers on each end of an axle must be the same size.
(c) Slack adjusters. The effective length of the slack adjuster on each end of an axle must be the same.
(d) Linings and pads. The thickness of the brake linings or pads shall meet the applicable requirements of this paragraph—
(1) Steering axle brakes. The brake lining/pad thickness on the steering axle of a truck, truck-tractor or bus shall not be less than 4.8 mm (3/16 inch) at the shoe center for a shoe with a continuous strip of lining; less than 6.4 mm (1/4 inch) at the shoe center for a shoe with two pads; or worn to the wear indicator if the lining is so constructedmarked, for air drum brakes. The steering axle brake lining/pad thickness shall not be less than 3.2 mm (1/8 inch) for air disc brakes, or 1.6 mm (1/16 inch) or less for hydraulic disc, drum and installedelectric asbrakes.
(2) Non-steering axle brakes. An air braked commercial motor vehicle shall not be operated with brake lining/pad thickness less than 6.4 mm (1/4 inch) or to the wear indicator if the lining is so marked (measured at the shoe center for drum brakes); or less than 3.2 mm (1/8 inch) for disc brakes. Hydraulic or electric braked commercial motor vehicles shall not be subjectoperated towith excessivea fadinglining/pad thickness less than 1.6 mm (1/16 inch) (measured at the shoe center) for disc or drum brakes.
(e) Clamp and grabbingRoto-Chamber Brake Actuator Readjustment limits. The pushrod travel for clamp and shallroto-chamber type actuators must be adequateless than 80 percent of the rated strokes listed in thicknessSAE J1817—Long Stroke Air Brake Actuator Marking, meansJuly 2001 (See § 393.7 (b) for information on incorporation by reference and availability of attachmentthis document), andor physical80 characteristicspercent toof providethe rated stroke marked on the brake chamber by the chamber manufacturer, or the readjustment limit marked on the brake chamber by the chamber manufacturer. The pushrod travel for safeType 16 and reliable20 stoppinglong stroke clamp type brake actuators must be less than 51 mm (2 inches) or 80 percent of the motorrated vehiclestroke marked on the brake chamber by the chamber manufacturer, or the readjustment limit marked on the brake chamber by the chamber manufacturer.
(f) Wedge Brake Adjustment. The movement of the scribe mark on the lining shall not exceed 1.6 mm (1/16 inch).
(g) Drums and rotors. The thickness of the drums or rotors shall not be less than the limits established by the brake drum or rotor manufacturer.
[70 FR 48051, Aug. 15, 2005]
(a) General requirements. Brake components must be constructed, installed and maintained to prevent excessive fading and grabbing. The means of attachment and physical characteristics must provide for safe and reliable stopping of the commercial motor vehicle.
(b) Brake chambers. The service brake chambers and spring brake chambers on each end of an axle must be the same size.
(c) Slack adjusters. The effective length of the slack adjuster on each end of an axle must be the same.
(d) Linings and pads. The thickness of the brake linings or pads shall meet the applicable requirements of this paragraph—
(1) Steering axle brakes. The brake lining/pad thickness on the steering axle of a truck, truck-tractor or bus shall not be less than 4.8 mm (3/16 inch) at the shoe center for a shoe with a continuous strip of lining; less than 6.4 mm (1/4 inch) at the shoe center for a shoe with two pads; or worn to the wear indicator if the lining is so marked, for air drum brakes. The steering axle brake lining/pad thickness shall not be less than 3.2 mm (1/8 inch) for air disc brakes, or 1.6 mm (1/16 inch) or less for hydraulic disc, drum and electric brakes.
(2) Non-steering axle brakes. An air braked commercial motor vehicle shall not be operated with brake lining/pad thickness less than 6.4 mm (1/4 inch) or to the wear indicator if the lining is so marked (measured at the shoe center for drum brakes); or less than 3.2 mm (1/8 inch) for disc brakes. Hydraulic or electric braked commercial motor vehicles shall not be operated with a lining/pad thickness less than 1.6 mm (1/16 inch) (measured at the shoe center) for disc or drum brakes.
(e) Clamp and Roto-Chamber Brake Actuator Readjustment limits. The pushrod travel for clamp and roto-chamber type actuators must be less than 80 percent of the rated strokes listed in SAE J1817—Long Stroke Air Brake Actuator Marking, July 2001 (See § 393.7 (b) for information on incorporation by reference and availability of this document), or 80 percent of the rated stroke marked on the brake chamber by the chamber manufacturer, or the readjustment limit marked on the brake chamber by the chamber manufacturer. The pushrod travel for Type 16 and 20 long stroke clamp type brake actuators must be less than 51 mm (2 inches) or 80 percent of the rated stroke marked on the brake chamber by the chamber manufacturer, or the readjustment limit marked on the brake chamber by the chamber manufacturer.
(f) Wedge Brake Adjustment. The movement of the scribe mark on the lining shall not exceed 1.6 mm (1/16 inch).
(g) Drums and rotors. The thickness of the drums or rotors shall not be less than the limits established by the brake drum or rotor manufacturer.
[70 FR 48051, Aug. 15, 2005]
Amendment history
7 distinct wordings on file since Oct. 1, 1996- [70 FR 48051, Aug. 15, 2005, as amended at 77 FR 46638, Aug. 6, 2012; 86 FR 57076, Oct. 14, 2021]
- [70 FR 48051, Aug. 15, 2005, as amended at 77 FR 46638, Aug. 6, 2012]
- [70 FR 48051, Aug. 15, 2005]
- [70 FR 48051, Aug. 15, 2005]
- Oct. 1, 1996 → Oct. 1, 1999annual editions 1996–1998
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.