The standards, requirements, and procedures set forth in this chapter are applicable to equipment originally installed by the manufacturer or required by federal or State law or regulation on any vehicle registered as a Class M (multipurpose) passenger vehicle which has a seating capacity for 16 or more passengers including the driver or was previously registered as a Class H (school) vehicle or a Class P (passenger bus) vehicle, and which is used primarily to transport passengers, under the provisions of Transportation Article, Title 13, Annotated Code of Maryland, or any bus designed and used to carry more than 10 people owned by this State or any political subdivision of this State. Compliance with these minimum requirements may not be sufficient for the equipment to remain in compliance for 12 months or 25,000 miles, whichever occurs first. Therefore, more frequent maintenance, service, and repair as deemed necessary by the owner is permitted and recommended. Axles, beams, spindles, or mountings which are broken, damaged, worn, rusted, bent, or modified may affect wheel alignment, tracking, or vehicle handling or stability. Spring and Attachments. Unequal vehicle height, broken or damaged spring leaves, spring shackles, bushings, center bolts, U-bolts, control arms, torque arms, torsion bars, or equalizers can affect vehicle steering, alignment, tracking, handling, and stability. With vehicle on a level surface, inspect: Torsion Bar. All other suspension components shall be inspected the same as leaf spring suspension. Coil Springs and Mountings. Visually inspect coil springs, control arms, rear torque arms, axle strut (when equipped), and front and rear stabilizer bar (when equipped). Rubber Load Cushions. All other suspension components shall be inspected the same as leaf spring suspension. Tandem Axle Walking Beams. Air Suspension (All Axles). Two procedures are required to inspect air suspension systems. Air Suspension Nondriving Rear Axle. Inspection is conducted with normal air pressure in suspension system. Shock Absorbers (if Equipped). Shock absorber inspection includes leakage, mounting, and all related attachments. When originally equipped with shock absorbers, inspect for: Road Clearance. Kingpins. Raise or jack the vehicle by the frame or suspension. Brakes should be applied to eliminate wheel bearing play. Ball Joints. Inspect ball joints for vertical and horizontal movement, modifications, and damage. Lash. Inspection of vehicles equipped with power steering shall be conducted with the engine running, power steering fluid at the proper level, and belts in proper condition and tension. Front Wheel Bearings. With front wheels raised, grasp wheel and tire assembly at top and bottom and rock wheel in and out. Wheel bearing movement is determined by movement of brake drum and backing plate or brake disc and shields. Do not confuse suspension or ball joint play with wheel bearing play. Steering Travel. Turn steering wheel through full right and full left cycle. The vehicle may be slowly moved or the steering wheels raised to ease inspection. Inspect for: Steering Linkage. Move steering wheel left and right and observe movement in steering components. If the vehicle is equipped with power steering, run the engine. Visually inspect: Power Steering System. Manually and visually inspect entire system for: Collapsible Steering Column (if applicable). Inspect for condition and mounting. Parking Brakes. Brake Lines and Hoses. Visually inspect: Brake Failure Indicators. Visually inspect: Brake Pedal Reserve and Leakage Test. Without pumping or repeated brake pedal applications, apply a moderate foot force to pedal and maintain for 1 minute. Inspect: Hydraulic System with Hydraulic Assist. Vehicles equipped with an electrically driven hydraulic pump that functions in the event of a power steering failure may be checked by applying pressure on the brake pedal and turn the ignition switch from “off” to “on” position. Vacuum System. Power Brake Operation. Vacuum Reserve. Vacuum Pump (if Applicable). Drum Brakes—Hydraulic. Disc Brakes—Hydraulic. Brake Lines and Hoses—Hydraulic. Master Cylinder. Visually inspect master cylinder for: Low Air Indicator. Compressor and Belt or Belts. Compressor Operation. Air pressure shall be reduced to 50 psi and the engine started and operated at approximately 1200 rpm. Air Leakage. Inspection for leakage shall be conducted with a fully charged system and brakes fully applied. Air Reserve. Air Reservoir and Valves. Parking and Emergency Brake Application. Vehicles with original equipment air-operated parking brakes are permissible. There are different systems designed for automatic or manual operation of the system as the design allows (check automatic application of brakes when air tanks are being drained). Air System. Brake Mechanical Components. Do not attempt to dismantle a double diaphragm spring brake unit while it is on the vehicle. Utilize a safety cage and remove the entire unit from the vehicle. Replace with a new or rebuilt assembly. When rebuilding or overhauling a brake chamber, strict adherence to manufacturer's procedures is required. Inspect brake chamber for: Slack Adjuster (Push Rod) Travel. With the assistance of a second party, make a treadle valve application at 85 psi in system and note rod travel. Wedge Brake. With the assistance of a second party, make a full brake application. Brake Camshafts. Brake Linings—Air Brakes. Visually inspect brake shoes. If shoes cannot be seen, removal of the lower portion of the dust cover is required. Brake Drums—Air Brakes. Disc Brakes—Air. Tire Inspection—Steering Axle. Tire Inspection—Nonsteering Axle. Wheels. Visually inspect: Rims. Visually inspect for: Lock Rings. Studs, Nuts, and Clamps. Inspect for: Inspect pedals for: Fuel Storage. Visually inspect: Fuel Delivery System. Visually inspect: Visually inspect: Universal Joints. With spring brakes on and gear selector in neutral, place a small bar between the yoke and the U-joint and rotate the shaft back and forth. Frame. Engine Mounting. Frame Cross Member. Body Mounts. Floors and Floor Covering. Hood or Engine Cover. Doors, Handles, Latches, and Hinges. Entrance Steps and Grab Handles or Bars. Fenders and Rear Protector (Mud) Flaps. Rear protector flaps are not required on an uncoupled truck tractor, farm truck, farm truck tractor, pole trailer, or any vehicle when the construction is such that complete freedom around the wheel area is necessary to secure the designed use of the vehicle. Sheet Metal. Bumpers. Headlamps. Inspect headlamps for: Tail Lamps. Inspect tail lamps for: Stop Lamps. Inspect stop lamps for: Turn Signal Lamps. Inspect turn signal lamps for: Hazard Warning Lamps. Inspect hazard warning lamps for: Side Marker Lamps. Side marker lamps may function as both side marker and clearance lamps. Inspect side marker lamps for: Clearance Lamps. Clearance lamps are not required on vehicles less than 80 inches in width. Inspect clearance lamps for: Identification Lamps. Identification lamps are not required on vehicles less than 80 inches in width. Inspect identification lamps for: License Plate Lamp or Lamps. Inspect license plate lamp or lamps for: Additional Lamps (if Equipped). Instrument and Indicator Lamps. Inspect for presence and function of: Reflectors. Wiring. Visually inspect wiring for: Battery. Visually inspect battery for: Switches. Roadside Warning Devices. Each vehicle shall be equipped with three bidirectional emergency reflective triangles. Inspect bidirectional emergency reflective triangles for: Extinguisher. Vehicles used to transport hazardous materials shall be equipped with a fire extinguisher with an Underwriters Laboratory rating of at least 10 BC. Vehicles used to transport nonhazardous materials shall be equipped with at least one fire extinguisher with an Underwriters Laboratory rating of at least 5 BC or two fire extinguishers with an Underwriters Fuses. Each vehicle using fused electric circuits shall be equipped with at least one spare fuse of each type and size of the fuses used in the vehicle. Seats. Visually inspect seat for: Seat Belts (Applicable to Vehicles Manufactured on and after January 1, 1965). Inspect seat belt for: Visually inspect visor for: Outside Mirrors. From driver's seat, inspect mirrors for: Inside Mirror (When Required). From driver's seat, inspect mirror for: Windshield. Visually inspect windshield for: Side Windows. Inspect for: Windshield Wipers. Inspect windshield wipers for: Windshield Washers (if Equipped). Defroster. Gear Selector. Neutral Safety Switch. Speedometer. Odometer/hubometer. Brake Pedal. Inspect brake pedal for: Clutch Pedal. Inspect clutch pedal for: Inspect for: Transportation Article, §§12-104(b) and 23-303, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: January 8, 1990 (16:26 Md. R. 2796) Regulation .01 amended effective April 1, 1991 (18:6 Md. R. 687)