SURFACE J135

REAF.
SEP93
VEHICLE
400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001
RECOMMENDED Issued 1973-03
PRACTICE Reaffirmed 1993-09

Superseding J135 MAY85

Submitted for recognition as an American National Standard

SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS—

PASSENGER CAR-TRAILER COMBINATIONS

Foreword—This Reaffirmed Document has been changed only to reflect the new SAE Technical Standards Board
Format.

The performance requirements in this SAE Recommended Practice represent the accumulation of the best
information available from investigations of the service brake system performance of combinations of new
passenger cars and new trailers (braked or unbraked) designed for roadway use. They also represent the
minimum performance recognized as acceptable by vehicle, brake system, and component manufacturers. This
document may be used to determine the maximum weight of unbraked trailers the towing vehicle is recommended
to pull.

1. Scope—This SAE Recommended Practice presents service brake performance requirements for brake
systems of all combinations of new passenger cars and new trailers (braked or unbraked) intended for
roadway use (excluding special-purpose vehicles such as ambulances, hearses, etc.).

Acceptable performance requirements are based on data obtained from SAE J134.

1.1 Purpose—The purpose of this document is to establish the minimum service brake system performance
requirements with regard to:

1.1.1 STOPPING ABILITY

1.1.1.1 Of cold brakes as affected by vehicle speed.

1.1.1.2 Of hot brakes as affected by vehicle speed and duty cycles.

1.1.1.3 Of cold brakes during emergency or inoperative power assist conditions.

1.1.2 PEDAL FORCE—Maximum and/or minimum force allowable.

1.1.3 BRAKE STABILITY

1.1.4 BRAKE SYSTEM INTEGRITY

SAE Technical Standards Board Rules provide that: “This report is published by SAE to advance the state of technical and engineering sciences. The use of this report is entirely
voluntary, and its applicability and suitability for any particular use, including any patent infringement arising therefrom, is the sole responsibility of the user.”

SAE reviews each technical report at least every five years at which time it may be reaffirmed, revised, or cancelled. SAE invites your written comments and suggestions.

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS DOCUMENT: (724) 772-8512 FAX: (724) 776-0243

TO PLACE A DOCUMENT ORDER; (724) 776-4970 FAX: (724) 776-0790
SAE WEB ADDRESS http://www.sae.org

Copyright 1993 Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc.

All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.
 SAE J135 Reaffirmed SEP93

2. References

2.1 Applicable Publication—The following publication forms a part of this specification to the extent specified
herein. The latest issue of SAE publications shall apply.

2.1.1 SAE PUBLICATION—Available from SAE, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001.

SAE J134—Brake System Road Test Code—Passenger Car and Light Duty Truck-Trailer Combinations

3. Instrumentation—See SAE J134, Section 4.

4. Installation Details—See SAE J134, Section 5.

5. Test Procedure—See SAE J134, Section 6.

6. Acceptable Performance Requirements

6.1 Preburnish Check—See SAE J134, 6.2.

6.1.1 Pedal force shall be between 45 and 245 N (10 and 55 lb) inclusive, for 3 m/s2 (10 ft/s2) stops from 48 km/h
(30 mph).

6.2 Effectiveness Test—See SAE J134, 6.3, 6.5, and 6.14.

6.2.1 48 km/h (30 mph)—Pedal force shall be between 67 and 445 N (15 and 100 lb) inclusive, for 4.9 m/s 2
(16 ft/s2).

6.2.2 96 km/h (60 mph)—Pedal force shall be between 67 and 534 N (15 and 120 lb) inclusive, for 4.9 m/s 2
(16 ft/s2).

6.3 Emergency Brake System Test—See SAE J134, 6.6.

6.3.1 Maximum stopping distance of 305 m (1000 ft) with a maximum pedal force of 890 N (200 lb) without causing
any tire of either vehicle to leave a 3.7 m (12 ft) lane.

6.4 Inoperative Power System Test—See SAE J134, 6.7.

6.4.1 Maximum stopping distance of 183 m (600 ft) with a maximum pedal force of 890 N (200 lb) without leaving a
3.7 m (12 ft) lane.

6.5 First Fade and Recovery Test—See SAE J134, 6.8.

6.5.1 FADE—Pedal force for first four 4.6 m/s2 (15 ft/s2) stops shall not exceed 534, 654, 770, and 890 N (120, 147,
173, and 200 lb), respectively.

6.5.2 R ECOVERY—A minimum of 1.5 m/s2 (5 ft/s2) shall be maintained at a maximum pedal force of 890 N (200 lb)
for the first five recovery stops, and the pedal force shall be below 667 N (150 lb) at 3 m/s2 (10 ft/s2) by stop
6.

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 SAE J135 Reaffirmed SEP93

6.6 Second Fade and Recovery Test—See SAE J134, 6.11.

6.6.1 FADE—Pedal force for first eight at 4.6 m/s2 (15 ft/s2) stops shall not exceed 534, 587, 636, 689, 738, 787,
841, and 890 N (120, 132, 143, 155, 166, 177, 189, and 200 lb), respectively.

6.6.2 R ECOVERY—Same as First Recovery Requirement, 7.5.

6.7 Stability Requirements—See SAE J134, 6.3, 6.5, and 6.14.

6.7.1 No uncontrollable braking action causing any tire of either vehicle to leave a 3.7 m (12 ft) wide roadway lane
is permissible below 4.9 m/s2 (16 ft/s2). (Wheel slide permitted.)

6.8 Final Inspection—See SAE J134, 6.15.

6.8.1 L INING—Shall be firmly attached and intact on shoes. (Minor cracks that do not impair attachment are
acceptable.)

6.8.2 MECHANICAL—All components of the brake system shall be intact and functional.

6.8.3 H YDRAULIC—All hydraulic components of the brake system shall be leakfree.

6.8.4 ELECTRICAL—All electrical components of the trailer brake system, excluding stop light circuits, shall be intact
and functional.

7. Report Form—General Data and Summary Report Form, Figure 1.

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 SAE J135 Reaffirmed SEP93

FIGURE 1—GENERAL DATA AND SUMMARY REPORT FORM

PREPARED BY THE SAE BRAKE STANDARDS COMMITTEE 7—ROAD TEST PROCEDURES

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 SAE J135 Reaffirmed SEP93

Rationale—Not applicable.

Relationship of SAE Standard to ISO Standard—Not applicable.

Application—This document presents service brake performance requirements for brake systems of all
combinations of new passenger cars and new trailers (braked or unbraked) intended for roadway use
(excluding special-purpose vehicles such as ambulances, hearses, etc.).

Reference Section

SAE J134—Brake System Road Test Code—Passenger Car and Light Duty Truck-Trailer Combinations

Developed by the SAE Brake Standards Committee 7—Road Test Procedures