WASHINGTON (Feb. 9)—Two major U.S. makers of brake hose and a raw material supplier have asked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to change its final safety standard on brake hose regarding plastic brake tubing.
Cooper-Standard Automotive asked NHTSA to allow the use of plastic tubing for vacuum brakes. Parker Hannifin Corp., supported by reinforcement maker Degussa Corp, asked the agency to change its generic terminology for plastic air brake tubing, although for different reasons.
NHTSA issued the new brake hose rule Dec. 20, six years after three brake hose manufacturers asked for NHTSA and Federal Motor Vehicle Carrier Administration standards on brake hose and fitting be combined.