Hydraulic Brake System U.S. versus Common Market

Two hydraulic brake system regulations, the U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 105-75 and the European Economic Community Directive 71/320/EEC with its respective amendments, became effective with the introduction of 1976 model year passenger cars.

This paper highlights some of the most difficult requirements in terms of braking stability and stopping distances a passenger car has to meet in the U.S. and Europe.

Further, it shows the impact these two regulations have on the brake system layout in the U.S. and Europe. For that purpose a specific vehicle model, the Volkswagen Rabbit, is used to demonstrate the brake systems layout.

Since international standard unification is of major importance, some suggestions are made to achieve this goal with a minimum of cost and optimum brake system performance without sacrifice in safety.