Are compression brake fittings illegal in MA?

[fleetus macmullitz]

I bought a car from a guy in MA and tried to get it inspected here in NY. Wouldn't pass due to the compression brake fittings on it.

The car had passed inspection in MA in Sept. 2008.

Cost me over $200 to fix it. It would have been more except my friend owns his own shop. The good thing was he also discovered a weak section of brake line.

I had a friend look at the car who lives in New Hampshire. He wasn't aware of such a law, but he doesn't own a shop. Since it happened I've read quite a few states don't allow those fittings. So I'm interested in learning what MA inspection law says about it.

Thanks.

[tones2SS]

I don't know anything about the compression brake fittings, but MA is VERY strict with A LOT of it's inspections. It's a pain sometimes.

[f1shman]

I wish I could find hard evidence of how the state inspection system thinks of compression fittings, but it doesn't look like it's listed anywhere online. Tones2SS is right, Mass safety inspections are pretty tough and I really doubt that they would let compression fittings fly since they usually don't hold up to high line pressure. However, not all inspection stations will put your car in the air for a safety check. A lot of them just jack up the front end to check the ball joints and do a quick glance under the car while they are there. I think if someone wanted to get away with having one on their car, it wouldn't be too hard to do if it was under the car or in a spot that is hard to see.

Sorry to hear you had to pay to fix the other guy's mistake, but I am glad you found it before the issue became a bigger problem.

[fleetus macmullitz]

Mark, thanks for looking into it for me.

Maybe it was one of those blessings in disguise situations since my friend found a weak section of line.

[tones2SS]

Originally Posted by f1shman

I wish I could find hard evidence of how the state inspection system thinks of compression fittings, but it doesn't look like it's listed anywhere online. Tones2SS is right, Mass safety inspections are pretty tough and I really doubt that they would let compression fittings fly since they usually don't hold up to high line pressure. However, not all inspection stations will put your car in the air for a safety check. A lot of them just jack up the front end to check the ball joints and do a quick glance under the car while they are there. I think if someone wanted to get away with having one on their car, it wouldn't be too hard to do if it was under the car or in a spot that is hard to see.

Sorry to hear you had to pay to fix the other guy's mistake, but I am glad you found it before the issue became a bigger problem.

I guess seeing how it is an "older" car, they go through those things like a fine tooth comb. Maybe that is why they put it on the lift?
Anyways, sounds like a good thing anyways. One of the lines were no good.
Blessing in disguise!