The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk State Inspection

Just asking about everyone’s experience on state required annual inspections.
I know many states don’t require it. But, mine does.
I have the original huck style brakes. I have rebuilt the master and new wheel cylinders. New lines, bled and all good. Huck brakes are trip and hard to adjust the first time, but now that I have done them, not bad.
Issue is that state requires one front brake be inspected. We know what that requires for front drum. Many of the techs have not inspected drums let alone Huck. Also don’t understand wheel bearing adjustment.

Any ideas or experience you can share.

Shouldn't be an issue if you don't have a lip on the drum. If the drum has a lip requiring you to adjust the shoes in to remove the drum be prepared to readjust when done. I guess I don't understand the wheel bearing issue.

Who cares? If the idiots looking at your brakes don't know what they're looking at, it's the state's problem , not yours.

They don't require you to do any of the work, either, so if they can't figure out what to do, they'll probably just pass you.

I doubt they can fail you just because they aren't schooled in drum brakes.

State annual inspections can only be done by state certified garages, tire shops or automotive centers. They have to do the inspections report on their computer. Get on the phone and talk to the services (garages) in your. Ask your questions. If they don't know how to service Huck brakes and adjust wheel bearings, they don't need to be touching your truck anyway. If they pull the back drum, there will no bearings to adjust.

There are no inspections in Montana but we lived in Florida from 1970 to 1972. I brought our '65 Impala into the inspection station. They had me drive and hit the brakes when the 4 tires were on these pressure pads. A fluid climbed up vertical clear tubes for three of the wheels but not the 4th. I had a leaky wheel cylinder which got fluid on the brake lining for that one. It wasn't braking. That impressed me then but I still don't want inspections in Montana now.
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Florida stopped inspections several years ago. They found it wasn't working. You can still get stopped and cited for defective equipment.

North Carolina : Vehicles more than 30 years old are exempt from the annual safety inspection.

Antique Vehicles
Vehicles 30 years old or older may qualify for an antique automobile license plate​. Those vehicles with an antique automobile license plate are exempt from both annual safety and emissions inspections. Antique plates should be used for vehicles primarily used for exhibitions, club activities, parades and other public interest events.​

I also had to obtain a bonded title (bonded for the original list-price for the vehicle).

I am allowed to use/display a year-of-manufacture NC plate/plates; however, I have to carry the "issued" NC plates in the vehicle).

NC Vehicle Safety Inspections

That covers trailer queens or just driven to show vehicles, but daily drivers can’t use antique plates. Too many restrictions.

Georgia did away with the so-called "safety inspections" decades ago because the system was rife with fraud. The inspectors would always find something wrong and then charge you to fix it.

I got raped for an $8 headlight aiming the first time I took my '66 Mustang to some crook for the safety inspection. The governor ended it a year or so later due to stuff like that.

Now you can drive whatever you want in this state with no restrictions - modern car emission tests in metro Atlanta excepted.

In Kansas you can put an antique plate on any vehicle 35 years old or older. No restrictions of driving habits. You can, I know several who do, use it for your daily driver if you wish.

Seems like a simple function test would meet the letter and intent of the rule. Do they require a mechanic to disassemble? Seems kinda odd.

Don’t go to a large franchise type store but a small old established garage that has been in business for 40-60 years preferably with an old timer running it or working at it. Don’t be afraid of asking if they have the experience to work on Huck brakes and if they don’t, keep looking. I live in NY and the garage I took it to had no problem with the bendix brakes on my truck.

In MT, ANY car 11 or more years old can get a permanent plate for a fee of about 2 1/2 times the normal annual payment. Mrs Wally's '97 Buick has not had a fee for a big bunch of years. The tag says "Perm." My plate says "CHEV 48" and I can't remember when I last paid anything for a tag.

The state says "Get out of here. We don't want any more of your money." The same goes for boats, etc.

When I was in Illinois and had to get my 54 inspected back in the 70's, I'd leave a cold 6 pack on the seat when I pulled up to the entrance where they did inspections. When it came out the other side of the garage the 6 pack would be gone and a sticker would be on my windshield!
Samantha

I have a 4 wheeler, snowmobile, trailer and a truck, that is over 10 years old, that have the 'Perm' stickers in Montana but with the year issued plates. That's all I can get close to legally registering over there currently on family property.
My 91 GMC Sonoma GT in Washington has the year plate when issued in 91 permanently registered. After 30 years any vehicle can apply for permanent in WA.....under limited use(i.e. car shows, car meets., etc...). I still see daily drivers with perm registered plates, though.
I do wish inspections like MOT in Great Britain should be done every couple of years just to correct the idiots that think that white front turn signals and tinted taillights are OK. I run emergency lights on my personal SUV for search and rescue purposes, but hate coming up to someone in traffic with their blue headlights on not knowing if it's an emergency vehicle running code or someone that thinks it looks cool.

In Indiana, it is $40.00 a year for personalized plates. I have 2, the 54 says WE B OLD, the car says Setlmnt.