Abstract: A vehicle with at least front and rear sets of brakes includes a pair of brake control valves for normally communicating a source of pressurized fluid to individually control the brakes, a counterpart pair of inversion valves for normally supplying air piloting pressure to the brake control valves, and a retarding valve system communicating a source of pressurized air at one value to one inversion valve and at a proportionately lower pressure to the other inversion valve so that one set of brakes absorbs less energy than the other set of brakes in a retarding mode. The brake control system also includes a service brake valve actuatable to delivery equal pressure to both inversion valves for absorbing equal energy in both sets of brakes in an overriding manner with respect to the retarding valve system.