Hot Brakes

"One ring to rule them all!"

As a student driver, I'm glad you posted this picture. Just how easy is it too do this?

If you're not in the proper gear before heading down a steep grade... a lot easier than you would imagine. You've got 2 relatively small pieces of metal slowing down (up to) 80k pounds of weight...that's before calculating (speed x weight=force).

While I was descending Donners Pass, I was in 8th gear & using the Jake brake...I didn't have any issues. I think I touched the service brakes less than a half dozen times total (only during turns). There are multiple "mandatory" brake inspection stops for trucks to pull off along the way & it's better to use these than the escape ramps...if you catch my drift.

There's a reason fire extinguishers are mandatory gear.

So what is that guys next step? Can that be cooled off and would it be drivable? I would think the rubber is compromised. Is it about to go on fire?

So what is that guys next step? Can that be cooled off and would it be drivable? I would think the rubber is compromised. Is it about to go on fire?

Nancy- I would be standing there with a fire extinguisher. I would want it to air cool, hoping I could drive it to a mechanic. I would not throw water on it, unless there was immediate danger of trailer or anything igniting. I'm afraid water would crack or warp it making it undriveable and I would prefer to get it to a repair shop. I would think a person would get fired for this, if the company knew about it.

Anyway, my thoughts... I could be wrong.

A better answer is... Do no let this happen.

If this was at a Truck Stop, I would assume the brakes were hanging up for some reason, possibly spring brake malfunction. They would not glow red like that for long. I doubt it was from hard prolonged braking on a steep grade, unless the TS was right at the bottom of the hill.

I have nothing really to say about allowing brakes to get that hot. I assume unless something went wrong with that brake unit, the other wheels would in the same boat. The stopping power would have been completely lost long before the drums started to glow.

Also I wonder if Photoshop had anything to do with this.

Aw my 1st time down fancy gap lol

Also I wonder if Photoshop had anything to do with this.

I think C Mac took that picture himself. I doubt he photoshopped it

I'd say the photo is legit, I've seem brake drums get red hot, and they tend to stay that way for awhile. They don't cool down very fast. In fact, as I recall, if you ever get them to actually catch on fire, they are very hard to put out as the heat just keeps re igniting the fire.

When I worked for a tanker company, a guy brought his truck back to the shop with this problem, it took them awhile to get the drums cooled down.

They say a Pictures worth a thousand words. This one's more like a thousand bucks.

Check your brakes often!

I pulled into a stop the other day and a short time later a flatbedder pulled in behind me. His driver-side tandem on the rear WAS ON FIRE! He grabbed his Fire Extinguisher and walked back to the rear of his trailer and started squirting. The funny thing is where this stop is there are no hills!

So you OTR guys answer me this: the few times I've gone on runs usually the jake brakes will be all that is necessary to keep my speed down on a steep descent. What is the cause for all of these guys I've seen with smoking brakes?