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Brakes Locked up on Freightliner While Bobtailing?

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by Proxy, Jun 18, 2020.

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  1. Jun 18, 2020 #1
    Proxy

    Proxy Light Load Member

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    Had a driver claim the front brakes completely locked up on a 2018 Freightliner while bobtailing causing him to hook right from the middle lane right into a barrier at about a 45 degree angle and ride down the barrier for about 30 feet while still leaving skid marks...of coarse it was easy to speculate he wasn't paying attention and locked up the brakes and sent it into the barrier to avoid a collision but I want to make an informed decision so maybe you guys can give me any possibilities of this actually happening? one thing that I found interesting in the photos was that it appears only the steers locked up, only 2 tire marks from the moment the brakes locked up, no dual tire marks coming from the rear axles. Another interesting thing as well is that the ELD didn't register a hard brake which I believe monitors the speedometer over time, so if it didn't register a hard brake I'm inclined to believe the input/output shaft speed sensors and wheel speed sensors were still reading the same speed as the truck hit the barrier. No witnesses or citations given so I'm at the mercy of the rental company being honest with their investigation.
     
    Proxy, Jun 18, 2020
    Proxy, Jun 18, 2020
    #1
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  3. Jun 18, 2020 #2
    Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

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    That truck has ABS brakes.

    Nothing should have locked up.
     
    Dino soar, Jun 18, 2020
    Dino soar, Jun 18, 2020
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  4. Jun 18, 2020 #3
    Doealex

    Doealex Medium Load Member

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    Driving a bobtail truck is most dangerous in my book. Very easy to hydroplane and harder to stop. Very easy to loose control during hard braking if your brakes are out of adjustment.
     
    Doealex, Jun 18, 2020
    Doealex, Jun 18, 2020
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  5. Jun 18, 2020 #4
    Proxy

    Proxy Light Load Member

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    We had a KW abs module(might not be the name of it) bracket rot and the module swung down and bounced off the pavement and pulled out air lines etc and caused the truck to slow down quick and wouldn't move after, the freightliner looked violent, as if both front wheels just seized at the same time which is extremely unlikely. I don't know how a tractor reacts to locking brakes while bobtailing but wouldn't it stay straight for the most part assuming all the brakes are adjusted equally etc?
     
    Proxy, Jun 18, 2020
    Proxy, Jun 18, 2020
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  7. Jun 18, 2020 #5
    Numb

    Numb Crusty Curmudgeon

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    in the days before ABS, lock up the brakes and you never knew where you were going to end up.

    they never have the same traction or brake power.

    you'd pump then let off, correct direction, repeat.

    do it bobtail and I've seen go into a violent spin.

    cabovers were the most dangerous.
     
    Numb, Jun 18, 2020
    Numb, Jun 18, 2020
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  8. Jun 18, 2020 #6
    Snailexpress

    Snailexpress Road Train Member

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    If all components of ABS working properly. Bad wire connection or bad ABS solenoid can change your life in one second.
    The idea is good but wiring, connectors, valves are crappy.
    Wanna ask me how do i know?
     
    Snailexpress, Jun 18, 2020
    Snailexpress, Jun 18, 2020
    #6
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  9. Jun 18, 2020 #7
    magoo68

    magoo68 Road Train Member

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    Do 2018 trucks have spring brakes in front. Or some sort of hill assist that applies the brakes?? If not driver needed to apply brakes hard enough to lock them with a faulty abs system . Or brake treadle valve took a dump and diverted air to brakes but without him pushing the pedal ABS didn’t know it was needed due to no brake light signal ..
     
    magoo68, Jun 18, 2020
    magoo68, Jun 18, 2020
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  10. Jun 19, 2020 #8
    Savage6300

    Savage6300 Bobtail Member

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    Kind of makes me wonder if his steering linkage broke and slammed one of his wheels against the steer stop.
     
    Savage6300, Jun 19, 2020
    Savage6300, Jun 19, 2020
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    Proxy Thanks this.
  11. Jun 19, 2020 #9
    xsetra

    xsetra Road Train Member

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    Post the pictures.
    Good employee? Keep
    Bad employee? Layoff no truck to drive.

    I doubt anything the driver could have done to get steers only to lock up.

    Even a hard brake you'll wheel hop the drives. My opinion.
    Good luck
     
    xsetra, Jun 19, 2020
    xsetra, Jun 19, 2020
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  12. Jun 19, 2020 #10
    not4hire

    not4hire Road Train Member

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    Yeah, having a hard time figuring out how it would even be possible to lock the steers only when bobtail, unless something broke/quit working. That's where all the weight and traction is.
     
    not4hire, Jun 19, 2020
    not4hire, Jun 19, 2020
    #10
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