explain what i found on pre-trip

That’s nothing. My company fired a driver for taking a trailer that was missing the whole back axle. He discovered it about 120 miles up the road when he stopped to get a drink. When he realized he didn’t have time to bring it back and swap, he had to tell what happened. Then he got fired, and he deserved it.

 

An overheated,glaze drum that has cooled can shatter into many pieces when brake pressure is reapplied..did you see any signs of overheating on the remaining components?..ex. leafsprings,knuckle joints and such

 

My first thought (from living in Flint, MI too long, I'm sure) is that the drums are worth money. Someone took them to a scrap yard and didn't get time to tall all four, or didn't want to be caught as no brakes would be noticeable.

Otherwise it's a very, very unobservant mechanic putting a tire back on without drums. So bad I fear the safety of any vehicle he's touched.

 

Scrap steel is only worth like $200-250 per ton. Those drums might weigh 50lbs each. Only cost about $100 each new. Even a scrap aluminum rim is worth maybe $40.

 

I bet there was an issue with something on that wheel end. Maybe worn spindle or something and parts were not readily available so it was slapped back together to get it out of the shop until parts came in.

 

I'm with you. The shop put it together enough to be mobile but the dispatcher thaought it was fully repaired and sent it back out into service. Basically just a screwup.

 

I'm betting with it having a flat that the valve core was ripped out when the brake drum came apart. I have seen it several times first hand, stopped with the guy once to make sure I didn't have damage from flying debris. Then helped him dig the shoes out so they wouldn't get caught up in the wheel. You couldn't tell it ever had a drum on it without pulling the wheels. The face was all that's left