Temperature gun for brakes and bearings?

[Jvandererlip]

Is anyone using a temperature laser gun to monitor brakes and bearings?
I'll be hitting the Smokey Mountains in the spring towing a travel trailer. I thought it would be good information to have.
What number values should I be looking for as a maximum?
I'm an airline pilot and I constantly monitor brake temperature while taxiing. It seems really strange not to have that information available. Do any trucks or big rigs display brake temperature?

[Jvandererlip]

Grit dog wrote:
Good garsh.... just another thing to worry about.
You can tell if your brakes are getting hot. And AFTER you pull over at the Crapper Barrel for lunch is not the right time.
Touching the bearing hub has always worked for trailer bearings for me. But then again, I’m not one to grab on tight to a hub that is obviously radiating heat. Put my hand on the stove once about 40 years ago. Cured me of that right quick.

That's the dilemma, you're getting the information after the fact. It'd be nice to have it real time.
I might pick one up anyways. It might be a good way to see if your trailer brakes are working too hard on the downhills or not enough.
Thanks for all the replies.

[Grit_dog]

Good garsh.... just another thing to worry about.
You can tell if your brakes are getting hot. And AFTER you pull over at the Crapper Barrel for lunch is not the right time.
Touching the bearing hub has always worked for trailer bearings for me. But then again, I’m not one to grab on tight to a hub that is obviously radiating heat. Put my hand on the stove once about 40 years ago. Cured me of that right quick.

[memtb]

Jvandererlip wrote:
Is anyone using a temperature laser gun to monitor brakes and bearings?
I'll be hitting the Smokey Mountains in the spring towing a travel trailer. I thought it would be good information to have.
What number values should I be looking for as a maximum?
I'm an airline pilot and I constantly monitor brake temperature while taxiing. It seems really strange not to have that information available. Do any trucks or big rigs display brake temperature?

Yes! The temp gun gets used on every fill-up. I take tire, and wheel bearing Hub) temperatures. Also, if we’ve been towing in steep grades, I’ll “shoot” the truck rear differential! I’m a believer that I may catch a problem, before it becomes a “BIG” problem!

As mentioned, the sunny-side will likely be warmer. Also, if the road has some “crowning”, my “downhill” side, is always warmer!

[BarabooBob]

I also have a Harbor Freight IR thermometer. I check my bearings and tires at my first stop in the morning and about every other gas stop. I look for variations in the temps between hubs/tires. I have never heated my brakes because I use the tranny for most of my downhill speed control, but I still check them.

[naturist]

Overly hot brakes aren’t the problem on a trailer that they can be on an airplane, so most folks are fine ignoring the issue until they glance in the mirror and see the wheels smoking. The main use is to make sure they all match to be sure you haven’t got a wheel bearing going bad or shoes in desperate need of readjustment. If everything is fine and you only used the brakes to stop to check them, they might be 30 degrees above ambient. If you just came down the mountain, however, they can be anything. If they are more than 200 degrees above ambient, you came down way too fast and really should have made better use of lower gears.

Most recently used mine to diagnose an electrical problem on my TV. Sheet metal next to driver’s door handle indicating a short circuit in the handle’s lock/unlock board made a 20 degree temperature difference.

[SweetLou]

I do as most here have said already. I look for variance but also take into account that the side the sun is hitting while driving is always warmer. It helps to avoid an issue on the road. Typically my wheels run mid to upper 90s to 130. All depends on the day, my load, and which side the sun is on them.

[blownstang01]

I also use one, check when we pull into rest stops, get gas, etc. Mainly looking for a variance from R-L, also check the toads brakes to make sure they're not dragging.

[colliehauler]

Like Rover Bill pointed out look for variances for spotting a problem. I have a a IR temperature gun for that purpose as well. Harbor freight has them for very little money. Fluke makes a higher quality unit.

[Rover_Bill]

I always use mine to check the brake drum and bearing temps at my first rest stop in the morning when driving. Any wheel with a higher than average bearing temp or a colder than average brake drum temp indicates a possible problem with that wheel.

[Trackrig]

Super_Dave wrote:
Better a temp gun than grabbing a bearing buddy and leaving all the skin from your palm on it. Been there and done that.

Yes, simple, quick and effective, what more could you want? The only place I have used the temp gun (after I got over playing with a new toy) was to hit the inside tire on the DP duals that I can't reach unless I get down on the ground.

Bill

[Super_Dave]

Better a temp gun than grabbing a bearing buddy and leaving all the skin from your palm on it. Been there and done that.

[Fordlover]

I have a Fluke IR temp gun I really like. But I rarely think to use it, so perhaps your post will remind me next time I'm towing.

[Son_of_Norway]

I have a couple I bought at Harbor Freight. On long downgrades I will stop at a pull-out if I notice any signs of overheating. I use the gun to check for consistent brake temperatures. Then I wait to go on until they get under 100 Deg. Good time for lunch. Otherwise the best way to cool them off is a long run after I get down from the pass.

[Johno02]

I used mine to read temps on springs in Yellowstone. Lots of people asked me how hot each spring was. And yes, I have checked brakes and disks, but more just to see if they all matched. Usually in a car or motor home, the smell is the first clue, but I can understand how important it could be for an airplane. Problem is that most american drivers have no idea about brake failure due to excessive heat. Just watch brake lights on other cars when going down a long interstate grade. Or trucks pulled off with smoking brakes on their trailer.