Rear driver side wheel rolling tight....smoke/burning smell coming from the wheel

[mihird]

I have a strange problem with my 95 Maxima GLE. After driving a few miles and some braking, I get some burning smell in the car...closer inspection reveals smoke/burning smell coming out from the center (axle/brake part) of the driver side rear wheel.

I jacked up the car today to inspect the wheel...and the this driver side wheel rolls very tight when put in neutral compared to the other side wheel...brake pads have significant life on them and the rotor looks fine...no wear or burn out on them...I tried bleeding the brake circuit but that didn't help.

Someone told me it could the parking brake shoes, but I checked the parking brake assembly..aren't the disk brakes themselves used for the parking brake...that's what I felt after looking at the brake circuit...

so question is, what could be fuming out/burnning in the wheel??

[tdaily]

Sounds as if the pressure applied by the shoes isn't being completely let of the rotor. It's not something you want to let go for very long because at the least it will cause you to have to replace your shoes and rotor at that location and at the worst it could actually cause a fire; neither one of which would be cheap. I'd get it checked out ASAP. I think you may have been on the right track with the bleeding, but it seems to be that you have too much pressure, rather than not enough.

The parking brake works by cable, and so far as I know, only applies pressure on the back brakes not the front, so I don't think that's an issure since your problem is on the front.

[mihird]

Originally Posted by tdaily

Sounds as if the pressure applied by the shoes isn't being completely let of the rotor. It's not something you want to let go for very long because at the least it will cause you to have to replace your shoes and rotor at that location and at the worst it could actually cause a fire; neither one of which would be cheap. I'd get it checked out ASAP. I think you may have been on the right track with the bleeding, but it seems to be that you have too much pressure, rather than not enough.

Thanks for the advice....I will get the caliper/pistons checked ASAP. Seems to me like it is a siezed caliper. The symtoms I described are typical of that.

The parking brake works by cable, and so far as I know, only applies pressure on the back brakes not the front, so I don't think that's an issure since your problem is on the front.

The problem is with the rear wheel (driver side) so the parking brake does come in the picture..

[i3o2Matt]

it's definately gotta be something with the brakes...my guess would be that the parking brake isn't fully dis-engaged...like it could use some tweaking...if i remember right, there is a spring used to release the brake...oh, and it doesn't matter if the car is in neutral or not...its a front wheel drive car and there is no drive axle connecting the rear wheels...just to let u kno

[mihird]

The problem has now disappeared...seems like the brake pads got eaten up a bit...and the wheel is free again...parking brakes work just fine...

I didn't want to go through the trouble of opening the calipers/pads now, but will wait for the next time, when pads are to be replaced, to thouroughly investigagate and service the rear brake assembly...

[justin39640]

Originally Posted by mihird

The problem has now disappeared...seems like the brake pads got eaten up a bit...and the wheel is free again...parking brakes work just fine...

I didn't want to go through the trouble of opening the calipers/pads now, but will wait for the next time, when pads are to be replaced, to thouroughly investigagate and service the rear brake assembly...

what are u nuts the caliper was frozen and dragging the wheel it may have seized completley does the wheel stop if u turn it by hand and have some1 step on the brake? and roll free when pressure is relieved
the seals could have been damaged by the excess heat generated
ur rear pads are prob unevenly worn and it probably damaged the rotor
if i suspected my caliper itd be gone in a second
ive lost brakes on a car once on a parkway exit ramp not fun stuff

[JSClark98SE]

Originally Posted by tdaily

Sounds as if the pressure applied by the shoes isn't being completely let of the rotor. It's not something you want to let go for very long because at the least it will cause you to have to replace your shoes and rotor at that location and at the worst it could actually cause a fire; neither one of which would be cheap. I'd get it checked out ASAP. I think you may have been on the right track with the bleeding, but it seems to be that you have too much pressure, rather than not enough.

The parking brake works by cable, and so far as I know, only applies pressure on the back brakes not the front, so I don't think that's an issure since your problem is on the front.

What he said... don't let this go to far... hell, thats near your gastank!!

[mihird]

whether the rear brake's functioning fine or has it completely lost braking...I guess, I should have played this a little more cautiously...didn't knew how serious this stuff can get...

Will post the outcome in the evening...

Btw, in the worst scenerio, if this one caliper were to seize and fail completely while driving...would that affect braking on all the other 3 brakes?

I thought, most modern cars have independent brake circuits for each wheel...

[mihird]

Jacked up the car and checked and rechecked the brakes....they work absolutely fine...all four wheels brake firmly with the brake peddle depressed and move freely when released. Parking brake works fine too.

No more smoke/overheating of the rear wheel as it used to before. Brake pads also are fine...just the normal wear.

I guess, something went wrong for a while and then its all back fine now.

Don't want to open up the brakes unless I have to, so I guess, they will only open when the rear pads need replacement a couple of months down the road..