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smoke and burning smell from wheel well.

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Old 04-19-2011, 05:48 PM
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mattilac3b1997
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Default smoke and burning smell from wheel well.

today on the way home from work i smelled a burning odor coming from my car. i pulled over to notice smoke coming from the wheel well. changed my front pads and rotors saturday. car doesn't seem to be driving differently at all. could it be the brakes? or is it my hub?
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Old 04-19-2011, 06:19 PM
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KillJoy
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Did you clean the rotors before installing them? Many rotors come with machining/shipping oil on them for rust protection in shipping and storage.

Than I would check for a hung up caliper. Is one rim hotter than the other 3? Excessive brake dust on one rim compared to the others?

describe the smell.. does it smell like a burning clutch smell?
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Old 04-19-2011, 06:31 PM
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Z28KLR
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Originally Posted by KillJoy
Did you clean the rotors before installing them? Many rotors come with machining/shipping oil on them for rust protection in shipping and storage.

Than I would check for a hung up caliper. Is one rim hotter than the other 3? Excessive brake dust on one rim compared to the others?

describe the smell.. does it smell like a burning clutch smell?
This. Happened on my wife's car last time I did the brakes, lasted for one day and then magically fixed itself. Can't promise you'll have the same luck though. Doublecheck to make sure the slide pins are well greased and moving freely.
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Old 04-19-2011, 08:27 PM
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mattilac3b1997
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Originally Posted by KillJoy
Did you clean the rotors before installing them? Many rotors come with machining/shipping oil on them for rust protection in shipping and storage.

Than I would check for a hung up caliper. Is one rim hotter than the other 3? Excessive brake dust on one rim compared to the others?

describe the smell.. does it smell like a burning clutch smell?

yes i cleaned them with brake cleaner before install. can't really describe the smell besides something burning, not so much like a clutch though.
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Old 04-19-2011, 08:29 PM
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mattilac3b1997
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Originally Posted by Z28KLR
This. Happened on my wife's car last time I did the brakes, lasted for one day and then magically fixed itself. Can't promise you'll have the same luck though. Doublecheck to make sure the slide pins are well greased and moving freely.
they all seemed to move freely and well greased to me.
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Old 04-20-2011, 05:32 AM
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uberstang1
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This smell is normal when installing new brakes and rotors, it will go away. It prob smells like burning plastic.
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Old 04-20-2011, 05:01 PM
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mattilac3b1997
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Originally Posted by uberstang1
This smell is normal when installing new brakes and rotors, it will go away. It prob smells like burning plastic.
that it does. drove it today and no problems besides a very faint same smell as yesterday.
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