Smoking Right Front Brake?

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  • Cinnabar325is
    E30 Enthusiast
    • Mar 2011
    • 1064
    #1

    Smoking Right Front Brake?

    Last week I started to faintly feel that one of my brakes was dragging, just a little bit. I started paying closer attention to it and sure enough, I noticed after normal driving that the left side was just warm and the right side was very hot.

    I figured the right side was dragging just a bit, so I pulled both calipers apart this past weekend and cleaned, sanded, and lubed the pad seating surfaces on the caliper carriers and also pulled apart the guide pins, cleaned them up and re-greased them.

    At first I thought that did the trick, but I arrived home from work today feeling that the RF was dragging again. Sure enough, I got out and there was literally smoked coming from the wheel. Even worse, some fluid was running out of the hub, which tells me the heat is cooking my wheel bearing grease.

    Now, this problem only occurs after I've been driving for 20-30minutes, but I don't have to be braking hard at all.

    I've run into a problem like this once before, where it seems like there is a pressure build up in the system that causes a caliper to drag. It was on one of my VWs and it turned out to be a caliper that needed to be rebuilt.

    Same here do you think?

    The pads (Axxis Ultimates... worst pads I've used... yuck), lines, and rotors are relatively new, installed by the previous owner. However, the calipers are original I'm sure and not rebuilt.

    Thanks.
    '89 BMW 325is Zinnoberrot / '88 VW Jetta GLI 16v Tornado Red / '89 VW Jetta GLI 16v Tornado Red / '89 VW GTI 16v Bright Blue Metallic / '91 BMW 325i Black / '91 BMW 325i Sport Black / '92 VW GTI 16v Black / '92 VW GTI 16v Montana Green / '01 Audi A4 Avant TQM Silver Metallic / '01 VW Jetta GLX VR6 Black
    Tags: None
    • Exodus_2pt0
      R3V Elite
      • Dec 2011
      • 5943
      #2
      Caliper piston is seizing up. rebuild, or better yet, grab one from a junk yard.

      I'd slap on new pads/rotors after all that heat too.
      No E30 Club
      Originally posted by MrBurgundy
      Anyways, mustangs are gay and mini vans are faster than your car, you just have to deal with that.

        Comment

        • jlevie
          R3V OG
          • Nov 2006
          • 13530
          #3
          Get rebuild kits for the calipers. Then tear the calipers down. As long as the piston isn't corroded a rebuild will work. Even though they aren't that old, I'd also replace the soft brake lines.
          The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
          Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

            Comment

            • Cinnabar325is
              E30 Enthusiast
              • Mar 2011
              • 1064
              #4
              Originally posted by jlevie
              Get rebuild kits for the calipers. Then tear the calipers down. As long as the piston isn't corroded a rebuild will work. Even though they aren't that old, I'd also replace the soft brake lines.
              Yep, I think I'll rebuild them, I've rebuild Girling 54 calipers before on VWs. Brake lines are braided stainless.
              '89 BMW 325is Zinnoberrot / '88 VW Jetta GLI 16v Tornado Red / '89 VW Jetta GLI 16v Tornado Red / '89 VW GTI 16v Bright Blue Metallic / '91 BMW 325i Black / '91 BMW 325i Sport Black / '92 VW GTI 16v Black / '92 VW GTI 16v Montana Green / '01 Audi A4 Avant TQM Silver Metallic / '01 VW Jetta GLX VR6 Black

                Comment

                • jlevie
                  R3V OG
                  • Nov 2006
                  • 13530
                  #5
                  The SS lines should be okay, but check them anyway.
                  The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
                  Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

                    Comment

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