Burning smell from left rear wheel

[W L Ow]

The left rear wheel of my 1997 C200 has been emitting brake lining burning smell for the past several months especially after a long drive. I have not forgotten to release the parking brake because there will be warning beeps if the brake is not released. The brake was also not over used due to continueous down hill braking.

I have cleaned the parking brake lining with sand paper and adjusted the lining free play but the smell is still as bad.

What should I do next?

Thank you for reading.

 

[BlackC55]

Is the caliper sticking? Are you sure its from the brakes?

 

[grober]

maybe the brake cables or linkage is seizing intermittantly. Probably best replaced if it is indeed that. Is the wheel hot to the touch? Binding brakes almost always lead to a wheel centre section that is almost untouchable compared to normal wheels. Stop on a small downward facing hill. Does the car run forward freely in neutral when the brakes are released? Do the caliper pads show uneven wear patterns? Sometimes its the guide pins that get very corroded but usually its the caliper pistons seizing as BlackC55 has said. Best to replace the entire calipers in pairs and not too expensive.

 

[glojo]

Have you felt around the relevant area to try and locate the exact item that is overheating.

I'm afraid under the circumstances your describing, the first time there was an indication of a burning smell I would have got the vehicle checked out, either by myself or a specialist.

Good luck getting things sorted

Regards
John

 

[W L Ow]

Thank you for all the advices. Took the car to the garage yesterday. The calipers were checked and found to be working well. The mechanism were air cleaned and brake adjusted. However this morning, the same wheel still smell but not as bad after a drive from home to office. I now believe it is the parking brake not releasing fully intermittently as suggested. Any suggestion on what to do with the brake release mechanism to correct the intermittance problem? Note, morning heavy traffic / jams requires the parking brake to be applied and released frequently.

 

[Dieselman]

Note, morning heavy traffic / jams requires the parking brake to be applied and released frequently.

If the car is an Auto, why do you ever use the parking brake?

 

[W L Ow]

Traffic here in the morning rush hour could be at stand still for for say 5 minutes a time before moving for another 5 to 10 car lengths. I normally will put the gear to N and apply the parking brake and let go of the normal foot brake and try to enjoy the music or even read the papers.

 

[recycled]

Whether you use it or not ,it is better to ensure it works properly as it could cause more problems later on.

 

[jaymanek]

the handbrake shoes may have been over adjusted (at the drum not the pedal) at the last service, just get the garage to turn them back a little...

 

[fredfloggle]

If the car is an Auto, why do you ever use the parking brake?

Wow ! , can I suggest that you park on a hill , stick it in park , then release and listen to the nasty clonk the pawl makes as it comes out of the dog - anyone with an ounce of mechanical sensitivity would use the parking brake , just as they would push the button on a conventional handbrake to stop that nasty clicking noise while the brake is applied .

You will probably find that there is a legal requirement to use the parking brake .

 

[Dieselman]

what, do you mean you shouldn't just bang it into park when still travelling down hill and pulling up? It bangs and judders but seems to stop ok.



Only joking.....

When parking on hills I do use the parking brake for security but it shouldn't be a requirement. True the pawl does bang out if loaded but it's shape means it can never be overloaded, it will jump.

The original poster wasn't talking about parking on hills, just applying the park brake when stationary in traffic. Why bother, just shove it into P?