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Jan. 16, 2012 7:39 p.m. fastEddie SuperDork

I know earlier T&C's had brake issues but I thought they had fixed them?

I replaced the front pads on our T&C the other day - it went quick and easy, no surprises or issues - but now we are getting a very hot/burning smell from them after driving. I pulled the driver's side wheel and don't see anything out of the ordinary. I couldn't find the torque rating for the caliper bolts so I just tightened them up to what "felt right" - real scientific I know!

Could I have over tightened the bolts and be causing the slide pins to bind and not allowing the caliper to properly retract? It's tough to find info on the web without getting into all the recall stuff which I think is a separate issue (no warping rotor issues yet - knock on wood).

Thanks!
Jan. 16, 2012 7:41 p.m. chandlerGTi Reader

How long since you did it? Mine smelled for about two days after I changed them and then it was all good.
Jan. 16, 2012 7:48 p.m. fastEddie SuperDork

Let's see, I changed them Saturday morning. Another thing I forgot to mention is that my wife said she tried to stop at the mailbox this evening and the brakes "didn't work" and she went right past the box.

Looks like caliper bolt torque is only 26 ft-lbs so I might have gone too tight, I didn't lube the slide pins either now that I think about it....
Jan. 16, 2012 7:55 p.m. AngryCorvair SuperDork

In reply to fastEddie:

was there ice on the road in front of the mailbox?
Jan. 16, 2012 7:57 p.m. Streetwiseguy SuperDork

Did you machine the rotors, and what quality of pads did you install? If the rotors are worn concave, which happens quite regularly, the new pads will only be contacting the outer and inner edge of the rotors. Put a straightedge on the face of the rotor.
Jan. 16, 2012 7:59 p.m. grafmiata Dork

AngryCorvair wrote:

In reply to fastEddie:

was there ice on the road in front of the mailbox?

Or, was the wife on the phone at the time?

Hard to diagnose without more info!!!
Jan. 16, 2012 8:48 p.m. fastEddie SuperDork

Streetwiseguy wrote:

Did you machine the rotors, and what quality of pads did you install? If the rotors are worn concave, which happens quite regularly, the new pads will only be contacting the outer and inner edge of the rotors. Put a straightedge on the face of the rotor.

Did not have the rotors turned but I just came in from inspecting and retorquing both sides and noticed that both front rotors have a brown tint to them now - glazed over? FWIW, the tint is uniform leading me to believe the rotors are flat! Pads are just from the 'Zone, nothing special. Slide pins all appeared to be sliding just fine.

No comment on my wife's driving ability!
Jan. 16, 2012 8:50 p.m. pigeon SuperDork

grafmiata wrote:

AngryCorvair wrote:

In reply to fastEddie:

was there ice on the road in front of the mailbox?

Or, was the wife on the phone at the time?

Hard to diagnose without more info!!!

Need pics of the wife to properly diagnose

I kid, I kid!
Jan. 16, 2012 8:55 p.m. pigeon SuperDork

fastEddie wrote:

Streetwiseguy wrote:

Did you machine the rotors, and what quality of pads did you install? If the rotors are worn concave, which happens quite regularly, the new pads will only be contacting the outer and inner edge of the rotors. Put a straightedge on the face of the rotor.

Did not have the rotors turned but I just came in from inspecting and retorquing both sides and noticed that both front rotors have a brown tint to them now - glazed over? FWIW, the tint is uniform leading me to believe the rotors are flat! Pads are just from the 'Zone, nothing special. Slide pins all appeared to be sliding just fine.

No comment on my wife's driving ability!

Stupid questions: Did you get any brake grease on the new pads or the rotors? Did you bed in the pads at all, or just install them and turn the keys back over to the wife?

I would recommend a thorough bedding in process then see how they are tomorrow.
Jan. 16, 2012 9:34 p.m. fastEddie SuperDork

No grease on the pads or rotors. I drove it first but only for about 10 minutes. Never had a problem like this in the past with other vehicles using the same methodology.
Jan. 16, 2012 9:52 p.m. davidjs Reader

I recall some caliper issues, but I thought they were all on the rear brakes, not the fronts.
Jan. 17, 2012 8:45 a.m. fastEddie SuperDork

Yeah, the Googles aren't being very helpful on this one