brakes started stinking all of a sudden.

[LUMIN8]

hey guys,

was driving around tonight here and there, no problems, left one place arrived at another (prolly 10k's away) and got out and smelled a very weird smell.

much like brake pads, (not like rubber or clutch)

anyway, i sniffed the back brakes and they just reaked, i know i didnt drive with the handbrake on, because
a) if it was up the car just doesnt move.
b) if it was up the slightest bit the red light comes on in the cluster.

so after that i couldnt really find a problem.

i drove a bit got out and checked. rear discs were a little warm, but i imagine thats normal usage. no smell as such, like i could still make out the smell but it wasnt as strong as before (it didnt fill the air like a burnout would)

i just got home (30k's from last stop) and it stinks again but now its the
fronts that stink not the back.

that just confuses me.

so has anyone had a cylinder lock up and clamp down on a wheel before?
i have heard of it happening.

whats the best way to test brakes (besides the obvious) to determine if its viable to goto a brake expert.

i dont want to walk in and have them charge me becuase its 'normal'.
i have put it into nuetral and pushed the car without a problem, and then pulled the handbrake up and try just to establish that theyre not locked down.

advice would be great,

Thanks

[Adamal]

Could be that you have some air in the system. When's the last time you had your brakes bled?

[LUMIN8]

um...

do they bleed your brakes when you do a full service?

if they dont then they havent been bled in the last 2.5 years of
me owning it.

i dont suppose its an easy home job.

mind you, messing with brakes isnt my thing, i guess ill have to get it
checked.

can anyone reccomend a place in hamilton/cambridge?

[Lloyd]

Take it in somewhere to get the brake fluid changed and get them to have a general check over the brakes while they're doing it. Could be a sticky slide or 2 which you wont really know until you pull the brakes apart

[GT4 20]

As per HRT. Could well be a sticky caliper which is causing the pads to 'lock up'.
Gary

[Spannergal]

um...

do they bleed your brakes when you do a full service?

if they dont then they havent been bled in the last 2.5 years of
me owning it.

i dont suppose its an easy home job.

mind you, messing with brakes isnt my thing, i guess ill have to get it
checked.

can anyone reccomend a place in hamilton/cambridge?

unless it needs it, they don''t. your fluid is probably well overdue for a change (usually needs to be done every 2 years)

[LUMIN8]

hmm.

just an update. the stink seems to be pretty much all over.

now im sure they arent sticking to the point where its dangerous.

ive i have the handbrake up the car just wont move, which is good,
if i take the handbrake off, its like normal,

so is driving, if the fronts were sticking it would not only be noticable
in the handling but also in the revs, and the revs are normal.

i'm just wondering though, the smell could either be breaks or something
similar to a burning clutch smell.

problem is its an auto. im hoping like hell its the brakes....

ill have to take it in i guess, i just spent money getting new shocks
and redoing my warrant again (2 months since it failed.) so i cant afford it but hey thats the way the cookie crumbles....

[GT4 20]

Jack the car up one corner at a time and ensure that each wheel in turn spins freely.
Gary

[LUMIN8]

good idea