Brake pad change botched?

Hi all,

Last pad change on my Fiesta, went fine... didn't do much cleaning cos there wasn't much to get in the way of the pads sliding up and down or the calliper moving. Calliper went back on fine on both wheels without much trouble. Did a quick road test, they work fine, they kick in almost as soon as I touch the pedal now, and don't bind at all - I can sit in the drivers seat with the door open and move the car by sticking a foot out, I feel the reluctance of the tyres to start rolling initially but that's the only resistance. Also my drive is about 5% sloped and when I release the handbrake it'll reach 20mph quite quickly with no engine assistance.

So.... does anyone have any theories as to why I usually get a whiff of hot brake dust whenever I get out of the car after a short journey? When I've braked from 70 to 0 sometimes the smell comes through the vents. I've done 200-300 miles on them (the first 150 being gentle on them) so they should be bedded in OK I would have thought? Should I give it bit longer or should I take them apart again?

Thanks,

Peter.

Reply to
Peter Spikings
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I've had cheap s**te pads on the Mrs Corolla that stank to high heavens whenever I drove the car, but was fine with her. Anything more than light pressure caused them to heat up badly. What sort of pads are you using?

Reply to
Sandy Nuts

Proper Ford/Motorcraft ones from my local dealer.

Thanks,

Peter.

Reply to
Peter Spikings

Do the wheels feel hot to the touch after a trip? Easiest way to check if the brakes are binding, IMO.

Reply to
Willy Eckerslyke

Isn't it normal for the wheels to get hot just from the energy released from the actual braking?

I don't know, I'll check the next time I take it out. I guess it depends on how you define hot. Every indication (aside from the smell) points to no binding - fuel economy is still good.

Peter.

Reply to
Peter Spikings

Depends on your driving, I suppose. I think you'd have to work the brakes pretty hard for much heat to get through to the wheels. If they're hot after a normal drive, you've got a problem.

Reply to
Willy Eckerslyke

Just been for a quick drive only doing light intermittent braking, 2 miles out and back again. When I got there the wheels and calliper were stone cold, the disc was HOT :) When I got back the wheel was still stone cold, the calliper was a bit warm, not hot, could hold my finger against it with no trouble at all. Could feel the heat radiating off the disc so didn't try and touch that ;)

Presumably it's normal to have hot discs even for a short distance with little braking given that the discs aren't vented and are out of the airflow?

Not much smell of brakes but it was still there. I guess I'll give it a bit longer.

Peter.

Reply to
Peter Spikings

Maybe its just because its the bedding in period ? usually 200 hundre or 400 miless forgot which.

Reply to
magicman

Mine are perfectly functional brakes without binding and are warm (30-40) degrees by the time ive done a couple of urban miles. On a motorway/DC cruise they are stone cold after 2 miles unless i brake hard to check them lol. So long as they arent hot when you havent been braking for a few miles they are not binding (though you could have a bearing problem but we will ignore that for now!). Usually they get to body temp with light braking and cruising around.

Reply to
Coyoteboy

"Peter Spikings" wrote

Are you sure it is the "smell of brakes" and not simply the smell of the paint burning off of the caliper facing side of the pad? It is normal IME for new brake pads to smell for a while because of this.

Reply to
Knight Of The Road

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