nebojsa_o Posted June 26, 2005 Report Share Posted June 26, 2005 So guys I picked up my car yesterday, a 1996 Cutlass Supreme 4dr. Drove around in the new car, it just had to be done, so i did about 30km to a J/Y to see what they got for cars like mine , and back, so total about 60km. When I got out of the car after the first 30km I could smell something burning, smelt like rubber/plastic. I checked all over/under the car, under the hood, and saw nothing. So I checked by the back, and the smell got stronger around the rear right wheel. So I touched it, and I burnt my finger, that's how hot it got. I touched all the other ones, not even a little warm. Anyone knows what's up?? What could this be?? The car has the 15" stock rims with hubcaps (for now). The tire was replaced on that wheel just 1 day ago, when it came out of the shop, but the tire wasn't that warm, and as far as I could tell it wasn't grinding against anything. It's the same dimensions like the other 3, so it's not a wrong size. Any ideas?? Is it possible that the brake pads didn't release on that wheel only after I release the parking brake?? I'll post pics of the car in a day or two, when my brother and dad get back to town with the camera. But for now, I'd like to know what you think this could be?? BTW, it did the same thing by the time I got home, except it wasn't as hot because I was driving a lot slower (speed limit) than the first 30km. Does the same thing after a 8km drive, just doesn't get as hot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THe_DeTAiL3R Posted June 26, 2005 Report Share Posted June 26, 2005 Yup... probably locked parking brake. Happened to me several times on several vehicles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nebojsa_o Posted June 26, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2005 Well the parking brake light isn't on, but I was guessing that could be it. So it's possible that only that one locked up? And if so, how would I unlock it?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted June 26, 2005 Report Share Posted June 26, 2005 Check for the lever that's hooked to the parking brake cable on the caliper. Try moving that lever back and forth, you'll need to move the lever so that more cable sticks out of the jacketing, that's when the e-brake is disengaged. A guy I know with a Lumina once melted a hubcap off a rear wheel because of heat, his ended up being a damaged rubber brake line, it was swollen almost shut inside. It trapped the fluid in there, keeping the brake locked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartonmd Posted June 27, 2005 Report Share Posted June 27, 2005 Common problem with anything with this style of e-brake... When you put on the E-brake, it's VERY typical for the E-brake to stick on even though the lever (or pedal) is not activated.... Works like this: Cable pulls on 3" arm that comes out of rear calipers... Arm pushes caliper piston out and compresses rear brakes... When you let off the petal/lever, the spring on the outside of the caliper, around the parking brake arm is what's supposed to pull the piston back in... that works for about a week when the car's new... To stop this from happening now, get a big, flat bladed screwdriver and stick it between the pad and rotor on the rear that's getting hot... Pry on it to push the piston back in a bit, then pump the *regular* brakes a few times to get everything back where it should be... To stop this from happening in the future... don't use the parking brake! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nebojsa_o Posted June 27, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 27, 2005 I will try that as soon as I get a chance, didn't have any tools over the weekend. And I don't even use the Parking Brake, the previous owner parked the car at my work, set the PB, took of plates, we made the deal, and he was gone. Thanks for the input guys, I'll let you know if the brake was stuck, or was it something else as soon as I know. Cya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THe_DeTAiL3R Posted June 27, 2005 Report Share Posted June 27, 2005 When the PB stuck on my 88 GP I used a crowbar to press down on that "3" arm" by the rear caliper. The older w-body brakes were pure shit. I use the parking brake on my 95 every day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartonmd Posted June 27, 2005 Report Share Posted June 27, 2005 They're OK if you use them every day, but if you don't use them very often, they corrode up and don't move as freely as they should... I parked on a steep hill in my mom's '96 Cutlass Supreme and the same thing happened as "O" is talking about... I don't use it at all on my '92 Euro for that reason... Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19Cutlass94 Posted June 27, 2005 Report Share Posted June 27, 2005 If its not the parking brake, its more than likely the piston locked up in the caliper, I had the same problem that you have. It was the caliper. I dont use my parking brake alot, but I do use it every once and a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nebojsa_o Posted June 28, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2005 Thanks for all the input fellas.. Now I at least have an idea of what I can try to take a look at. Thanks for all the help, I'll probably look at it in 2 days, I get a day off work, so I can check it out. If that's not the problem, and I don't figure it out, I'll let you know. Cya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nebojsa_o Posted July 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 Well I finally had some free time, day off, and home alone. So I jacked up the car, and took off that rear wheel. The parking brake doesn't seem to be stuck. I looked for something really obvious, but didn't find it. The wheel doesn't seem to be getting much more hot than the others at the time, so maybe some bump on the road fixed it. Although I noticed something. When I was rotating the rotor, there is a certain area when it spins easily, and then all of a sudden, it gets a little harder, and then slips through to easy again. Is it possible the rotor is warped or something like that?? There is no noise coming from the wheel that I can hear. What are the symptoms when the bearing is getting screwed?? It almost seems fixed, not getting as hot as those first few days, but I'm not sure about that rotor now. EASY---->HARDER----EASY, it feels akward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairdo12 Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 Mine does that too, even when the brakes are brand new. put the wheel back on and if it spins fine dont worry about it I say... however Ive owned the car for five years and have installed 4 pairs of new calipers, 5 sets of pads and 4 sets of rotors in the rear. so maybe it is a problem. oh and Ive replaced the two e brake cables three times already. So dont feel bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nebojsa_o Posted July 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2005 Sounds like you got it figured out, LoL. Same thing happens when the wheel is on, and rear is in the air, I spin it, and it goes harder over a certain part, then goes easier again. Well I did 20km of test driving after I put the wheel on it, and it got as warm as the other one, but not as hot as the first day I had it. Oh well, we'll see what happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19Cutlass94 Posted July 14, 2005 Report Share Posted July 14, 2005 It should be just one smooth motion, it should be easy to turn the wheel. You probably have a warpped rotor, thats most likely what its going to be. just pick up a new rotor and youll be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nebojsa_o Posted July 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2005 So that is something that does happen, a warped rotor?? Great, well... sort of. Thanks for the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19Cutlass94 Posted July 14, 2005 Report Share Posted July 14, 2005 Normally a warpped rotor is caused by exessive heat, so maybe if you ride your brakes alot or are really harsh on them, or if your brakes, rotors, are hot from driving and you go through a puddle of some type of water thats really cold, that will also warp them. Those are probably the 2 most common Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nebojsa_o Posted July 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2005 Well I didn't do any of the above since I bought the car a few weeks ago, but maybe the previous owner did. Well I'm happy to know it's not a huge deal, nothing really bad. And the parking brake isn't stuck, I'll try to keep it that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
94CutlassSLCoupe Posted July 14, 2005 Report Share Posted July 14, 2005 To stop this from happening in the future... don't use the parking brake! Worst idea ever!!!!!!! Rotors also don't warp...its just the variation in the thickness of the brake disk increases, causing pedal pulsation...sorry to say but a peice of cast iron that is <1/2" thick is not going to warp Chances are your calipers are not sliding correctly, causing one of the pads to drag...take it apart and grease the slide pins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveFromColorado Posted July 14, 2005 Report Share Posted July 14, 2005 the rotor probably got warped due to the parking brake being too tight for too long (caused too much heat) new rotors aren't that expensive. --Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartonmd Posted July 15, 2005 Report Share Posted July 15, 2005 To stop this from happening in the future... don't use the parking brake! Worst idea ever!!!!!!! Why? (unless it's a manual trans of course...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supreme Cutlass Posted July 15, 2005 Report Share Posted July 15, 2005 Rotors DO warp.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nebojsa_o Posted July 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2005 Well I'll get a new rotor, just to be sure, since they aren't too expensive, but I don't understand about greasing up the sliders in the caliper... Anyone mind treating me like a newbie and explaining that to me?? When I take apart the caliper, should I expect something to shoot out at me, or is there nothing under crazy presure in there. I never had to take a caliper apart before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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