smelly Passenger rear brakes - stuck caliper?

[riffman12]

hey all - I've got a weird thing happening under certain braking conditions. 2006 LC

When I really lean onto the brakes - like if I'm coming off a downhill freeway offramp - I start to get a smell like my brakes are getting hot. It's only when I do one fairly firm, long braking.

I got out of the car last time it happened and it seems to only be coming from the passenger rear.

Worth noting - I replaced the rear pads and rotors two months ago. The slide pins were a little crusty and I did not have a new rebuild kit at the time so I regreased them but I was planning to redo those.

Before I order a new slide pin kit, is this something that could happen from the caliper not sliding smoothly? Or does this sound more like that caliper is sticking and needs replacing?

I just feel like if the caliper was sticking it would kind of do this all the time, not just under really firm braking.

 

[MongooseGA]

It could be either, but I'd expect you may have noticed a stuck caliper if you recently did the pads. I would think that's not a very fast process of getting really stuck. Have you lifted the one wheel and tried spinning it to see if there's a bunch of drag? It may be something you don't necessarily feel under the truck's power, but can by hand.

 

[riffman12]

It could be either, but I'd expect you may have noticed a stuck caliper if you recently did the pads. I would think that's not a very fast process of getting really stuck. Have you lifted the one wheel and tried spinning it to see if there's a bunch of drag? It may be something you don't necessarily feel under the truck's power, but can by hand.

no not yet but good idea. I'll see if I can get it in the air this week

 

[Trapper50cal]

So don't forget that your parking brake is a mini-drum brake setup in the rear rotor so that could
need attention as well. Especially if you adjusted it at the time of replacing the rotors and didn't
back it off enough. The spin test could highlight that as well.

 

[riffman12]

So don't forget that your parking brake is a mini-drum brake setup in the rear rotor so that could
need attention as well. Especially if you adjusted it at the time of replacing the rotors and didn't
back it off enough. The spin test could highlight that as well.

yeah good point. Although if it was my parking brake I feel like it would smell all the time from dragging, no? This only happens after one single hard application of the brakes.

 

[Trapper50cal]

yeah good point. Although if it was my parking brake I feel like it would smell all the time from dragging, no? This only happens after one single hard application of the brakes.

Yeah, anecdotally...but your noticing it isn't necessarily the only time it happens. It could also have to do with how long you've been underway when you've tested the "hard application".

Just something to consider if the pads don't appear to be rubbing or failing to recede properly.
Also put your hand on the wheel after you notice the smell, is the wheel hot? I think that would
been a sign of the primary disc brake set-up as well...imparting temp. to the wheels.