Smoke from Wheel!

[jrees2010]

Hi,
I'm not a newbie here, its just been a while since I posted (maybe 5 years...). So, I couldn't remember my user name or email address. I gave my X back to my Dad, and he has just recently given it back to me. Of course, it has problems now...But I'm just happy to get my X back!

So, my dad is driving to town (to get a keg, no less) and comes back on the freeway. When he gets close to home, he starts to smell smoke. He drives all the way home with the windows down and when he gets into the driveway smoke is coming out of the passenger side wheel well. He also has no brakes by the time he stops in the driveway. This is basically where he left the car until I had a chance to look at it.

When I get down there to look, I start it- and it has brakes! Everything seems to be working, however I don't trust it at all! The brakes themselves look to be in good working order, 4x4 seems to work. I am wondering if somehow one of the auto hubs didn't unlock and melted down? Is this possible? I've been searching the site for a while looking for similar problems, but haven't found any. (of course, with all internet searches, figuring out what to search for is the main problem) I will go out and check to see if both hubs function, once it stops raining.

I've driven it around the back roads to see if I can recreate the problem. I am scared to drive it too far or fast at this point.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! It is a 93 xlt 4x4 with 145000 miles. It is auto trans with auto hubs. The master cylinder was replaced 5 years ago and only 7500 miles have been put on it since then.

Thanks!
J

 

[XxxMonoxideChild]

the Oring on the center cap could have failed. which would leak the grease directly onto the rotor, which makes it smoke alot, and reduces brake pressure.

it happened to me once. was a ***** to get home since i was 2 hours away, and even ford doesnt have a listing for that damn rubber o-ring.

not saying thats what it is, but it could be. if you pop the wheel off, you will be able to tell if thats itt by the amount of grease around. lol

 

[James909]

I don't think it was the auto hubs that caused the problems. I'm thinking it was the brakes. Did he mention any pulling to one side while this problem was occurring? Because it sounds like the passenger side caliper was stuck. It probably heated up causing the smoke and because of all the heat caused brake fade which is why he had no brakes. The calipers sometimes unstick themselves which is why it may seem fine now but I would still replace the passenger side caliper.

 

[hilton850]

I don't think it was the auto hubs that caused the problems. I'm thinking it was the brakes. Did he mention any pulling to one side while this problem was occurring? Because it sounds like the passenger side caliper was stuck. It probably heated up causing the smoke and because of all the heat caused brake fade which is why he had no brakes. The calipers sometimes unstick themselves which is why it may seem fine now but I would still replace the passenger side caliper.

I agree. I had a similar problem minus the smoke on a snowmobile once. I was racing with my brother around a field and using the brakes heavily going into the corners. After a while I could catch a whiff of hot brakes...not a big deal and not a surprise. Then the brakes started to feel funny so I stopped and after another minute I could pull the handle all the way to the bar with no resistance....NO BRAKES. The sled was only 6 months old so I took it to the dealer to check out under warranty...they found nothing so near as I can tell I got the brake fluid in the caliper too hot, it boiled and POOF no brakes. When things cooled back off - the next morning - brakes worked fine.

I agree 100% with the stuck caliper. Smoke could have been from wheel bearing grease cooking off. If it were mine I'd replace the caliper, pads and at the very least dress the rotor in case it got glazed when it got really hot. I'd also check the wheel bearings on that side...and probably clean all the grease out of the hub and wheel bearing area and repack it with fresh grease. Good Luck!

 

[jrees2010]

Hi!
Thanks for all the help. I just emailed my dad to check on the story. Here is what he said:

Getting off the freeway, you could definitely smell acrid fumes - when we got home, there was a lot of smoke coming out of the right front wheel. (the brakes seemed fine at this point). When I went to move the Explorer to the side of the drive way, after giving it a chance to cool, I "noticed" that the brake pedal went all the way to the floor,
and I had to use the emergency brake to stop.

Does this help? I've talked to a mechanic friend who also concurs that it is a stuck caliper, but he hasn't seen the car. He based it off of what I have told him.

Thanks again for all your help! This is truly an amazing site- it has saved me a lot of money!

 

[XxxMonoxideChild]

possibly a brake line or a piston failed, and it sprayed the fluid on the caliper. have him check the brake resevoir to see if there's fluid.

 

[jrees2010]

Hi,
thanks, ,there is plenty of fluid. It is 2/3 of the way up between the min and max lines on the resevoir.