Smoking front Brakes?

**Zach** · 8-5-08, 20:08

I just did the brakes on my 01 Durango, well my wife came home and I saw the fronts were smoking and the nasty smell of semi-metallic pads was everywhere.

What would cause this? I put on new pads and new rotors, they aren't dragging or pulling. I bedded them correctly or so it seemed.

Stuck caliper, crap pads, both?

**compnut21** · 8-5-08, 20:13

did you lube the slider pins (if it has any?)

id say they are probably dragging... or really really cheap.

**Zach** · 8-5-08, 20:18

no slider pins involved, they are internal. My "guess" is weak pads. The calipers have good movement.

going to get new pads and reinstall

**I4MX6** · 8-5-08, 20:20

Is there a paint on the rotors? Could be that or something in the pads smoking off. Depends on how new everything is. If it is all new, it might be something that can be fixed with a good spray of some brake cleaner.

**Zach** · 8-5-08, 20:22

There was some surface rust on the rotors that was pretty gnarly, but nothing really out of the ordinary. I checked the rotors and they looked to have a blue hue to them...too much heat?

**Karaha** · 8-5-08, 20:26

Do any offroading? Somtimes my friend will get grass and [shizzle] stuck in his and they smoke for a while. I also agree with the others, if nothing else it sounds like crappy pads. Were they autozone brand or something?

**Zach** · 8-5-08, 20:30

Got the pads from Baxters...although their 'cheap' brand. I might have to go a step up and maybe get some Bendix or Ceramics (don't want to go this route tough)...we'll see. I don't want my wife driving and having them catch fire...that would have fail written all over it

**compnut21** · 8-5-08, 20:36

i think this is a sign to sell the durango and buy more mx6's.

**I4MX6** · 8-5-08, 20:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zach

There was some surface rust on the rotors that was pretty gnarly, but nothing really out of the ordinary. I checked the rotors and they looked to have a blue hue to them...too much heat?

They are torched. Are the calipers seized or seizing? The rotors are either very cheap or the pads are just sitting on the rotor during driving.

**Chris6** · 8-6-08, 0:12

from my limitied brake knowledge....is there any brake fluid present? Once that stuff gets hot it burnsssss. Other than that. I'm useless

**Zach** · 8-6-08, 0:55

Turns out the calipers were rusty...no idea why I didn't see this in the first place

New calipers on and everything's fine

defiler · 8-6-08, 12:20

^^Just saw this thread and was goign to say the calipers

Brake pads only would have done that if your wife was BEATING on the brakes before she got home. (Not too out in left feild... woman, SUV...

)

**Zach** · 8-6-08, 12:49

Yeah...I thought she must've been riding brakes as well...but I pushed the caliper back down, pushed the brake pedal, and the calipers wouldn't release their pressure...sweet...lol

But thankfully everything's done.