When the brake is applied there is push back and a clicking?

Hello TISHA STROCK-ALLEN,

Has the caliper been replaced?

If the caliper is sticking, the brakes will drag constantly heating them up and burning the pads and this might be what you are smelling.

A stuck caliper will also cause the ABS to activate because the wheel with the brake issue is at a different speed than the other during braking. Sometimes the steering wheel will shake back and forth.

Check the slide pins on the caliper. This is where it may be sticking.

You can remove them and clean them as well as the hole they go into.

Remove the caliper from the bracket. (See image RED arrows). Those bolts are the slide pins. (See image). These pins look like they are different so take note of the position they come out of.

A lot of the times the grease that was once in there has long disappeared. So, the metal surfaces start to corrode, which makes them swell.

This keeps the caliper from being able to "float" back out of the way.

Hang the caliper up with a bungee cord to keep it from hanging from the brake hose and causing damage to the hose.

Remove the bracket from the steering knuckle (see image green arrows)

You will need Bore Brush and a drill. (See image)

Use this to clean the holes in the caliper bracket that the slides go into. Clean them well. Then spray some brake cleaner in there and clean it out.

If the pins are too rusted, then you will have to get new ones. Your local auto parts store should be able to get them for you. They are fairly cheap.

Found these on RockAuto if you need them.:
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/saturn,1995,sl+sedan,1.9l+l4+sohc,1266948,brake+&+wheel+hub,caliper+slide+pin,10281

Take the new pins or the cleaned old ones and coat evenly with High-Temp Synthetic Brake Grease. (See image).

Re-assemble and check to make sure they can move in and out properly.

If the pads have been overheated they need to be replaced. Also take a look at the pads and see if they are worn un-evenly.

The piston could also stick, and the brake hose can collapse internally causing the brakes to stick as well.

I would start by checking the slide pins and clean if needed. Note any un-even pad wear. An inner pad that is worn more than the outer could signal an issue with the caliper.

Let me know what you find, and we can go from there.

Note: Sometimes these pins are so seized they won't move. In that case it is best to replace the caliper as an assembly.

Hope this helps.

Thank you,
Brendon

Hello TISHA STROCK-ALLEN,

The ABS activation or push-back, did it start happening after the brakes on one side were replaced?

Does it happen only at low speeds like when coming to a full stop? Or is it happening every time you hit the brakes?

Is there any noise when driving regardless of the brakes being applied or not? It would sound like a rotational noise that gets louder/faster with speed.

Any other noise or vibrations during use of the brakes or does it seem to pull to one side?

I am thinking it might be the brake hose. Fluid is able to pass into the caliper but not retract back into the system.

Here is a good video that explains the process of checking and replacing if necessary. Take a look and see if this is what is going on.
https://youtu.be/mtRzC4s9lFM

Let me know what you find.

Thank you,
Brendon