Burning smell through A/C when braking (sometimes)?

PADDIDUS

MEMBER
2006 DODGE CARAVAN
3.3L
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
273,000 MILES

After about 8-10 minutes on the road at 55 MPH I come to my first stop light. When braking I smell a burning smell through the A/C.
Then further stops and braking does not produce this smell.

I know for sure that the rack and pinon is leaking power steering fluid. Could this fluid leak be accumulating on the brakes and be what is burning off each time this happens as described?

My brakes feel totally normal, not soft, not hard. The brake fluid was old and dirty looking, so I recently topped it off with new fluid.

After driving a 25–30-minute drive I recently checked the temperatures of each wheel's brake using a thermometer laser gun. Nothing out of normal range.

1 Reply

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,700 POSTS

Hi,

That is a good question. I don't feel PS fluid would be getting on the brakes. Also, I feel you would smell it more than one time.

It could be pooling and when you stop, it drips off onto the exhaust. Do me a favor. The next time you drive it, when this normally happens, stop the vehicle in a safe location, let the engine continue to run, and open the hood to see if there is any smoke. If the fluid is getting burned off, you should see smoke.

Let me know what you find,

Take care,

joe