Brakes overheating

Tiny
JIMCALVANI
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 FORD F-150
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 30,362 MILES
After dealer brake job on rear wheels, rear wheels started overheating causing them to smoke. Problem continued for 6,000 miles, even after dealer rechecked. Upon tire rotation, front wheels started to overheat and smoke. Dealer can't any problems. What do I do.
Saturday, September 25th, 2010 AT 1:41 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
BILLYMAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,204 POSTS
Hi occasionally rubber hoses will go bad from the inside out and cause parts of the hose to block or slow hydro fluid. Which will cause brakes to stick and overheat. The repair is to replace the 4 rubber hoses one at each wheel
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Wednesday, March 10th, 2021 AT 11:56 AM
Tiny
JIMCALVANI
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
In reply to your answer RE: hose replacement. Brake parts and system checked. Before tire rotation, wheels in rear overheated, after tire rotation (wheels from rear to front) continued to overheat and smoke. Is it possible that rims are out of round and causing friction causing heat? Also could tires(all the same size) could be the problem? Dealers are stumped and can't find problem. Brakes are good and not sticking shut. What do you think?
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+1
Wednesday, March 10th, 2021 AT 11:56 AM
Tiny
BILLYMAC
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  • 2,204 POSTS
Isee what you are talking aboutBut here's the thing you said they get hot enough that they smoke.

The only thing there that can cause smoke is oil seal leaking or brakes burning.

No tires cannot cause this. It has to be related to the brakes either out of adjustment or wrong parts. How long before wheel overheat?

Were they overheated when you got to the dealer for service?

So when the tires were rotated the front wheels overheated was there smoke then aswell?
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Wednesday, March 10th, 2021 AT 11:56 AM
Tiny
JIMCALVANI
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Billymac: In response to your question: Wheels were hot when arriving, but not smoking on this trip. After dealer checked out brakes, we drove about 20 city blocks(stop and go traffic). Wheels were very hot and smoking when returning home, about 20 minutes later. Should I try another dealership or return to same dealer?
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Wednesday, March 10th, 2021 AT 11:56 AM
Tiny
BLACKOP555
  • MECHANIC
  • 10,371 POSTS
To add my 2 cents I would see a different dealership that is unless you would like to do some checking out yourself.

If the brakes are not sticking shut as you say then the only other thing that would causing smoking of the brakes would be possibly a wheel bearing going out on all the wheels. Highly unlikely. Leads me to believe its a issue with the brakes.
Go out in morning jack up each wheel and note how they spin. Pump the brake a few times and spin and feel on each wheel if it changes them any. If one of them gets harder to turn then I would be checking to make sure calipers are sliding freely and releasing pressure. But you say they are all locking up? If this is the case I would be hunting at the master cylinder and making sure it is properly adjusted and not overfilled with fluid causing the fluid to heat up and make the brakes self apply.

If master cylinder is all good. Start chasing towards the hydraulic control unit and make sure the lines to it are not kinked or obstructed and that the hcu is not internally clogged.

If its all wheels locking up it could be bad lines or calipers/wheel cylinders but its highly unlikely they all went bad at once. Unless someone added transmission fluid to the brake system on accident.
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Wednesday, March 10th, 2021 AT 11:56 AM

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