Stinky brakes?
By TheRealDawn
@dawnald (85137)
Shingle Springs, California
June 24, 2009 12:55pm CST
Just got my brakes replaced last month. Stupid brakes on this new car only last something like 12,000 miles and you would think they would have told me at the 15,000 mile service to do that. But I digress. This week my son started "extended school year" up the hill in Cameron Park. So I drop him off and then come back down the hill and drop off the girls. When I get to their school, all 3 days this week, I smell my brakes. Is that normal?
2 people like this
6 responses
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
24 Jun 09
I think it's normal. Seems like I remember an odor similar to burning rubber being normal during the break-in (brake-in? LOL) process.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (169472)
• United States
25 Jun 09
You know, that does not sound right to me, but then neither does needing brakes after only 12,000 or 15,000 miles. Remind me not to buy that brand of vehicle. I always have used vehicles, but the brakes work longer than that.
2 people like this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
25 Jun 09
My brakes on my old dodge lasted MUCH longer. But we didn't actually replace them until more like 25,000 miles. It's just that we had the car in for regular maintenance every 5,000 miles and you'd have thought they would have told us we needed brakes long before they got to the point that they did last month.
1 person likes this
@finlander60 (1804)
• United States
25 Jun 09
The best answer I can give you is this. You should not EVER SMELL YOUR BRAKES. Something is absolutely wrong. Twelve thousand miles on a complete set of brake shoes or pads seems to be very short to me. Are you normally this hard on brakes? Is this vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission? If it is you should not have to ride the brakes, even down hills. Whoever you had do the last brake job, I seriously doubt if I would let them touch my car ever again. There should be some kind of warranty on the work that they did on it. It should not cost you anything to have it looked at and fixed. Good luck.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
25 Jun 09
First of all, we didn't replace the brakes at 12,000 miles, it was more like 25,000 miles. But when we complained about them being metal on metal and why didn't they tell us we needed brakes at the last service, we were told that they usually only last 12,000 miles. Anyway, no, I'm not all that hard on brakes. But we do have a really long, steep driveway, so I would expect a little extra wear and tear. But not a lot. yeah, they better not charge us to fix it considering they charged us almost $500 to replace them less than a month ago!
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
24 Jun 09
I wonder if they were fitted properly? I don't think that you should be able to smell them. It sounds like they are burning or something horrible like that. Get it checked out as it could save your life. What if they failed? Have you ever driven a car with no brakes? It is not a fun experience - I had to keep bumping into the grass banking on the side of the road to slow down.
2 people like this
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
25 Jun 09
Dawn-
I would take the car back to those who did the brake job and have them take a look at what's going on. You could be driving on no brake pads, causing a smell from the metal hitting metal. If you drive too long like that you can do damage to the rotors, and those are a pricy repair. It could also be that the brakes just need an adjustment.
Also, you're not burning oil are you? Oil spewing on the engine is a horrible smell. Either way, get the car checked out ok?
Namaste-Anora
2 people like this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
25 Jun 09
It's an not oil smell, it's definitely a brake smell. And I don't see how it could be metal on metal since we just had the brakes replaced. They would have had to mess up the repair really badly, plus I don't hear a grinding noise like I did before. Anyway, it is going back in today or tomorrow.
1 person likes this
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
25 Jun 09
According to what I read on the calipers, that causes a grinding that is rubbing, but you won't hear squeaking you'll just get a horrible smell. I do hope you get it checked out though because it could mean a very serious issues if you don't.
Namaste-Anora
1 person likes this
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
25 Jun 09
Dawn-
I was just doing a bit of digging around online and came across a few car discussions in which they stated that smelly brakes may mean the caliper needs to be adjusted in the brake system. I believe it sits near the rotor and if it is off, it rubs and wears against the rotor itself causing burning. Do get it checked out. (Auto mechanics, please feel free to chime in 
)
Namaste-Anora
)
Namaste-Anora2 people like this
