So i replaced the rotors and pads on my 2000 4dr 4wd yesterday and went on a short drive to break in the new brakes. With in two miles i could smell the brakes extremely strong and pulled over to look. Both rotors where blued/ red and smoking a lot. I let them cool for a while then made the trip back home to the same thing. Two miles and both red hot.

So i thought that maybe the pads were getting stuck in the rail and not sliding like they should. So today i took the brakes apart and filed down the nubs on the pads so they would slide slightly easier.

Test drive went the same way, both sides where smoking hot.

I have exhausted all of my "brake knowledge" and would like any ideas as to what could be wrong. I am a college student and dont really have the money to take it somewhere.

Thanks.

 

Calipers are frozen and need to be replaced.

 

so they can be frozen even though i could squeeze the piston down tp install the new pads?

 

How hard were they to push in. The should go in fairly easy. They may be getting stuck and the seal isnt strong enough to push them back in when the brakes are released. Check the slide pins too. Take the caliper off and check to see that the pins will move in and out freely. Also check the rubber lines for any cracks or little bulges. The inside of the line maybe starting to break down and not allowing fluid to go back in when the brakes are released.

 

It's possible. I just replaced some on an '02 w/ 50k miles. I could push them in, but they still froze up under normal operating conditions. Take a good look at your new pads and rotors while it's apart. They could need replacing, as well.

 

I'll second the sliding pins. They corrode sometimes, happened to mine on the left rear. Took it out, lightly sanded and added a thin coat of hi-temp grease to the pin. No more problems.