2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Burned brakes

[Grinr01]

coming down a steep grade the other day, I smelled that the brakes burned. This is the first time this has ever happened on this truck.
I pulled over and let 'em cool down for 1/2 hour. brakes seemed fine thereafter.
should I have the brakes checked out by a mechanic? What are the potential problems from
burning the brakes? Am I looking at new pads only or rotors too? By the way, it was the fronts because i can still smell the burnt brake dust.

 

[litespeed]

coming down a steep grade the other day, I smelled that the brakes burned. This is the first time this has ever happened on this truck.
I pulled over and let 'em cool down for 1/2 hour. brakes seemed fine thereafter.
should I have the brakes checked out by a mechanic? What are the potential problems from
burning the brakes? Am I looking at new pads only or rotors too? By the way, it was the fronts because i can still smell the burnt brake dust.

Look closely at the rotors. If they have turned blue and are slick... You should probably replace them. Also, check for small cracks in the surface of the rotor.

The pads can actually seperate from the backing (I have seen it happen). So, you should pull the pads and check them for separation. Not sure if you have discs in the rear. Your sig. says 2001 so that is a possibility. Check "my old readers rigs gallery" if you want to see what pad separation looks like. I replaced these pads not long after my "over heating incident". The pads literally were crumbling apart (factory pads).

I would not be surprised if you run into front "hub bearing" problems real soon. That amount of heat affects the grease in the bearings and the result is premature failure and early replacement. I went through this 1 time on my truck pulling a heavy fifth wheel for a friend. The trailer brakes failed and I had to stop the thing several times with the truck. After about 1 month the bearings started making noise.

 

[Grinr01]

thank you. I'll take a look. Might be a good time to replace pads/rotors anyway. The comment about the bearings is a good idea.
BTW the back brakes are drums.

 

[Bob Cochran]

Other thing that can happen is warped rotors but since you did not say you had weird vibration or noise when braking I would not think that would be one of your problems. As for cracks I think some cracks is ok and someplace there is spec's on if they are horizontal, vertical, length of crack etc. Dang if I can remember where I seen that information perhaps somebody else can for you.

 

[BeefDoc]

My truck weighs 10K all the time (vet box) and I smell burnt brakes all the time. I try to use my brakes as little as possible, but when I have to stop faster than normal, I always smell burnt brakes. I have put 215K on this truck since I bought it, and have not had any serious trouble. I replace front brakes 12K left, 30k right, my rotors were new (from a parts store not factory) approx 200k ago. Truck still stops OK and rotors are wore (lots of little cracks) but are not warped. I recently installed a pac brake to help stop, but I am not sure how well that is going to work yet. I have replace the right wheel bearing with 285K on the truck. FWIW Matt

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

coming down a steep grade the other day, I smelled that the brakes burned. This is the first time this has ever happened on this truck.

I pulled over and let 'em cool down for 1/2 hour. brakes seemed fine thereafter.

should I have the brakes checked out by a mechanic? What are the potential problems from

burning the brakes? Am I looking at new pads only or rotors too? By the way, it was the fronts because i can still smell the burnt brake dust.

Not sure where you hail from, but out west you will most certainly smell burnt brakes on a regular basis. (yours or someone else's) Unless they actually got so hot they quite working (i. e. brake fade) you should have nothing to worry about. You can do all the above mentioned checks or you can just be more careful next time. PacBrakes and trailer brakes are nice, but sometimes you don't have them and have to do what you have to do!

 

[Johnny5]

make sure your back brakes are functioning. I just had similar issues where my fronts were smelling at times under hard breaking and found out the rear rotors were so rusted (cheap aftermarket) the pads were just sliding and put all the stopping on the fronts. Altho my are rotors you may have an issue with the shoes not adjusted completely or a wheel cyl that may have locked up.

 

[Jefff929]

make sure your back brakes are functioning.

I know a guy with a 97, just about every time he goes to tow his 5th wheel he climbs under the truck to check the rear brake adjustment. Is he loopy, he doesn't think so.

 

[AClayton]

coming down a steep grade the other day, I smelled that the brakes burned. This is the first time this has ever happened on this truck.

I pulled over and let 'em cool down for 1/2 hour. brakes seemed fine thereafter.

should I have the brakes checked out by a mechanic? What are the potential problems from

burning the brakes? Am I looking at new pads only or rotors too? By the way, it was the fronts because i can still smell the burnt brake dust.

I used to have problems with my brakes also... . I have the drums with the brake arm mounted in the frame. Some help from TDR members suggested eliminating that arm and bypassing the brake lines around it. I compromised and welded a 2" shaft extension to the brake arm from its shock mount on the axle..... this simulates a loaded truck and the stopping force has been increased 10 fold!!! Cheap and inexpensive fix for me... . hope this helps!!!





Alan

 

[WILLD420]

If they didn't fade completely out, you should be o. k. Even if they did fade out, it's not a big deal unless you cooked them so bad they die.

Stopping isn't the answer if you are on level ground. The airflow is what cools them off. Sitting will only make the heat migrate to everything else. If you are in the hills, then you gotta stop, no choice.

Here's my trick, take it for a tip, not as gospel. I use 2wd Low. I pull the vacuum lines on the front diff and reverse them. Then when I pop it in 4wd, it unlocks the CAD and I can use low range with only the rear axle being driven. I used to do that a lot with my old 70's and 80's trucks before all the unit bearing, not disconnecting front axle crap. It's the only way we could get 20K lbs down some of the roads I used to drive, without toasting the brakes when we were using trucks with the auto transmissions. Heck, those stupid old C-6 Fords would run 50 MPH in 1st gear in 2wd Hi, but lock that t-case in low and leave the hubs unlocked and it would hold 15-18 MPH all day and never touch the brakes.

BTW if you get the pads hot enough they start shooting sparks and look like dropping cigarettes, they are probably toast... . But short of that, it usually doesn't hurt them too bad to get good and hot once in awhile.