2004 XC90 rear tire smoking Topic is solved

xyourobob · Post by **xyourobob** » 07 Feb 2019, 15:01

I noticed a burnt smell coming from one of my rear tires, after driving it she got so hot there was smoke. When I took the tire off it was clear that the smell was coming from the brake pads. I replaced the Brake caliper and then I bled the break, there was a steady stream of fluid and no air. I put the tire back on took her for a test ride and the break sinks really low so I popped the tire off and tried to blead the brake again with the same result. I wouldn't have thought that I would need to bleed all four breaks by just removing one caliber? Do you think it could be the brake line to that caliper?

Post by **joejoethedogfaceboy** » 07 Feb 2019, 15:15

Is it still locking up? It could be the brake line, and worth the effort to replace on that aged car even if it doesn't fix it. My '04 XC90 (no longer have it) had a problem with one locking front caliper, and it turned out to be the valve body in the ABS module. Check out this thread for someone else with the same problem and some directions on how to troubleshoot. viewtopic.php?f=10&t=82594&p=448924#p448924

If the ABS is the issue, removing the ABS module is pretty straightforward, and you will need to disassemble your existing one to bring the control module over to the replacement ABS unit. (IIRC they are matched to the car?)

HTH -Joe

xyourobob · Post by **xyourobob** » 07 Feb 2019, 16:55

I'm not sure if it is still locking up, I have been too focused on getting a stiff pedal that doesn't drop to the floor

Post by **joejoethedogfaceboy** » 07 Feb 2019, 19:20

Might need to bleed the other brakes then.

Post by **SuperHerman** » 07 Feb 2019, 19:58

I think you will need to bleed all four brakes, starting with the furthest away and moving to the closest to the brake reservoir. It wouldn't hurt regardless to put new fluid in there. A brake bleeder will help keeping air out of the system. Also, check your brake fluid level.

As to whether the inside brake drums are the problem regarding the initial lock up, you can tell by rotating the tire while it is off the ground. You should not hear anything and it should rotate fairly easily.

Post by **mrbrian200** » 07 Feb 2019, 22:21

In addition to the flexible brake hose collapsing inside in which case they can sometimes act like a one-way check valve not allowing the caliper to release after you release the pedal...

Don't forget you have a parking brake mechanism buried underneath the rotor. You probably want to check that too if you think it's still trying to lock up. The friction material is known to delaminate from the steel shoe and cause issues. Also at this age the springs/retention hardware can rust through causing drag and noise.

The spongy pedal is most certainly air in the hydraulic system.

xyourobob · Post by **xyourobob** » 08 Feb 2019, 12:38

So I replaced the parking brake pads about 3 months ago because they were so deteriorated that they were floating around in there. I released the adjustment for these under the center console But I never readjusted them after putting on the new parking brake shoe pads. When the parking brake is engaged the pads don't even come in contact. It's on my list of things to do but I don't believe that's what's causing this problem. I'll bleed the brakes all around and report back. Thank you for everybody's feedback

xyourobob · Post by **xyourobob** » 16 Feb 2019, 12:12

Turns out I ordered and installed the wrong side caliper (bleed nipple facing down), I got the correct caliper and bled the brakes and she is back in action. Thanks again.