1996 850 GLT Wagon Last of the red hot rotors?

s2zeller · Post by **s2zeller** » 11 Nov 2015, 20:35

So, after changing my parking brake pads, I found out my fuel pump was shot. After changing my fuel pump, I found out my battery was shot. After getting a new battery, I found the car sluggish and surging/rocking forward and back at speeds between < 30 mph (and only after the car had been driven for 10 minutes or so).

So, thinking it was the parking brake pads binding, I readjusted those and the e-brake cable.... and rotated tires while I was at it... and found out that my hood locks were stuck (but that was posted in a separate thread).

Well, I took the car out again this evening and the same behavior.

I parked the car in a parking lot and felt for heat on the back rotors. Nothing.

On the passenger front wheel, I smelt a burnt smell that was stronger the closer to the rotor I got. But the rotor itself was warm but not overly hot.

I then went around to the driver's side. It was glowing faintly orange and was throwing off a lot of heat.

A couple of further details that have me curious (though I'll probably find out some of the answers when I pull the front wheels off):

1) I was interrupted (to say the least) while readjusting the parking brakes when the car was jacked on the passenger side with a stand holding up the rear passenger side. It sat that way for a week. Since the driver's front would have been getting most (?) of the weight, is there something else I should be looking for other than a warped rotor or stuck caliper?

2) All of the rotors were kept at the last brake pad change (I'll have to see how many miles ago that was). I know that thinner rotors are even more prone to warping, but does it come on suddenly like this?

Post by **meine39** » 11 Nov 2015, 20:54

I'd guess a frozen caliper.

Post by **scot850** » 11 Nov 2015, 23:16

I agree, but also check for collapsed flexi hoses to the calipers preventing the brake pressure release.

Neil.

Post by **abscate** » 12 Nov 2015, 09:01

If you touch that caliper with a finger tip, there is wonderful 250 msec delay between hearing your finger tip sizzle and the pain that shoots up the ulnar nerve and then slams into your brain - saying IDIOT IDIOT IDIOT...

Healing time, three weeks

Post by **RussB** » 12 Nov 2015, 09:11

abscate wrote:If you touch that caliper with a finger tip, there is wonderful 250 msec delay between hearing your finger tip sizzle and the pain that shoots up the ulnar nerve and then slams into your brain - saying IDIOT IDIOT IDIOT...

Healing time, three weeks

A red hot rotor likely means a seized caliper, which will require a new caliper, pads, new rotor, brake fluid flush and maybe a new wheel bearing before it's all said and done...hopefully you can detach the brake line from said caliper without too much grief.

Post by **abscate** » 12 Nov 2015, 10:16

Ive replaced both wheel bearings on the 1999 and I suddenly realize I had at least one frozen/hot rotor...Ill check back in the records but I wonder if this did them in? Still jealous of eriks perfect track record of no FWB replacement

Post by **FLXC90** » 12 Nov 2015, 16:10

abscate wrote:
If you touch that caliper with a finger tip, there is wonderful 250 msec delay between hearing your finger tip sizzle and the pain that shoots up the ulnar nerve and then slams into your brain - saying IDIOT IDIOT IDIOT...

Unfortunately, I'm in THAT club too!

But no one saw and there are no pictures

And of course it was...a seized caliper

Post by **regent** » 12 Nov 2015, 16:22

FLXC90 wrote:abscate wrote:
If you touch that caliper with a finger tip, there is wonderful 250 msec delay between hearing your finger tip sizzle and the pain that shoots up the ulnar nerve and then slams into your brain - saying IDIOT IDIOT IDIOT...

Unfortunately, I'm in THAT club too! But no one saw and there are no pictures And of course it was...a seized caliper

I think it was you who patented the IR Thermometer, and for a good reason, no?