gary
06-30-2005, 10:41 AM
I had the dealer adjust the parking break while it was in for a transmission flush last Saturday. Sunday we went on a drive to the other side of town and on the way back I glanced in the left-hand rear view mirror and saw white smoke billowing from the rear wheel well. This was on the interstate at about 60 MPH. I tested the service breaks and all seemed well, so I slowed and drove it on home.
I get to the house and start looking it over. I notice an odd smell that isn't quite like burned-up breaks but is similar.
Next day (Monday) I take it back to the dealer. Dealer finds that the left axle seal is leaking very slowly and replaces the seal, cleans up the breaks and gives her back to me. Everything seems fine now.
The funny thing is that Saturday while it was on the lift for the transmission work (filter replacement) I wandered in to look over the underside. I noticed the slightest hint of residue on the break backing plate on the left side. The mechanic and I looked at it and concluded it wasn't enough to worry about and might even be something I drove through in a parking lot.
We're guessing that the parking break drum must have been coated with axle lube from the slow leak and that once the parking break was adjusted enough friction heat was generated to make the lube smoke.
I guess the moral is that small traces of lube wetting around the break components may be an indication of an axle seal leak. I also now know what 75w-90 synthetic lube smells like when overheated.
I get to the house and start looking it over. I notice an odd smell that isn't quite like burned-up breaks but is similar.
Next day (Monday) I take it back to the dealer. Dealer finds that the left axle seal is leaking very slowly and replaces the seal, cleans up the breaks and gives her back to me. Everything seems fine now.
The funny thing is that Saturday while it was on the lift for the transmission work (filter replacement) I wandered in to look over the underside. I noticed the slightest hint of residue on the break backing plate on the left side. The mechanic and I looked at it and concluded it wasn't enough to worry about and might even be something I drove through in a parking lot.
We're guessing that the parking break drum must have been coated with axle lube from the slow leak and that once the parking break was adjusted enough friction heat was generated to make the lube smoke.
I guess the moral is that small traces of lube wetting around the break components may be an indication of an axle seal leak. I also now know what 75w-90 synthetic lube smells like when overheated.