I was driving my car when I noticed a smell coming from the air conditioner, It smelled like burning brakes. I kept going to my uncles house and I went out and noticed the wheels are really hot, hotter then the engine. I put the car in neutral with the parking brake off and i pushed it, it was ard and I could hear a sound like I had my foot on the brake. I let them cool off and I drove home, about 45 minutes. When I was like 1 min. from home my brakes almost went out. They would brake a little bit but only if you pushed the pedal all the way down and every time I did the brake light would come on. When i got home the brakes were really hot which was wierd because I barely used them, Just downshifted when i wanted to slow down. How can I fix this, I don't really have alot of money and I gotta go places monday. Would appreciate any help
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04:08 AM
PFF
System Bot
jetman Member
Posts: 7803 From: Sterling Heights Mich Registered: Dec 2002
Did you drive around with your e-brake on? Remember that e-brake has a "procedure" to disengage it, you have to hold the button in while you move it through the release motion down to the floor. Slider pins may be frozen too on pre-88 models, what year Fiero do you have?
------------------ jetman Silver 86 SE 2M6 4-speed, with "check wallet light" Now fortified with 8 essential slices of bacon goodness
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08:35 AM
Kagen Member
Posts: 208 From: San Francisco, California Registered: May 2008
I have an 87 GT, Im pretty sure the ebrake was down all the way. I always pull it up when I park and I made sure it was down all the way. and I could push the car so it wasnt very much braked. It does though havethis problem with sometimes when the car bounces it maakes the brake light go back on with the ebrake still down, it goes off after you hit the button. But what worries me is the brake light came on when pushing the brake pedal after it felt like it was failing.
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06:48 PM
jetman Member
Posts: 7803 From: Sterling Heights Mich Registered: Dec 2002
Take a good look at your master cylinder, check to see if it is still full, if not look for any leaks. Pull the wheels off and also inspect the brakes, same thing look for leaks. I don't like hearing about brake light coming on when you press the pedal. Please don't take a chance on your safety and health, if you cannot easily locate the difficulties yourself then take the car into a qualified shop for an inspection.
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08:41 PM
BobadooFunk Member
Posts: 5436 From: Pittsburgh PA Registered: Jun 2003
Take a good look at your master cylinder, check to see if it is still full, if not look for any leaks. Pull the wheels off and also inspect the brakes, same thing look for leaks. I don't like hearing about brake light coming on when you press the pedal. Please don't take a chance on your safety and health, if you cannot easily locate the difficulties yourself then take the car into a qualified shop for an inspection.
^^ what he said... brakes are serious...
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08:44 PM
Kagen Member
Posts: 208 From: San Francisco, California Registered: May 2008
I went for a short drive today to see if it was the ebrake and it was pulling left for some of the time and when I got home the driver fornt brake was really hot so im hoping that the brake caliber on that one needs replacing, i just put it in my garage and Im about to jack it up and look at the brakes
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09:59 PM
avengador1 Member
Posts: 35468 From: Orlando, Florida Registered: Oct 2001
If you have the original rubber brake lines, REPLACE THEM. When they fail they act as one way valves and can keep your brakes engaged, even while you aren't pressing the pedal. This will cause the rotors to heat up. They can heat up enough to melt the brake lines and the brake fluid can start a fire.
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10:07 PM
jetman Member
Posts: 7803 From: Sterling Heights Mich Registered: Dec 2002
Common items for dragging brakes are sticking slider pins and or a bad brake hose. Slider pins are cheap, just a bit of a pain to R & R, use the official brake grease otherwise your certain for problems sooner then later. Brake hoses often go bad acting like a check valve allowing fluid to press brakes but not releasing. I would look at the slider pins first. Good luck, let us know what you find.