YACT: AFter changing rotors..

[weirdichi]

...are my wheels supposed to be smoking?

I changed rotors, used same brakes. I took it out for a test drive around the block. The brakes seem like they are a little too soft. I braked really hard 4-5 times just to test it out. The brakes seem a little soft again. I came home, parked the car, and smoke was coming from the front wheels. Is that normal for new rotors?

*EDIT*
Yes, I cleaned the whole rotor with brake fluid. I cleaned the oil offa the rotors. The smoke is white smoke that came from the front wheels, not the tires itself, but from inside the wheels (I'm assuming the rotors).

 

[Toastedlightly]

Could be a coating on the rotors or pads.. not sure though. Overheating?

 

[Wheezer]

mine did too for a short while....seemed like when I was going down a hill when I finally made a stop they smoked...there was a "hot" odor from them too...either the new shoes or rotors, or both...I am not really sure, but after a few days it went away completely.

 

[olds]

You should have changed the pads. You may damage the rotors.

 

[imported_LoKe]

Make sure there's nothing on the pads, like pices of metal or dirt or anything. May scratch your rotors.

 

[weirdichi]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
You should have changed the pads. You may damage the rotors.

Hmm... how can it damage the rotor? Unless there is something stuck on the brakes, it wouldn't be damaged, right? I just spend $40 on these brakes too. Blah!

 

[Squisher]

You are not supposed to make any hard stops for 50 miles after doing a brake job for the pads and rotors to seat.

Did you thoroughly clean the rotors of any oil that they're covered with out of the box?

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: weirdichi

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
You should have changed the pads. You may damage the rotors.

Hmm... how can it damage the rotor? Unless there is something stuck on the brakes, it wouldn't be damaged, right? I just spend $40 on these brakes too. Blah!

The pads may have grooves on them that were matched (worn into) to grooves in the rotors. The pads may now be cutting those same grooves into your new rotors.
And as you mentioned, there may be a foreign substance on the pads.

 

[weirdichi]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: weirdichi

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
You should have changed the pads. You may damage the rotors.

Hmm... how can it damage the rotor? Unless there is something stuck on the brakes, it wouldn't be damaged, right? I just spend $40 on these brakes too. Blah!

The pads may have grooves on them that were matched (worn into) to grooves in the rotors. The pads may now be cutting those same grooves into your new rotors.
And as you mentioned, there may be a foreign substance on the pads.

Upon inspection, the pads were still lookin good. I'll change it anyway. What a waste of $40. But it's all about the safetey factor. Thanks!

So I'm assuming the smoke is something normal for new rotors?

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: weirdichi

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: weirdichi

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
You should have changed the pads. You may damage the rotors.

Hmm... how can it damage the rotor? Unless there is something stuck on the brakes, it wouldn't be damaged, right? I just spend $40 on these brakes too. Blah!

The pads may have grooves on them that were matched (worn into) to grooves in the rotors. The pads may now be cutting those same grooves into your new rotors.
And as you mentioned, there may be a foreign substance on the pads.

Upon inspection, the pads were still lookin good. I'll change it anyway. What a waste of $40. But it's all about the safetey factor. Thanks!

So I'm assuming the smoke is something normal for new rotors?

The smoke, as far as I know, is not normal. Try a google search.

 

[TwoBills]

How many miles on those old calipers/pads? Is it pulling when your driving ?

Sometimes when you put on new rotors, and use the old calipers, the calipers will hang. I'd keep a close eye on it. You don't want to trash those new rotors. Did you pack the bearings when you did the rotors?

The last time I had a smokin' wheel I was 5 miles away from trashin' my rotors, literally. Did a brake job that afternoon.

As oldsmoboat said: "you should have changed the pads".

edit: The rotors have a coating of some sort on them. That's what's smoking.

 

[Ornery]

Originally posted by: Squisher
You are not supposed to make any hard stops for 50 miles after doing a brake job for the pads and rotors to seat.

Did you thoroughly clean the rotors of any oil that they're covered with out of the box?

Good call. This is what brake cleaner is for. Having oil all over them is REALLY not a great way to break them in.

 

[Pepsi90919]

The smoke is completely normal. I've confirmed it with a mechanic; I actually asked the same question of him after he did the brakes and he said he would be more concerned if I *didn't* notice any smoke.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
The smoke is completely normal. I've confirmed it with a mechanic; I actually asked the same question of him after he did the brakes and he said he would be more concerned if I *didn't* notice any smoke.

What does it come from?

 

[imported_LoKe]

I changed some breaks in my schools shop. They worked fine and didn't smoke at all.

Maybe it's different with some rotors/pads?

 

[cjgallen]

I recently put on front discs, never had any smoke, but the first few times I COULDN'T STOP everything was new and smooth I guess. They're nice and worn in now, stops on a dime.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
The smoke is completely normal. I've confirmed it with a mechanic; I actually asked the same question of him after he did the brakes and he said he would be more concerned if I *didn't* notice any smoke.

What does it come from?

the packaging oil

 

[kumanchu]

Originally posted by: weirdichi
...are my wheels supposed to be smoking?

I changed rotors, used same brakes. I took it out for a test drive around the block. The brakes seem like they are a little too soft. I braked really hard 4-5 times just to test it out. The brakes seem a little soft again. I came home, parked the car, and smoke was coming from the front wheels. Is that normal for new rotors?

your calipers could be siezed
you could have an air bubble in the brake line thats expanded after the heat and is keeping your calipers shut
you could have crap on your rotors thats burning

*edit
smoke comming from your brakes is not normal.

 

[NeoPTLD]

Brake rotors are made of cast iron, which rusts easily. They're shipped with a coat of oil, so you won't find it all rusty as you take it out of box.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
The smoke is completely normal. I've confirmed it with a mechanic; I actually asked the same question of him after he did the brakes and he said he would be more concerned if I *didn't* notice any smoke.

What does it come from?

the packaging oil

I would assume that he would have cleaned it off.

 

[Kipper]

Did you spray the assembly with brake cleaner once you were done?

 

[Merlyn3D]

Originally posted by: weirdichi

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
You should have changed the pads. You may damage the rotors.

Hmm... how can it damage the rotor? Unless there is something stuck on the brakes, it wouldn't be damaged, right? I just spend $40 on these brakes too. Blah!

Normally, a break shop would machine the brake pads so that they're even and don't destroy your new rotors.