brake smoke after new pad install

[search4aztlan]

I took my car in to get new pads put in at a Just Brakes in Orlando and turned out a rear caliper was binding. I had them rebuild both rear calipers. Well, that night I took the car out on a 15 mile highway drive with minimal braking. When I parked I smelled burning brake pad. I inspected all wheels and the rear/driver side wheel was hot to the touch. All others were warm.

I'm guessing this isn't normal, but could this heat cause the rotor to warp? What effect can this have on the tire? The next day after the pad replacement I felt a slight vibration from the rear at highway speeds. It could be the rear/driver's side wheel not being balanced since I notice the weights were gone from the lip of the rim. If it's not that could it be that the rotor warped? This morning the wheel didn't get as hot after my 40 mile commute to work, but still feel that darn vibration and that one wheel is still hot compared to the other three. I'm going to get the wheel balanced this evening.

I don't feel any pulsing on the brake pedal during coasting or braking. Also, I don't feel the car pull to any side when I brake hard from 60mph.

Sorry for the long post fellas. I just wanted to make sure I included all the details. Thanks for any and all advice.

98 GT, 77600 miles, 5spd.

 

[COBRA90GT]

Is the caliper is still sticking at that corner or did the brake shop fix that problem?

It's possible the rotor could be warped and is causing a vibration, but if you are sure the wheel weight on that wheel is missing (and there was one on there before your brake job) that is the most likely culprit.

My .02

 

[search4aztlan]

Supposedly they did.

The shop rebuilt the rear calipers and put in new brake pad mounting hardware so supposedly they fixed the problem with the binding caliper. I'm just not sure if there's a break in period where there's extra friction between the pad and rotor during normal driving that will be resolved with time while the pad and rotor form a uniform wear pattern.

 

[n0v8or]

How do you know they "rebuilt" the calipers? Did they give you the old parts? Sounds like the "rebuild" consisted of some new pins and/or clips, and the original problem still persists. The likely cause is corrosion or pitting of the piston or cylinder surface, common when you drive through snow and shush over several winters.

Jack the rear tires slightly off the ground, apply and release the brakes lightly, then rotate both rear tires by hand to check if one is dragging.

If the one or more of the new pads were making constant contact with the rotor due to surface finish, they would "wear in" after 3 or 4 long and moderate brake applications.

Warped rotors will be felt as vibration in the pedal when you brake. A binding/dragging caliper can eventually warp the rotors.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

My guess is that the shop did not do shiot to correct the problem...

 

[Canuck Stang]

Or you could have a wheel bearing going bad, that is just heating everything up....

It can drag like a warped rotor when brakes(load) is applied to it.