89 E 150 xlt

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Nov 13, 2010 | 02:52 PM

themred65

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Joined: May 2005

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From: Salem, Oregon

89 E 150 xlt

Hello all.
I've got an 89 xlt, I just did the brakes on it last summer. I took the family camping and about 3/4 of the way down a 7% grade the inside of the van filled with smoke. Any ideas what would cause this? It wasn't overloaded, I wasn't pulling anything and I had it in 1st gear (it's an automatic).

Thanks for any help

Nov 13, 2010 | 04:07 PM

YoGeorge

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From: Detroit

Quote:

Originally Posted by themred65

What did the smoke smell like and where was it coming from? Burning brakes? Burning engine oil? A forest fire outside the van? Grandpa lighting up his cigar in the back seat?

A tired engine pulling a ton of vacuum will pull bigtime oil into the combustion chambers and blow out smoke, but shouldn't be coming into the interior. Is the exhaust system good? Did you have the rear windows open? (They do not open in new vans because exhaust gets sucked in.)

Where was the smoke entering the van? Windows open or closed? Coming thru heater/AC vents? Did you stop the van and check things out? Smell the wheels for individual brakes burning, etc.

George

Nov 13, 2010 | 06:05 PM

themred65

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From: Salem, Oregon

89 xlt

Sorry George.
Yeah the smoke was from the brakes. I did pull over and check it out. The smoke was coming from the front wheels.

Nov 13, 2010 | 07:39 PM

YoGeorge

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From: Detroit

Quote:

Originally Posted by themred65

Sorry George.
Yeah the smoke was from the brakes. I did pull over and check it out. The smoke was coming from the front wheels.

Well, I'd say it was the front brakes overheating. I take it you were riding the brakes down the hill(?) even though you were in 1st gear? If the brakes were brand new, you might have done well to put 500 miles or so on them before riding them hard. Obviously when going down a steep hill, you do want to use a low gear in the transmission to keep the van at a slow speed and use the brakes as little as possible. But sometimes you don't have a choice.

Are your rear brakes working well? If they were hung up and not functioning, that would definitely put more load on the fronts.

I'm assuming the brakes have been OK since then? If you really toast them, you can glaze the pads and discs and get reduced stopping power, or a pull to one side.

George

Nov 15, 2010 | 02:34 PM

jimbbski

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Joined: Nov 2009

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From: Chicago area

One thing not to do in the future is ride the brakes down a hill. Use the brakes to slow the vehicle down to a speed below what you consider safe. They as the vehicle starts to pick up speed the brakes have some time to cool down before you have to use the brakes again when the vehicle gets to a speed you consider to fast. Better this way then riding the brakes where they get no time to cool down but just get hotter and hotter.

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