A hot wheel

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May 16, 2004 | 07:31 AM

cahook

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A hot wheel

After my recent off road trip, I noticed that the left rear wheel on my 250 was very hot. More so than any of the other wheels. I figured that the brakes were dragging because they had gotten some mud in the mechanism. After disassembling the brake and cleaning the parts with brake cleaner it still ran hot. I actually changed the pads (it was close to time anyway) and am no better off. Any ideas? Could the caliper need to be replace/rebuilt? It is possibly bearings?

May 16, 2004 | 08:24 AM

Bordaine

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From: Meriden Ct

Did you check the parking brake? It could be causing your heat problem.

May 16, 2004 | 09:57 AM

boody101

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From: milton, ks.

Sounds like the caliper is not fully releasing, causing a constant drag. Wouldn't take much. I know this is very basic, but did you check tire pressures?

May 16, 2004 | 10:10 AM

cahook

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I havn't checked the tire pressure, but I will. As for the parking brake, that was suggested, and in checking it, I set it then released it, and there is a difference in the PB line, but I don't know how to tell if it is fully release or not. I think that the PB is something that I should look at a little close. I will get back into that wheel again today and let you know what I find.

May 16, 2004 | 12:21 PM

aldridgec

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From: Wake Forest, NC

How old is your truck and miles. could be a brake hose failure, causing the caliper to drag. There are a few ways to check this depending on what you want to get into. I would remove the axle shaft, remove the caliper, install the wheel and use a torque wrench to measure the amount of preload on the wheel. Then remove the wheel and reinstall the caliper and wheel and measure again. Apply and release the brakes and measure again.

You can try this by hand. If its really dragging you should notice a difference just by hand. The torque wrench is the scientific method.

May 16, 2004 | 06:07 PM

believer45

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From: Cincinnati, Ohio

Check your wheel bearings - if they are loose they will generate heat as well.

Dave / Believer45

May 16, 2004 | 08:12 PM

RR 11

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From: Centeral Alabama

Try placing the back of the truck on jack stands and spin each wheel. If the brake is dragging the dragging wheel will not spin as freely. Have used this method with drum brakes on my Jeep CJ for years to check for ajustment. Good luck Rick

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May 19, 2004 | 12:08 AM

cahook

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Well, for now the drama ends. After changing the pads, the wheel still road hot for a while. But I was not in a position to either have it looked at or stop using it, (it was a busy weekend) Anyway, I put about 200 miles on the new pads, and the wheel stop running hot. In fact the odd thing about all of this is that when the wheel was giving me a problem, the pedal was "squishy", and I knew right away when it stopped being a problem, because the solid push back started again on the pedal. I checked the wheel several times since then and it has been normal. I am going to chalk it up to a sticking piston in the caliper that finally got unstuck.

However, the parking brake thing is also a good posibility. I did notice that the cable for the parking brake runs square between the rubber block and the axel. It may have gotten pinched in the off-roading and finally worked it's way loose.