smelly brakes
 

Whenever I take a long drive in my 82' 245 going downhill and have to brake a lot, the brakes start to smell, and then get mushy and less responsive. I usually just pull over for a while. I have taken it to the shop twice to get checked out and was told that the brakes are fine.
Is that normal or should I look for another mechanic?
Thanks

RE: smelly brakes
 

I would look into the brake pads that are on the car.Make sure they are not to hard and overheating the brakes and boiling the fluid.

RE: smelly brakes
 

I agree with Tech, it could just be the brand of pads that are installed on the car. But, if all your mechanic checked is pad thickness, there could be other problems:

It could be the fluid, if the brake fluid in the reservoir is the color of a dark tea, you definitely need a fluid flush. (Rule of thumb is to change brake fluid every two or three years because it absorbs moisture.) New fluid is almost clear, like pale lemonade.

If the rubber brake lines are original 23 year old items, have them replaced. They tend to swell on the inside and give a soft pedal, or even resist release.

Lastly you might have a caliper sticking. This will overheat the pads on the opposite side because they are doing all the work.


If you decide to change the pads, don't get the cheapest the parts store offers...get at least a middle grade ("semi-metallic") It's worth it in the long run.



HTH


Atwell Haines
'94 940 Wagon
NJ