Burning Smell by Front Left Tire

[reena70]

hello,

i just got home tonite and found my car to feel less stable then usual. On the last mile of my drive home the ride felt a bit bumpy and i could feel the steering wheel shake slightly. I have a 1995 318ti.

Once i was home i noticed smoke and burning smell coming out from the front of the car by the left tire (driver side). I opened the hood but could not tell the source of smoke.

Any suggestions on what is wrong with the car or what i need to check. None of my indicator lights were on to suggest a problem and the car temp gauge was in the middle.

thanks,
Reena

[Mallard]

your caliper is sticking or one of the brake pads has cracked/slipped loose

next time you drive, feel around the area of the wheel hub. if its silly hot, then its a sticky caliper

you can get a renovation kit, which is basically a couple of O rings and some grease, or 2 reconditioned calipers on an exchange basis.

look around for parts here and at your local breakers. otherwise you could find a set at a retail stockists

i had a sticky caliper on a rear disc once, the amount of mess was unbelievable

[al95ti]

To see if your caliper is sticking you have to drive for a couple of miles and then stop on the side of the road Without using the brakes (Engine braking or coasting)... When you are stopped go outside and touch your calipers... If it's hot , then it's sticking

[dave45056]

Just for grins, I would make sure your lug bolts are tight. When they come loose (from improper torquing, or theives) they can create the symptoms you mentioned.

[robcarync]

i say the caliper piston is sticking....i had that happen to my 95 318ti....ended up replacing both front calipers/rotors/pads (did it all myself) i got no name brand replacements from autozone and they worked fine and were a lot less money....got all the above for both front wheels for a little over 300 and did the work myself...when the local mechanic wanted 900 just for one wheel.

[bullmand]

Just to point out the obvious. Is the tire in good shape? Was the smell like hot rubber or that gross hot brake smell?

[parttimer]

I would check the inner fender. Over time they get brittle. mine started slowly breaking off one bolt hole at a time. This caused rubbing on the tire and a burning smell.

It seems to me that if a caliper was sticking the car would do more pulling then shaking, however that has not happened on my ti so I could tell you for sure.

There is alot of plastic parts undernieth the front and all of mine have broke off and hit the tire at some point. (still need a brake duct and temp sensor).

just my $0.02