Front disc brakes smoking- '85 K3500 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

dyno · 04-14-2010, 09:56 AM

I just bought an 85 GMC K3500 4x4 that had all brake work recently done by the previous owner...new master and wheel cyl, rotors, calipers ect.

So I am noticing a brake lining burning smell everytime I drive it and a bit of smoke coming off the front wheels. Jacked it up and front tires only turn 1/2 revolution.

I looked for an adjustment rod at the pedal but there is none. Pedal travel is pretty short. It does not have the big round brake booster. It has the heavy duty cast iron booster.

Thanks,

dyno

Damien · 04-14-2010, 12:24 PM

Were the brake hoses replaced? They can collapse and not allow the brake fluid to return to the master cylinder when the peddle is released.

dyno · 04-14-2010, 09:16 PM

No, I think they are original. But this happened after the shop did all the work.

**old Rusty C10** · 04-14-2010, 10:16 PM

it is possible if the rotors were replaced and the brake pads are those semi metallic ones that the brakes have to wear in but it shouldnt take more than a day or so for that to happen. jack up the fronts and make sure the wheels spin freely after applying and releasing the brake pedal and as long as they do give it a day or so it just may be wearing in.

USSkoval · 04-14-2010, 10:33 PM

Short pedal travel is normal for hydroboost brakes. Does it drive normal other than the smoke? Maybe they replaced the rotors and did not clean the goo off of them.

dyno · 04-14-2010, 11:43 PM

Yeah, it drives normal but feels like it's dragging. put it in nuetral and it does not freely coast so I know it's those front brakes. I will give it some time to see if it clears up. Thanks for your input.

grinch4om · 04-15-2010, 08:16 AM

put new hoses on it

**old Rusty C10** · 04-15-2010, 09:18 AM

if its dragging then the hoses first thing

USSkoval · 04-15-2010, 09:39 PM

Agreed, replace the hoses.

87chevy.com · 04-15-2010, 11:12 PM

remove the caliper, its only 2 bolts, then try and spin the rotor... maybe they put preload on the bearings... if so thats not good because its not supposed to have pre load.. it will kill the bearings.. if it spins fine, since the caliper is removed, mine as well replace the hose.. its what.. 10 bucks a side...

billnorman · 04-16-2010, 04:19 AM

Could be excessive play in front wheel bearings or master cylinder rod not letting piston return to open brske fluid return hole in M/C. Is pedal hard and high? Loosen brake bleeders and if wheel spind, pressure is locked in W/C either by hoses or M/C.

04-14-2010, 09:56 AM	#1
dyno Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Middleton, Idaho Posts: 352	Front disc brakes smoking- '85 K3500 I just bought an 85 GMC K3500 4x4 that had all brake work recently done by the previous owner...new master and wheel cyl, rotors, calipers ect. So I am noticing a brake lining burning smell everytime I drive it and a bit of smoke coming off the front wheels. Jacked it up and front tires only turn 1/2 revolution. I looked for an adjustment rod at the pedal but there is none. Pedal travel is pretty short. It does not have the big round brake booster. It has the heavy duty cast iron booster. Thanks, dyno __________________ "Built- not bought" 1958 GMC 150 4x4 in progress 1980 K20- Restored 1985 K3500 Flatbed 58 GMC 4x4 build thread: http://http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=557675

04-14-2010, 12:24 PM	#2
Damien Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Farmington, MN Posts: 928	Re: Front disc brakes smoking- '85 K3500 Were the brake hoses replaced? They can collapse and not allow the brake fluid to return to the master cylinder when the peddle is released. __________________ I can still count my vehicles on two... wait three hands.

04-14-2010, 09:16 PM	#3
dyno Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Middleton, Idaho Posts: 352	Re: Front disc brakes smoking- '85 K3500 No, I think they are original. But this happened after the shop did all the work. __________________ "Built- not bought" 1958 GMC 150 4x4 in progress 1980 K20- Restored 1985 K3500 Flatbed 58 GMC 4x4 build thread: http://http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=557675

04-14-2010, 10:16 PM	#4
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,284	Re: Front disc brakes smoking- '85 K3500 it is possible if the rotors were replaced and the brake pads are those semi metallic ones that the brakes have to wear in but it shouldnt take more than a day or so for that to happen. jack up the fronts and make sure the wheels spin freely after applying and releasing the brake pedal and as long as they do give it a day or so it just may be wearing in. __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!!

04-14-2010, 10:33 PM	#5
USSkoval Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: West Jefferson, OH Posts: 999	Re: Front disc brakes smoking- '85 K3500 Short pedal travel is normal for hydroboost brakes. Does it drive normal other than the smoke? Maybe they replaced the rotors and did not clean the goo off of them.

04-14-2010, 11:43 PM	#6
dyno Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Middleton, Idaho Posts: 352	Re: Front disc brakes smoking- '85 K3500 Yeah, it drives normal but feels like it's dragging. put it in nuetral and it does not freely coast so I know it's those front brakes. I will give it some time to see if it clears up. Thanks for your input. __________________ "Built- not bought" 1958 GMC 150 4x4 in progress 1980 K20- Restored 1985 K3500 Flatbed 58 GMC 4x4 build thread: http://http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=557675

04-15-2010, 08:16 AM	#7
grinch4om dang its hot Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: frankfort kentucky Posts: 1,349	Re: Front disc brakes smoking- '85 K3500 put new hoses on it

04-15-2010, 09:18 AM	#8
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,284	Re: Front disc brakes smoking- '85 K3500 if its dragging then the hoses first thing __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!!

04-15-2010, 09:39 PM	#9
USSkoval Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: West Jefferson, OH Posts: 999	Re: Front disc brakes smoking- '85 K3500 Agreed, replace the hoses.

04-15-2010, 11:12 PM	#10
87chevy.com BMW & ASE Master Certified Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 1,262	Re: Front disc brakes smoking- '85 K3500 remove the caliper, its only 2 bolts, then try and spin the rotor... maybe they put preload on the bearings... if so thats not good because its not supposed to have pre load.. it will kill the bearings.. if it spins fine, since the caliper is removed, mine as well replace the hose.. its what.. 10 bucks a side... __________________ 1987 Silverado - L83 5.3 w/ 6L80e ,A/C,P/W,P/L,TILT, HID projectors, Wilwood C-10 Pro Spindles w/ 2018 silverado front brakes & C-5 Corvette Rear Disc Brakes 1999 BMW 528i - 5.7 LS1 w/ 4l60e, Ford 8.8 IRS w31 spline posi & FX-r projector retrofit New project: 2006 BMW x5 6cyl AWD to L83 6l80e 4wd to 2WD / RWD A poor man buy's it twice finally got my domain name back, 87chevy.com.... site rework in progress

04-16-2010, 04:19 AM	#11
billnorman Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: glen burnie md Posts: 174	Re: Front disc brakes smoking- '85 K3500 Could be excessive play in front wheel bearings or master cylinder rod not letting piston return to open brske fluid return hole in M/C. Is pedal hard and high? Loosen brake bleeders and if wheel spind, pressure is locked in W/C either by hoses or M/C.



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