Can anyone help???

hi, i recently had all new breaks to my mk1 gti there about 2 months old. y'day went out done my normal drive but after coming off the motorway i could smell and awful smell obviously worried it was my engine checked all that out , but when i smelt around the rear wheels i could smell it. any ideas?????

What did it smell like? might have run over something  

on a serious note though, did you do the breaks yourself? not 100% on the mk1 brakes (yet the change mine but that's last on the list as it's needs spraying first) but might be that the rear brakes need adjusting, might be rubbing..

Could be that one of the rear brakes is binding, take it out for a spin and see if the drums get hot

the smells really bad can really explain it though. i didnt do the breaks myself got a garage to do them my car has had loads of mods ie increased power by quite a bit do u think it needs better breaks?

It'a always a good idea to upgrade brakes with most engine mods..

unless you were seriously ragging the nuts out of it your brakes shouldn't smell, and even then it would be the front first and not the backs..

I'd get them checked out but like Storm says, take it for a spin and see if they're producing alot of heat

Mickeym - you hadn't by chance left the handbrake on? I did this once, was driving along thinking 'whats that burning smell, seems to be following me where ever I go?'. Suddenly realised had left handbrake on ops: . If handbrake is left on or brakes are binding your wheels will be come very hot, very quickly - be careful touching them you could burn yourself on them.

Binding brakes have a very electrical burning smell to them, not unlike a burning clutch. If you have ever stood near the doors on a high speed train when it brakes heavily you can often smell a similar friction/burning smell.

Cheers

markwon said

 thinking 'whats that burning smell, seems to be following me where ever I go?'. Suddenly realised had left handbrake on ops:

    Classic

cheers guys will check it out. will have a closer look thanks for your comments

As Mark says check that the rear brakes aren't binding and that the handbrake is adjusted properly.

I had a hire car on hols once in the mountains in Switzerland - thought it was a bit sluggish up the mountain roads, but giving it some none the less (as you do in a hire car right?). Anyway got to the place we were going for lunch and there was this reaking smell as we got out of the car…. sure enough I had left the handbrake on slightly and the rear disks were almost glowing and smoking  8O.

Luckily it was very cold so they soon cooled down - how embarrassed was I?  ops: The smell was a cross between burning electrical and well "hot brakes", like you sometimes smell on a fast train after an extended period of slowing down…. if that makes any sense..

Also worth checking the Rear wheel bearings are properly greased and not overtightened. This will also give the same type of symptons and a horid smell  ops: . Seen this once on a car, and it seizsed the bearing onto the spigot where it got so hot, and all because of overtightened and not enough high temp grease.

PhillTMK1GTI said

markwon said

 thinking 'whats that burning smell, seems to be following me where ever I go?'. Suddenly realised had left handbrake on ops:

    Classic

….Yup…………been there a few times……still don't learn !!