Date:         Sat, 26 Jan 2002 18:03:51 -0800
Reply-To:     lamusicamellama@JUNO.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Les Shiaman <lamusicamellama@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Front Brake Mystery
Content-Type: text/plain

Last week I drove my vanagon about 10 miles on the freeway and noticed
that burnt brakes odor.  I pulled off and the right front wheel well was
smoking with the said odor.  I scratched my head and drove slowly back
home.  On the way home when I applied the brake I heard a loud squeel
coming from the same location.  Haven't driven since.  Today I took a
look and the rotor looked and felt smooth.  There's plenty of brake pad
left.  I checked out the other side just for the hell of it and it looks
identical. By the way with the van jacked up I found that the wheels
turn, but the pads touch the rotor(I hear a scraping sound -- both
sides).  Is that normal?

So do you think there may be a problem in that right caliper?  Maybe a
piston or maybe the brake pad assembly is a little screwy?

Maybe this is relevant:  There is a brief and periodic "chirping" sound I
hear from that right front wheel.  It doesn't seem to depend on speed or
steering position.  I just thought of it as telling me to grease the
wheel bearing which I'll ask about in a different thread.

Thanks in advance,

Les
84 Westy
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