Smoke from Wheel Arch

FunkyGBrown · Post by **FunkyGBrown** » Wed May 24, 2023 8:59 am

Hi all,

On the drive to the office this morning i noticed some steering wheel shake at motorway speeds, but didn't think much of it. Until I stopped and noticed a light blue smoke coming from the wheel arch (front driver side).

Drove at a slower pace and the smoke seemed to disappear. Got to the office car park and nothing is immediately obvious other than the whiff of burnt.

I've had a quick look and not able to find much, other than a potential stuck caliper and worn disc?

Any ideas?

MikeyH · Post by **MikeyH** » Wed May 24, 2023 9:08 am

I had the wheel wobble and a hot wheel, no smoke, turned out to be a stuck calliper

Chris_D · Post by **Chris_D** » Wed May 24, 2023 9:08 am

Does it smell like burned bbq?
checked for trapped dead rodents?
no, seriously.

FunkyGBrown · Post by **FunkyGBrown** » Wed May 24, 2023 9:31 am

MikeyH wrote: ↑Wed May 24, 2023 9:08 am I had the wheel wobble and a hot wheel, no smoke, turned out to be a stuck calliper

Easy enough to fix?

Zedebee · Post by **Zedebee** » Wed May 24, 2023 10:33 am

Check your brake pads aren’t worn out, otherwise it sounds like a stuck caliper. Caliper refurb kits are available, but frankly new calipers are pretty cheap and fairly easy to replace yourself. Could be a wheel bearing too, which you can check by jacking up the corner and seeing if there is any “rock” in the wheel.

colb · Post by **colb** » Wed May 24, 2023 11:06 am

Sounds like a stuck caliper piston, if you are not up to using a refurb kit buy a new replacement caliper and fit that with new pads. Might be worth checlking out the other side as well, might be best to put a new pair in with new pads, also discs are quite cheap so consider doing them as well.

AveZ4coop · Post by **AveZ4coop** » Wed May 24, 2023 1:17 pm

I would say sticking caliper, it was in my case. Best to change both as previously stated.

FunkyGBrown · Post by **FunkyGBrown** » Wed May 24, 2023 1:40 pm

Thanks all, good time to get familiar with the brake system then

MikeyH · Post by **MikeyH** » Wed May 24, 2023 2:47 pm

Don’t forget some brake fluid and a self bleed pipe. I did it and found it easier than I thought.

FunkyGBrown · Post by **FunkyGBrown** » Sun May 28, 2023 4:10 pm

Had the wheel off in the sun over a few beers and a new caliper is on, jobs a good'n.
Discs and pads were in good shape so I've stuck with them for now but collecting new parts over the coming weeks and will make sure it has a full refresh in the near future.

MikeyH · Post by **MikeyH** » Sun May 28, 2023 5:50 pm

Excellent well done

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