Causes and DIY Solutions for Smoking Brakes

What does it mean if your brakes smoke? Find out the causes of smoking brakes and how to fix them yourself.

Are your brakes smoking? Smoke can be a sign of serious problems. Although new brake pads are an exception, they still need your attention.

Excessive heat can cause smoke; brake systems generate heat through friction. The pad-rotor and pad-drum contact are the most frictional areas in these systems.

First, how are you driving?

Excessive braking can lead to overheated brakes and even smoke. Excessive heat can be caused by hard braking, acceleration and braking simultaneously, and constant braking downhill. Let your vehicle cool down before you stop it. You can resume downhill driving by shifting into lower gear. This will limit your speed and make it easier to pedal your brakes.

Once you see evidence of smoking brakes, proceed with caution. Overheating brake systems can cause brake fluid to boil. This changes the composition of the fluid and can lead to system failure. If the issue is not immediately mechanical, it may be worth hiring a professional to help you.

Brakes Smoking after New Pads and Rotors

A break-in period is necessary for many new brake pads. Even though manufacturers prepare brake pads to be used, the demands of a piston pushing the pad against the rotor at high speed exceed what they are capable of reproducing in production. The final cure for many pads takes place within the first few days of installation. Some pads may also emit smoke. If the brakes start to smoke, it means that the vehicle is not pulling to one side. It accelerates smoothly and has good pad motion. The problem should be resolved within a few hundred kilometers.

Meaning when your brakes are smoking

We can now move on to the next topic, which is post-installation curing new brakes. There are still many mechanical issues to be explored. Most likely, the cause of overheated brake pads is a defective caliper (disc brakes) or wheel cylinder(drum brakes). The pistons that transmit hydraulic pressure to the pads may corrode and become stuck in either case. The pads can become too hot to smoke if they are left in an extended position. This is what you should do if your car shakes during braking.

Stuck Caliper Pins Can Be Caused by Corrosion

Corrosion can also cause caliper motion to stop at the carrier pins, causing them to stick.

You can prevent these situations from happening by making sure that you lubricate all moving parts with high-temperature brake grease every time you do brake work. It is worth the effort and time it takes to prevent future headaches. If there is uneven wear on the drum or rotor, it could indicate a problem. However, once the problem has occurred, the brake pins need to be replaced (cheap, easy), and the calipers and wheel cylinders might need replacement (a greater investment of time and cash).