Bit of a burning smell from your brakes?
Burn marks on the brake rotors are a sign of brake wear.
Had a whiff of burning coming from your car lately, especially after a stop at those Tristram Street lights or bumping up over the roundabouts in Rototuna? You’re not the first, and won’t be the last! Brakes, especially with Hamilton’s stop-start traffic or all the potholes out Te Awamutu way, cop a hiding.
A burnt smell coming from the wheels is always worth checking out quick smart. Brakes are what keep you safe – dodgy brakes could mean the difference between a close call and a proper shunt. And if you’re going for your WOF in Hamilton soon, you definitely want them sorted, or you could be up for a fail.
Usually, that burning stink is from too much friction. When something’s rubbing or dragging more than it should, the brakes heat up, and bits start wearing out faster than you’d like.
New brake pads fitted? Bit of smell is normal… at first
Now, if you’ve just had new brake pads put on your Suzuki Swift or a Mitsubishi Outlander, it’s pretty normal to notice a funny whiff for the first day or two. That’s just the factory coating burning off. But if you’re still getting smells after that, especially after a week running between Cambridge and Hamilton, time to get it rechecked. Better safe than sorry, aye.
Most common reasons your brakes get that burnt stink
Alright, here’s the real-life stuff we see in the workshop nearly every day:
Heavy foot on the brakes (especially in city driving)
Lots of folks going up the hills on River Road or down in Hillcrest slam the brakes a bit hard, or end up riding them in traffic. European cars like older Peugeots and VW Golfs can be a bit touchy for this, but honestly it happens with anything, even a Toyota Hiace van. Excessive pumping or heavy braking, especially when fully loaded or towing, makes the pads and rotors sizzle away.
Want your brakes to last longer? Here’s a handy tip: How to extend the life of your brakes >
Drove off with the handbrake still on?
It happens, especially if you’re in a hurry. We’ve had plenty of Corolla owners in from Morrinsville, and even the odd Honda Accord from Gordonton, come in after realising they’d been running round with the parking brake still half on. That’ll fry your brake pads in no time.
Stuff not fitted right
If something went on a bit crooked – might be aftermarket pads on a Nissan Juke or new rotors on a late-model Kia Seltos – they’ll wear wrong and start roasting themselves. Always pays to get things fitted proper.
Sticky or seized brake caliper
Seen this on everything from Mazda Demios to the rarer Lexus CT200h hybrid. Sometimes a caliper piston seizes up, and you get one wheel dragging. Tends to happen more in winter, with all the damp and grime we get in Hamilton East. Might hear a screech, or it might just go quiet and hot (and stinky!). If that’s you, don’t muck around – get it checked, could end up needing brake caliper replacement in Hamilton >
Not sure what’s up? Bring it in for an inspection
If your brakes are giving off weird smells, or they just don’t feel right (spongey pedal, pulsing, or pulling to one side), get them looked at. One of our techs at Grimmer Motors can run a quick brake inspection and give you the lowdown. Might be some worn pads, a sticky caliper, or just some old brake fluid. Sorting it early will keep you safer, help with your next WOF, and save you some dollars down the line.
Need brake repairs, or want to book a car service in Hamilton? Give us a shout. We work on just about everything – Euro, Asian, hybrid, you name it. Let’s get you back on the road, safe as houses.