So I got home tonight after a half an hour drive from a friends house and as I park in the driveway, ready to exit the car, I hear this pinging noise coming from the left rear of the car. I go out to the driver's side rear wheel area and can smell rubber, the alloy wheels were oven hot to the touch. The only thing I can think of is, the tires were deflated and caused it to run hot, but the PSI was 35, so it should be fine. All the other three wheels were fine to touch. All the calipers, rotors, surrounding mechanicals, lug nuts seem fine, what could be wrong? I just find it strange that the wheels can get so hot when it is not even near the engine? Is this normal? And if not, what could be causing it?

 

Handbrake or brake itself that keeps 'hanging' left rear?

 

it could be a seized sliding pin/caliper, take the pad out and see if you have a tapered wear

 

More than likely correct.

Sometimes the piston freezes in the bore, sometimes the slider binds up...

It shouldn't be expensive to buy a rebuilt caliper (or rebuild it yourself, it's not difficult at all).

 

If not the brake, the wheel bearing / hub combo. Common symptom.

 

I had this happen to me right when I got it off the dealer lot. Apparently no one had driven it in a while, and a few rain storms had come through, and it rusted up. They replaced the whole caliper assembly for me, though.

Also, you aren't lowered are you?

John

 

Definately...make sure you replace it soon. Not only does it kill your brakes and gas mileage but if you drive long enough it can warp your wheel ($$$). Check your rotor on both sides as well to make sure that it's not gouged.

 

So, it could be only one of two issues right? Either calipers freezing, causing the brake pads to rub against the rotors creating the heat which transferred to the alloy wheels or the bearing/hub assembly is doing it? How much to replace either say at a dealership? Is this a common issue with this car, as I don't have this issue with the same year '00 Accord.

 

You will find many issues with this car that you don't have with your 00 Accord. If you keep comparing, you'll be disappointed!

And don't forget to check the oil level every ~2000-3000 miles (or more) even though you NEVER had to with the Accord.

Total cost for either: Maybe ~$300-500? Just ballpark estimation. Definitely less than $800.

 

The brake issue (stuck caliper or slider) is a reasonably common issue across most vehcles with disc brakes. It happens.

It's probably best when doing a "real" brake inspection to clean and grease the sliders. Yeah, I know, neither do I.

It kind of seems to me that the sticky caliper piston issue is more common when pads are pretty well worn to begin with. Maybe its because the piston is extended more than usual.