OK... I am trying to figure out whether I have a stuck caliper or a bad hub/bearing before ordering parts.

After I got an alignment, I got in my car and I smelled a nasty odor like a semi truck with bad brakes (you know the smell). I figured it was a truck that went by or something. But I got home, and smelled it as I got out of the car, washed it, and then smelled it when pulling into the garage.

Which would lead me to beleive that one of the calipers is stuck. It doesnt pull or anything, just has that nasty smell, but it seems to have gone away. The passenger side rear tire is much hotter to the touch than the drivers side after taking a drive, even the lip is about 2x as hot.

Of course, last night I just got done swapping the CV's from side to side and putting spacers in, so I was wondering if anyone knew of something I may have messed up when I did that. I did notice that it seemed like the drivers side was dragging a little bit. After it cools off, I am going to adjust the parking brake and see if that stops it.

If a wheel bearing/hub is going, will it ALWAYS have play when you grab the tire at 12 and 6 and push/pull on it? Mine does not at all.

I have noticed since I dropped it and put the wheels on (about 2 weeks) that at higher speeds it has somewhat of a wheel bearing type noise, but I figured it may have been the tires.

Any comments/suggestions appreciated. I want to get it fixed asap, but dont want to order the wrong parts.

 

I get a caliper seize once in a coons age. Smells bad and the rim gets VERY hot, things start smoking after a short drive. Disassemble the caliper and check if the slider pins are sliding freely.

 

Didnt seem like it seized up, since the piston was screwed back in relatively easily. I lubed up the slider pins, they seemed a little dry, so we'll see how that works. Havent driven it yet.