Hey all! This weekend I changed the front rotors and bearings on my 87 iroc. I researched and followed all the steps I could. Packing the new bearings, cleaning the pads and rotors with break cleaner to get the gunk off, replacing the old cotter pins, not tightening the bolt that holds the rotor on tight, etc etc.

I purchased a tube of grease that was labeled FOR bearings with disk brakes. I greased the hell out of the inner and outer bearings, inside rotors, and the part the rotor goes over connected to car. I put the grease seal on the back of each rotor (new). The new rotors came with the piece the bearings fit into already on so I didn't need the ones the bearings came with.

I took it out for a test drive which consisted of a 5 mile round trip. When complete I smelt something burning which maybe is ok after doing a job like this? At any rate the front wheels were pretty hot to touch while the back ones were not bad at all. The difference was greatly easy to tell. I would say I could hold my hand on the front wheel (not tire) for about 6-8 seconds before I had to pull it back. The back I could hold it until I got bored.

My question is would this be a product of the new rotors working a bit harder to stop the car because the rotors on the back are older? Since this is my project car (and my favorite year of the camaro) I plan to replace the back rotors too just did the front ones this weekend as that's as much funds as I had and it gives me something to do PLUS its something I love (my camaro).

EDIT: Oh also I had to push the caliper piston in a bit on each side since the caliper didn't quite fit over the new rotor. I have heard that maybe there's too much pressure in the lines keeping the pistons from retracting.

Thanks!! Have a great remainder of the weekend.

 

Well even if all the brakes were new 80-90% of you stopping power is up front so naturally they get hotter.
I assume you put the old pads back on since you say you cleaned them,probably not a good idea,I would have used new ones.
At any rate they need to get acquainted with the new rotors so even if it's all good they might get hot a few times during the brake in process.

 

No when I said I cleaned them it was because the new rotors came with gunk on them I assumed to keep them from rusting while they sat on the shelf. The pads that were already on there I installed not just a month or two ago. The car only see's about 100-150 miles a month on the road

So when I put the pads back on I cleaned them a bit and cleaned the rotors to get that gunk off. The calipers and shoes were new and installed a few months back. The rotors, inner and outer bearings I did this weekend

Thanks!!

 

the burning smell isnt something to get too worried about on such a short trip, there was probably some residual oil on them. if it persists, then check it out further.

 

Kind of figured I'm just so paranoid lol

I pulled the calipers off opened the bleeders pushed the pistons back then bled the lines. Did that on both sides and took it for another drive. Same 5 mile test. Got back in the garage and the rims were not hot. But as it set for a few minutes the rims got really hot again.

Figured maybe everything is new and we'll just run it and see what happens. Wondering if I should run it in the 100 degree texas weather though lol

Thanks!!

 

Cosmoline is that oily stuff they put on steel parts to they don't rus on the shelf. If you don't get that all of completely, you will get the burning smell. The other posibility is that you may have a caliper sticking. Take your car on that same 5 mile run and when you get back, jack up the front. If each front wheel spins with little effort, it is normal and OK. If you have to really work to get 1 of the wheels to spin, you may have a bad caliper.
Brakes under normal to heavy use create TONS of heat. Your wheels stay relatively cool until you park it- then the heat from the rotors transfers to the wheels. Hense the delay in the "hot wheels".