Burning rubber smell after 'hot brake' smell

westwind77

New member
Never really had an issue with the 4R, until now....maybe. Purchased 11/09, just turned 26k. The other day I was with my wife, a couple cars in front of us, suddenly we got this strong smell (no it was not me). After going back and forth I said it smelled like 'burning brakes', maybe someone in front was running with their e-brake on. She has always driven sticks, she said smells like a clutch burnt out. All my gauges were fine, the 4R did not act differently and shortly the smell went away, even though the cars in front of us did not turn off. Short bit later we pull into our garage, get out and both smell burning rubber (that did not make me feel good). It was not overly strong, but it was there. I checked my e-brake and it was where it should be in the 4R. Honestly forgot about the issue until tonight when we did a short trip, again in the garage with the burning rubber smell. I get no odor from the front 2 wheel wells or the drivers rear....I get the smell when I lean down to the passenger rear wheel well....any thoughts what this might be? Any change it could be related to the brake smell?

I am planning to look under the 4R tomorrow, any areas I should focus my attention to see if I can find where it is coming from?

Tires have less than 10k on them and are stock size.

Thanks!
 
Register to hide this ad
Passenger rear wheel well is close to the exhaus . Was it truly a burned rubber smell or was it more Sulphur - like? If the latte , then it was the catalic converter and it's "normal ".

Any groves visible on the brake rotor?

Okki
 
I also smell this and if I remember it came from the rear passenger well. I got the Toyota under coat so I was thinking it was that. The truck was just in for an oil change and nothing was reported.
 
Passenger rear wheel well is close to the exhaus . Was it truly a burned rubber smell or was it more Sulphur - like? If the latte , then it was the catalic converter and it's "normal ".

Any groves visible on the brake rotor?

Okki

Very familiar with the 'sulphur' smell on these 4R's, definatly not that. Was night when I got back, not the best light in the garage. Will check the rotors when I get to work in the morning.
 
I have experienced this too on occassion. Don't know what it is, but it is definitely a burnt rubber smell.
 
Probably it sounds funny, but if you run over remains of a skunk you'll get a smell very similar to burnt rubber. Maybe you need just to wash your truck and that's it.
 
Probably it sounds funny, but if you run over remains of a skunk you'll get a smell very similar to burnt rubber. Maybe you need just to wash your truck and that's it.

She is kept clean, undercarriage and all. No skunks lately. This is a 100% burnt rubber odor.

I get the same smell after driving aggressively. I checked the front and rear wheels and could not isolate anything.

Usually the smell you get after the aggressive driving in the sulfur odor, not rubber. Are you also getting a rubber odor?

I have experienced this too on occassion. Don't know what it is, but it is definitely a burnt rubber smell.

I'm happy (well, not for you) that I'm not the only one to smell this. Hopefully this is not an indication of something starting to go bad. I did check the rotors today, all are identical visually and running fingers across through the rims. Pouring rain now and can get under it for a closer look.
 

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
278,317
Messages
3,554,129
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Trending content

Back
Top