burnt rubber smell?

[jsgreen]

I searched, but couldn't find a conclusive answer to the question...

What causes the faint burnt rubber smell in the right-rear wheel well?

Potential answers have included:

Exhaust heat on the spare
Rubber exhaust mounts heating up
Brake pads
Grease on the brakes burning off
Coatings burning off (new cars)

My '04 w/ 46k miles smells of burnt rubber frequently - only in that RR well. I believe my brakes are fine, so that makes the mounts and/or the spare the likely cause.

Anyone know for sure? Seems to be a common problem.

 

[2003-4x4runner]

I have the same issue

I have the same rubber/oil burrning smell in the right-rear (RR) wheel area too (not the left side). I noticed it when i first bought my 4runner 3 years ago. It only happens once in a while and when i use the breaks hard with some hard driving. So far, no problems. I searched the site didnt find anything, also checked the Web and nothing. I have my 60k mile service comming up. I will ask about the burning smell when i do.

I am guessing it might have to do with the breaks (which i just had checked when i bought my new REVO's 3 months ago.

Does your 4runner have the smell on both sides?

 

[jsgreen]

Just the right rear - not both sides.

This seems to be really common, makes me think it has to do with the exhaust. If it was brakes, there would be complaints on the left side too - but in all my searches I have only read about the right side rubber smell.

 

[2003-4x4runner]

Just the right rear - not both sides.

This seems to be really common, makes me think it has to do with the exhaust. If it was brakes, there would be complaints on the left side too - but in all my searches I have only read about the right side rubber smell.

Good point on the exhaust. Were did you search about this? I tried and didnt get any information.

 

[jsgreen]

just google and a few other toyota forums.

By exhaust I don't mean the common sulfer smell - I think it has to do with hot mounts or the spare.

 

[2003-4x4runner]

just google and a few other toyota forums.

By exhaust I don't mean the common sulfer smell - I think it has to do with hot mounts or the spare.

Thanks for the tip, i will do a search tonight. Here i CA we have the low sulfer fuel, so i never had the sulfer smell.
I wonder if its just the V6 4runners. My sister and her husband have a 2004 V8 and they dont have this problem.

 

[jsgreen]

I drive the 2004 v8, so not limited to just the v6.

Next time I drive long enough to really heat up the exhaust I'll get under the truck and try to see what gets heated by the exhaust pipes.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

I have over-greased the u-joints/driveshaft. The excess grease slings around and ends up on the exhaust. Just a thought

 

[jacal]

Good point - I was worried about this for a while. I wrote it off thinking it was just the atrac working the rear brakes, as I only normally notice in the winter.


J

 

[cdoyle]

I get that smell from the right rear also, just every once in awhile tho. I'm not braking hard, or anything either.

Glad to know I'm not the only 1.