front left wheel hot to touch - and smells like burning --

[mace4runner]

What is my issue? I have a shaking in the steering wheel every so often... doesnt happen constantly.. but my 30 minute commute to work -- will start up after 15 minutes maybe... and last for 10 minutes... sometimes rides fine.

I noticed a burning smell as well once i come to a stop... burnt rubber smells like?

I also noticed that my front left rim is hot to the touch when this happens.

i am HOPING... all of this is a frozen caliper - as i am getting new brakes next week. But now i am nervous that something else may be the cause of this as well... a wheel bearing? hub?

any thoughts?

 

[Inv4drZm]

Frozen caliper

 

[mace4runner]

Awesome. Hope so!!! Parts are already on their way. I had a feeling with the smell and heat... but the wheel shaking threw me off. And truck brakes just fine.

 

[Bossman]

I had my left front brake caliper seize on my (03 Limited) back in 2009 at 130,000 km. I could smell something burning under the front of my T4R, and upon investigating found the left front wheel extremely hot to the touch. Brake pads were toast, but rotors were salvageable. Expensive repair.

Then in 2011 at 141,000 km the right front caliper seized. This time it was not noticed until I brought my T4R for its regular oil/filter service. My mechanic was checking the tire pressures with it up on the hoist, and he could not turn the rim freely by hand. Again pads had to be replaced, and rotors machined. Expensive repair.

With the power/torque of the V8, early signs of this issue are easily missed. Simply putting the vehicle in drive and stepping off the brake, the vehicle easily creeps ahead. Vehicles with less torque would not creep, leading to easy diagnosis. By the time most if us recognize a problem, the seized caliper has caused damage to pads and rotors.

 

[eatpancakes]

Awesome. Hope so!!! Parts are already on their way. I had a feeling with the smell and heat... but the wheel shaking threw me off. And truck brakes just fine.

Yep stuck calipers. the burning smell is the pads in constant contact, heating up everything including the rims. The shaking is definitely warped rotors as a result of the above.