Nasty smell from left rear wheel-well. Brakes?

spearfish25

So I got home today and noticed a nasty smell that seems to localize to the left rear wheel-well. I haven't smelled anything like this before, but my suspicion is the brake/pad. It's a sour, pungent, burnt smell but much more sour, twang your nostril smell than I've ever noticed from burning brakes. I've been running Carbotech XP10s front and XP8s rear even while on the street to ease the constant swapping. The other three 'corners' don't smell at all.

Any thoughts if this is truly the brake pad or what else it could be? How would I tell if that left rear caliper is dragging the pad and not fully releasing?

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2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

Gunzero

Did you perhaps.. run over some sour, pungent, burnt dog poo?

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spearfish25

He he he...I'd feel pretty bad for that dog then. One of those nasty, burn your a$$hole poops.

I suppose I can jack the car up and spin the wheels by hand to assess for drag. I just don't feel like driving to my in-laws' house where my jack and stands are.

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2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

dad

Thermal heat gun(maybe???)
Check under the car, could be a plastic grocery bag.

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Gunzero

Hahaha! I can't say I've ever experienced a "burn your a$$hole poops", but I'll be looking forward for it.

I have sort of the same problem.. but it was cat shet and the smell would disperse inside the cabin when i turn on the A/C..

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ZKindaGuy

Check for Canadian Goose sh*t splatter up in the under carriage as it has that exact odor you described.

NewlyIMPORTed

i had this problem on my mustang only the right side. my E break was sticking because the wire wasnt tight enough

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spearfish25

I just inspected the car pretty thoroughly with a Mag-light and couldn't find anything obvious (ie no plastic bags or sour dog sheisse).

Either my pads were just hot from driving home like a goof or perhaps the e-brake is at play. However, I've found my ebrake to be nothing other than useless most of the time (aka, it doesn't stop the car other than holding it still on a flat surface when fully engaged).

I'm thinking it's less of a brake drag issue though since the car rolls very easily. I just pushed it forwards and backwards and it rolls like butter.

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2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

dad

I would adjust the e-brake if I were you! Unless you want to look like a crazy man, while chasing after your car down a hill!

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We can do without any article of luxury we have never had; but once obtained, it is not in human nature to surrender it voluntary.

spearfish25

That's what my 6MT is for. I always leave my girl in 1st when parked. The Nissan ebrake is crapola. However, I may adjust it during my next 'project' day. Have to look in the service manual to see how easy/hard it is to do.

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2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

ChrisSlicks

If it was a dragging caliper you would notice a much higher temperature on one wheel. It happened on my truck once and the brakes were red hot on the one wheel, giving off a nasty smell. It was immediately obvious after putting your hand in front of the wheel after driving.

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ChrisSlicks

Adjustment is pretty easy with the stock brake setup. They give you a little 'keyhole' access protected via a rubber grommet so you don't have to remove the caliper and rotor. Just pop out the grommet with the hole at TDC and use 2 small screw drivers, one to hold the spring away from the adjuster, and the other to rotate the adjuster. Don't make it too tight or the shoe's will drag on the drum. I think the service manual described some sort of calibration/setup procedure.

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Hotchkis ARB | Stillen CAI | Art Pipes | Berk CBE | Stillen AP Racing Brakes | AE Performance Oil Cooler | BC Racing ER Coilovers | Doran Control Arms