Do you notice smoke and a burning smell from your brakes?
Brakes work by creating friction to slow your wheels, but the heat produced should never reach the point of burning.
So, what does a burning odor from your brakes mean?
And the more immediate concern — what should you do about it?
In this article, we’ll uncover the common causes of a burning smell from your brakes and how to fix them. We’ll also explore other potential sources of burning odors in your car to help you identify and resolve issues quickly.
This Article Contains:
- Burning Smell from Brakes: 10 Causes + Solutions
- What to Do if You Notice a Burning Smell from Your Brakes?
- What Else Causes a Burning Smell from Your Car?
- 3 FAQs on Brake Problems
Let’s dive in.
Burning Smell from Brakes: 10 Causes + Solutions
Let’s look at the top 10 reasons your brakes could be emitting a burning smell:
1. New Brake Pads
Brand-new brake pads are coated in resin and can initially produce a mild rubber smell. This smell is caused by the resin curing as each brake pad settles into the rotor.
However, this smell from the new brake pad material should disappear after a few drives.
Solution: Allow the new brakes a few days to cure through regular driving. But consult a mechanic if the smell persists or performance issues arise.
2. The Emergency Brake Is On
Leaving the emergency brake engaged while driving can cause friction in the rear brakes, creating excess heat and a burnt rubber odor. There may also be some squealing or grinding sounds.
Solution: The best way to avoid this is to consciously release the parking brake once you’ve shifted into gear. Glance at your dashboard to ensure the parking brake light is off before pressing the accelerator.
3. Overworked Brakes
Driving in mountainous terrain can cause your brakes to overheat and produce a noticeable burning smell, especially when riding the car downhill. Similarly, frequent hard braking in regular traffic can produce the same effect.
Over time, excess heat from braking can cause your brakes to feel spongy as the brake fluid begins to boil. Prolonged overheating can result in brake fade, where the brakes become so hot that their performance significantly diminishes.
Solution: Use engine braking when driving downhill and avoid aggressive braking to prevent overheating your brakes. Engine braking is when you slow down the car by stepping off the accelerator pedal while shifting to a lower gear. This allows the engine’s resistance to help reduce speed.
4. Worn Out Brake Parts
Brake pads and rotors are designed to handle the intense heat generated via friction when you apply the brakes. However, as these components wear down over time, their ability to manage heat diminishes. As a result, when worn-out brake pads and rotors overheat, they can produce a burning plastic or chemical smell.
Solution: Replace worn brake pads (every 25,000 to 65,000 miles) and rotors (every 30,000 to 70,000 miles) to restore their heat dissipation efficiency and prevent further damage.
5. Seized Brake Caliper
A seized brake caliper (or stuck caliper) fails to release the brake rotor. This can happen if a caliper piston is jammed, keeping the brake pads in contact with the rotor, creating constant friction and heat. You’ll then notice a drag in the wheel, a burning brake smell, or even smoke.
Solution: In some cases, using brake cleaner and brake grease on the affected area may resolve a stuck caliper. However, in most situations, you’ll need to replace or rebuild the caliper.
6. Stuck Wheel Cylinder
If your car uses a drum brake system on the rear brakes, a stuck wheel cylinder could be causing the burning rubber smell.
Like a caliper piston in disc brakes, the wheel cylinder can get jammed, keeping the brake shoe pressed against the brake drum. Continuous friction keeps generating heat, which can worsen in drum brakes since they dissipate heat less efficiently than disc brakes.
Solution: To avoid brake issues, get the drum brake system checked and the wheel cylinder repaired or replaced every 3 to 5 years or 62,000 miles.
7. Pinched Brake Hose or Damaged Brake Line
Brake fluid flows through a steel brake line and flexible rubber hoses to the wheels.
If the brake hose gets pinched, it can allow fluid to enter the brake caliper but block it from flowing back out. This keeps the brake pad pressed against the rotor, causing excessive heat and a burnt smell similar to a stuck caliper.
On the other hand, a damaged brake line can cause a burning smell if it leads to brake fluid leakage.
Solution: Replace the pinched brake hose to restore proper fluid flow and prevent the brake pads from staying engaged. If a brake line is corroded or bent, it may need replacing. You’ll also need to bleed the system to remove any trapped air.
8. Leaking Brake Fluid
Brake fluid is essential for the braking system to function properly. If it leaks onto hot parts like the rotor or caliper, it can burn and create an acrid and strange smell. This also compromises your braking power, making driving unsafe.
Solution: Check for any liquid spills under your car. Brake fluid typically has a yellowish or amber color. If you spot a leak, repair or replace damaged brake components, such as the brake line or caliper. Once fixed, refill the brake fluid and bleed the system to ensure safe and effective braking performance.
9. Low-Quality Brake Pads
Cheap or poor-quality brake pads may not handle heat well, causing them to break down and emit a burning smell. Over time, they may also wear out faster, reducing your braking efficiency and safety.
Solution: Upgrade to high-quality brake pads made from durable materials like ceramic or metallic compounds.
10. Brake Dust Build-up
As brake pads wear out, they produce excess dust that can accumulate on the rotor and caliper. When the brakes are used, this dust may burn off, resulting in a noticeable burning smell, especially during hard braking or after prolonged use.
Solution: Include brake cleaning in your regular maintenance routine to improve overall braking performance. Cleaning brake dust and debris is simple, but regular car wash supplies might not completely clean your wheels if the dust has built up over time. In such cases, you’ll likely need a specialized wheel cleaner.
We’ve explored the probable reasons for the burning smell from brakes.
But what should be your immediate response to the burning smell?
What to Do if You Notice a Burning Smell from Your Brakes?
Here’s what you should do when you get that odd burning smell from the brakes:
- Stop and let it cool: If you suspect burning brakes, pull over to a safe spot and let them cool down. Overheated brakes cause brake fade, which could be dangerous, especially if you’re driving in a hilly region.
- Consult a professional: A burning rubber smell could indicate issues other than bad brakes. So, have a trusted mechanic conduct a thorough vehicle inspection and a brake check as soon as possible.
Now that you know how your brakes can cause a burning smell, let’s look at other reasons your car might give off a burning odor.
What Else Causes a Burning Smell from Your Car?
Faulty brakes don’t always cause a burning smell from your car. Here are some other potential culprits that you shouldn’t ignore:
- Overheated clutch: An overheated clutch can result from hard use, such as riding the clutch on inclines, rapid gear changes, or excessive slipping. Over time, the clutch lining can overheat and emit a distinct burning rubber smell, indicating potential wear or damage.
- Electrical problems: A blown fuse or wiring issue can melt plastic parts, creating a burnt smell.
- Leaking heater core: A damaged or leaking heater core can cause a burnt smell inside the car, fog up the windows, and even lead to engine overheating.
- Oil leak: If engine oil drips onto a hot exhaust, it can burn and create a strong smell, especially outside the car.
- Foreign objects in the exhaust: A plastic bag or other object stuck to the exhaust can melt and give off a burning smell.
- Damaged drive belt: A worn belt can overheat from friction or a stuck pulley, causing excessive heat, squealing noises, and a burnt smell.
- Clogged catalytic converter: A blocked catalytic converter can overheat and even glow red-hot if it gets too hot.
- Melting fan belt (in older cars): When an engine accessory stops turning, the fan belt can keep sliding over the pulley, creating heat that can burn the rubber.
- Exhaust leak in the cabin: Often seen in older cars due to poor sealing or corrosion, this issue can let fumes inside the car’s cabin. This poses a serious health hazard, as inhaling these fumes can lead to headaches, nausea, or even unconsciousness.
IMPORTANT: If you notice any strange or unpleasant smell, pull over immediately to a safe location, turn off the engine, and open the windows.
Got more questions?
Let’s look at a couple of related questions.
3 FAQs on Brake Problems
Check out the answers to some common questions about brake issues.
1. What Other Signs Indicate a Brake Problem?
A burning brake smell is just one of many signs that point to issues with your braking system.
Here are the other indicators of a brake issue:
- An illuminated brake light means your parking brake is engaged or your brake pads need a change.
- Squealing or grinding sounds occur due to worn brake pads or a warped brake rotor.
- If you have to press the brake pedal more to engage the brakes, or if the brake pedal suddenly feels very hard it may indicate air in the lines.
- A puddle of yellowish or amber fluid under your car or near a wheel could mean a leak in the brake system.
2. Is It Safe to Drive with Smoking Brakes?
No, it’s not safe to drive if your brakes are emitting a burnt odor.
The only exception is if you have new brakes, where a mild burning smell might simply be from the resin coating’s curing process. That said, it shouldn’t last long.
However, in most cases, a burning smell is a severe warning. It could result from overheating brakes, stuck calipers, or worn-out pads and can lead to brake failure and accidents.
If you notice this odor, stop driving immediately and have a mechanic inspect your brakes.
3. How Will a Mechanic Diagnose a Burning Smell in Your Car?
Here’s how a mechanic will identify the cause of the burning smell:
- They’ll start by determining whether the smell resembles burning rubber, plastic, oil, or something else, as this gives clues to the source.
- Check for any fluid or oil leak, examine belts and hoses for wear or slipping, and look for frayed or overheating wires in the electrical system.
- Examine the brake pads for excessive wear, check for sticking calipers, and assess if overheating brakes are causing the smell.
- Check if the transmission fluid is at the right level. Low fluid levels can indicate leaks or improper fluid circulation. They’ll also examine its color and smell. Dark or brown fluid, along with a burnt smell, suggests the fluid is old or contaminated.
- Check for signs of clutch slippage or wear, which may require adjustment or replacement.
Tackle Burning Smell from Brakes Safely with AutoNation Mobile Service
Even a slight burning smell from your brakes could mean bigger problems ahead, like engine trouble or brake failure. So, it’s wise not to take chances with your safety.
Call AutoNation Mobile Service today!
Our mobile mechanics will come to you, fix your brakes, and get you back on the road quickly. We’re available seven days a week and offer upfront pricing, so you’ll know exactly what to expect.
Don’t let that burning brake smell keep you on edge.
Contact us for a quote today.