Weird brake problem

[2003_LSV8]

Ok, so I have searched and searched and can't really find anything on it - so here goes...

A week ago I paid and had all new rotors and pads put on - then last night had the car loaded down with people, sitting three across in the back even... Get to where we are going and step out into the wonderful smell of something burning from the rear. Approach the tires and the rims are so hot they burned me when I first touched them. (Both rear rims were this hot...) Once I dropped everyone home, I had about another thirty minute drive to my house and when I got to my garage the rear rims were MUCH cooler (hot but not burning hot...).

So this morning went back to my mechanic, explained everything and watched/helped him re-inspect the rear pads and rotors to include the parking brake cables. We even drove down the highway checking the wheel speed sensors on each wheel to see if it was an ABS problem - everything came out fine. No codes in the computer, nothing... All you can tell is where the pads were rubbing on the rotors.

Drove around running errands all day today and the rims were warm to the touch, but no burning smell or anything. Also, the pads and rotors were replaced with OEM parts - and both myself and my mechanic are at a loss. Anyone else have this issue?

 

[dNyce LS]

Could it jus be the extra force used to stop the fully loaded car? Idk cuz I hardly ever have a full load of ppl in my car, but that's what I think. Or re-grease/lube (whatever it is) the rear brake parts to make sure they don't stick

 

[joegr]

Maybe he didn't screw the pistons all the way in?

 

[drag214]

I agree. If there is a problem with the rotors and pads over heating, it more the likely would be from constant friction (drag). Not just regular braking. I know when I replace my brakes I fully compress the pistons on the caliper to ensure I seat the pads properly. And I almost always get that cook-off of the anticorrosive stuff thats put on the rotors at factory and a little drag/heat. But nothing excessive. If everything is installed properly than the only thing it could be is a defective product from the factory. I would present this possibility to the mech and look into another replacement. Is there a warranty?

 

[drag214]

Could it jus be the extra force used to stop the fully loaded car? Idk cuz I hardly ever have a full load of ppl in my car, but that's what I think. Or re-grease/lube (whatever it is) the rear brake parts to make sure they don't stick

Not likely. The brake system on the LS for the most part is designed to handle the weight of the car+ in adverse braking conditions. To generate the amount of heat he was speaking of @ the rim, his rotors must have been glowing. That amount of heat would very easly cause a fire.
If this was a problem with the design of the braking system of the car, Ford would have been under a lot of presure to have it fixed and it would not be quiet.

 

[pelphrey]

Maybe he didn't screw the pistons all the way in?

I had a similar problem in my blazer... The cause of the problem, the piston had locked up in the caliper.

 

[OhTreeLS]

Hopefully you have solved this issue by now. If not, another idea would be that the rear pistons were not clocked correctly relative to the pad's position. The notches in the piston that are used to turn/compress the piston inward need to accept the tabs on the pad to be installed and seated correctly.

I just recently experienced this problem with my car when I installed new pads and rotors. I know...bonehead mistake on my part. It wasn't driven long enough to warp the rotors, luckily.