Drove with parking brake on

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07-28-2006, 04:30 PM

mszilves

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Join Date: Jan 2006

Location: Vancouver, BC

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Drove with parking brake on

My wife forgot the parking brake on the car yesterday for a minute or so (that's what she says), and of course when she returned from the short trip, the smell from the rear disks was gruesome! So what to do now? One of the rotors is bronzed, and the other has a purple ring around the hub from overheating. Is there an easy way to tell if they're warped, and if they're not, are they still useable? Also, are the pads useable (no doubt glazed), or should they be replaced? Can they be surface sanded to restore them?

The worst part is, the rear rotors and pads are only about a month old... so I would hate to have to replace them again. On a funny note, she said she didn't feel that it was on, didn't notice the light on the dash... our cars are so strong, even the parking brake won't slow it down, lol.

Thanks

07-28-2006, 04:37 PM

Greeny

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1.Replace the pads

2.Sand the rotors down with sand paper or wire wheel brush..

3. Keep teh wifey away from your car..

07-29-2006, 04:18 AM

89blackse

"and falling like a rock"

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Quote:

Originally Posted by mszilves

our cars are so strong, even the parking brake won't slow it down, lol.

Thanks

um... Our parking brake is weak as hell. Ask any 4th gen owner that has driven our cars. I sometimes lift mine up while I'm driving to help wedge a pop can down there, then release the brake to hold it in place.

Your rotors will be ok. Just do as previously suggested. Oh and I would bleed the rear brakes since she most likely boiled the brake fluid in the lines and will cause problems down the road. Easy to do once the tire is off, too.

07-29-2006, 06:04 AM

Matt93SE

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don't bother with ereplacing anything. Just drive the car. brakes are designed to get hot. I drive mine until the rotors are glowing orange... and I keep driving.

If you drive the car and feel a vibration in the back, pull the handle up a couple clicks and keep driving to warm up the rotors and even out the material deposits on them. I doubt you've got that problem anyway since she got them that hot.

If the brakes start squealing in the back, pull the pads off and sand off the top hard layer and put them back on. unless the rotors are severely grooved, don't bother turning them either. just drive. you'll be okay.