Hello,
I had my baja serviced by my mechanic for a tune up. After driving to work I noticed that there was smoke comming from the left side of the engine. It appeard to be comming the axle or wheel. I touched the wheel and it was burning hot. Anyway, my mechanic says that he had forgotten to untightend the wheel while adjusting the tappets but recons that no serious harm has happend to my car. Is he right? The wheel smoked to and from work, approximately 100 mins worth of driving was done during this period.

Thanks,

Nick.

P.S was it smoke or brake fluid steam?

Sounds like your brakes weren't adjusted properly. Were your brakes part of the service? If this is the case you've lost some life on the pads. Check then that the slave cylinders aren't leaking as this can happen sometimes when they've been over heated. If the slaves are leaking then consider getting the seals replaced.

[Edited on 17-5-2003 by manxed69]

Jo

you need a new mechanic
I... at least... dont touch the wheels when i do my tappets.

The only thing i can think of is a wheel bearing over tightened. - but it was the rear wheel wasnt it?
Was there any noise?
Was the car "dragging" like the brakes were on?

Nup - got me stuffed?

Wasnt oil leaking onto the exhaust header?

I had only taken it in for a engine tune up. His explaination for tightening the wheel was so that he can turn the engine with the other wheel, or something to that description. There was no noise but the wheel was definetly hard to turn.

Sounds like he locked your brake up on one side only. No Doubt the smoke would of smelt really bad, I think he owes you a new set of rear brake shoes.

The smoke would be the Linings getting hot. But to be safe you would need to replace the Cylinders and flush the Fluid.

definitly get another mechinac ,sounds like one of the dodgey brothers.

definitely sounds like he adjusted the brakes shoes so they were on. Silly thing to do, definitely go to a new mechanic.

It was your brake overheating, the drum getting real hot and making the pads burn and smoke.

The damage to the pad probably isn't too bad, but the potential damage to the drum would be my concern. If the drum was overheated for that length of time it may have warped. You would be able to notice this by an apparent pulsing when the brakes are on at low speeds (just before you stop).

As well as being warped, the drum may be "glazed" from being overheated, which makes the pads slide instead of grip.

You should also check your tyre pressure now it's cooled down.