Smokin’

We pulled up to a stop at the light and smelled hot brakes. We gaze around at the other cars to see who’s in disrepair. The other drivers are doing the same except that they have focused on us. Doink. Smoke is wafting from our right rear. Anxious to avoid a brake fire I pulled out of the traffic lane and jumped out to inspect. After a cool down decided to take it easy/limp the rest of the way home.

Analysis: The hand/emergency brake actuates a piggyback hydraulic piston on the brake caliper via mechanical pivot arm and cables. When the parking brake is off, this pivot arm is assisted to a pressure released position by a wound heli coil return spring. In this incident the crucial spring was AWOL. The dragging brake built friction and heat and thus the drama.

To do: Mount portable fire extinguisher in trunk!

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