Club 80-90 Forums

Was coming down a very steep hill and came to a sharp left, applied brakes quite heavily then was greeted with a burning smell. Pulled over and checked around the van to find a whisp of smoke coming from the inside of the offside wheel hub - I'm guessing from the brake. Is this normal?

Don't you use the engine braking/gears?

my GSF pads smoke after some F1 braking..
I won't be fitting them next time

Yeah, think my pads might be GSF. Brickwerks next time methinks.

I do use gears to slow when approaching roundabouts etc but thought if I did on steep hills, it'd kcuf the engine.

Shouldn't really be using your brakes much what with the price of fuel and the poor fuel consumptionfigures typical of our twenty odd year old motors. Anticipatory driving techniques and such like can save you a bomb although having tried it I think close up lorry tailgateing is one step too far.
Cheers
Wolfie

Hmm

Nothing wrong with GSF brakes. They are made by Pagid who supply a lot of Car/Van Manufacturers. Me thinks a vehicle that weys in excess of 2 ton..you need to be using the gears too. Remember most T25`s are over 20 years old....You have to be more forgiving.

Glenn.

front or rear brakes if front you may have a binding calliper does the whel spin freely when jacked up
if rear you may have a leak of brake fluid from the brake cylinder and the smoke is the burn of keep an eye on your brake fluid level.
or it just maybe excessive braking downhill etc as your brakes are designed to turn forward motion into heat/friction at the brakes.

if unsure get some one to take a look as 2 tonnes of pride and joy and failed brakes is not a good combo

regards doug