Rear driver tire smoking after stop and go traffic

Ford has issues with sticking calipers. The brakes won't release. Mine has been in the shop twice for this issue.

Another issue can be moisture in the brake lines. It turns to steam when you're using the brakes in stop and go traffic. I upgraded to DOT 4 brake fluid in my last Ford because it was doing this. It started when I was coming down the Smoky Mountains into Gatlinburg and the traffic was backed up.

You'll need to figure out where the smoke is coming from to isolate the problem. A temperature gun is a great help in finding problems like this. It could be a wheel bearing or a brake issue.

mkirsch wrote:
Your rim was NOT hot enough to cause the smoke. If it was, your tire would have blown!!!

The smoke was coming from the brake, for sure.

Agreed. For something to get hot enough to begin melting a tire causing it to smoke, you'd most likely already have a fire somewhere else! Brakes, seal, or bearing all day.

Your rim was NOT hot enough to cause the smoke. If it was, your tire would have blown!!!

The smoke was coming from the brake, for sure.

The hardware for the guide pins on the caliper is also rubber and if it was that hot it is possible you were smelling that as well.

familyman_2 wrote:
Wow everyone thanks for all the input. We made it home about 45 minutes ago.

Thinking the tire ( but now after reading all your responses, I think otherwise) was getting too hot because of the braking I set the brake controller higher and used the Manuel trailer brake switch to slow us down when moving at slow speeds. Probably not the smartest of moves but no more hot tire as we went along.

In a couple days I'll work on getting the rear wheels up and start investigating.

This is a 2 wheel drive f150. Im thinking a seal since it smelled like rubber burning.

Ok here's a thought I just had. I've been spraying lubricant onto the squeaky leaf springs. I wonder if since the rims were hot that might have been the source.

Thanks again for your responses. This is a great forum!!!!

Happy traveling

An infrared thermo can be a great help on the road. Even a cheap one from Harbor Freight. As to I95 on a weekend there is a reason you found a church so easily.
Glad you got home safe.

Stuck caliper or stuck e-brake is my guess.

Even if everything is new something I learned from truckers in stop and go traffic is to drive like you don't have brakes; leave a big gap, use first and second to brake and be patient.

Wow everyone thanks for all the input. We made it home about 45 minutes ago.

Thinking the tire ( but now after reading all your responses, I think otherwise) was getting too hot because of the braking I set the brake controller higher and used the Manuel trailer brake switch to slow us down when moving at slow speeds. Probably not the smartest of moves but no more hot tire as we went along.

In a couple days I'll work on getting the rear wheels up and start investigating.

This is a 2 wheel drive f150. Im thinking a seal since it smelled like rubber burning.

Ok here's a thought I just had. I've been spraying lubricant onto the squeaky leaf springs. I wonder if since the rims were hot that might have been the source.

Thanks again for your responses. This is a great forum!!!!

Happy traveling

stuck caliper would mean the distinct odor of overheated brakes. Was that the case?
If not I'm thinking a very low tire check the pressure. Even overheated brakes normally won't cause the tire to smoke.

Stuck brake caliper gets my vote. It will not pull when it is a rear brake.