grease showing up on front wheels

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ptero on October 20, 2011 at 12:31am

Next time you pull off the highway, touch your front hubs and see how hot they are.

If they're not hot, don't worry about it.

If they're hot, go to your dealer and scream your bloddy head off.

I got 42k and no problems.

Okay, one more thing, seriously, If your rear drum brakes go out of adjustment, you will be using just the front discs.

That's dangerous and the front hubs can get so hot you might melt the grease.

You didn't drive around with your parking brake on like a big dummy, did you?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by L. Close on October 20, 2011 at 1:41am

Thanks Ptero, I'll take to my mechanic on Monday and check for hot wheels before and check rear brake also. My nearest dealer is 75 miles away so will try my local mechanic. I restore old cars so have some mechanical talent but front axle/spindles of smart are so sealed it is hard to diagnose. Talked to dealer service dept and they say they have never had front bearings fail except in accidents. And I'm 71 so you were wise to see if i had left the park brake on but No it's off. also I have no noises or vibrations that I'm aware of in wheels etc.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by L. Close on October 22, 2011 at 11:58pm

To :tero and all, took advice and checked temp of hubs after driving. They were barely warm but it was not hard stop and go driving. I'll continue to monitor hub temp.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by SATO on October 31, 2011 at 9:29pm

the brake dust sometimes looks like a greassy run off on the stock rims...

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by L. Close on October 31, 2011 at 11:30pm

I was vacationing in Savannah GA last week and saw twin of my smart at curb. the front wheels were covered with dark crud- thicker than normal brake dust? I did not do a wipe since not my car and owner not present.

My mechanic last week did thorough check and found no defects.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ptero on October 31, 2011 at 11:58pm

SATO probably has it right. All my cars with front discs get coated with brake dust and you have to clean them often even though the rear drums are clean. I remember when I got my first disc brake car. It was disconcerting to have the front wheels discolor like that. But there's nothing wrong. Clean the front wheels more often, that's all.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by L. Close on November 1, 2011 at 10:23pm

thanks for the responses on the grime on front wheels. I'm just going to drive on until I hear or feel ugly rumblings.

Next question? do all smart owners have a momentary but noticable delay when turning the key before the starter runs? I do. And once in a great while I get silence. Turn key to off and back and starter off and running. Larry

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ptero on November 1, 2011 at 10:43pm

Yes, the delay is because the computer is given an instruction to start the car when you turn the key. It performs a few checks - in particular, it checks to see if the car is already running - then it starts the engine in high-idle mode for low emissions cold start or different mixture and timing for warm start, then it gives the car back to you. It's pretty fail-safe. I like it. I do not know why you occasionally get no response.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by L. Close on November 3, 2011 at 6:43pm

Thanks to Ptero on smart delay start. I rarely get no start and that is just till I reinsert key.

Larry

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ptero on November 3, 2011 at 10:36pm

Larry, check out this thread on brake pads for the Smart and how others deal with dust problems - and what doesn't work.

http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/forums/f25/oreillys-ceramic-brake-...

• ▶ Reply