Hey all, just recently bought a ex police charger. It is a 2009 with 180k on the clock. First off I must say this car is in spectacular shape. No leaks, not even a spec of grime from what I can see in the engine bay. No lights on the dash, idles super smooth, no misfiring, shifts super smooth, no overheating, ETC.

Now to the issue/issues?... The brakes were locking up in the front, I figured it was the calipers since it sat for a while. Ordered all new brakes (calipers, rotors, pads) for all 4 corners. As I was waiting for them to come in I was driving it up and down the road to work out any other kinks that would come along. Every time I drove the car smoke would roll out the passenger side engine bay between the exhaust manifold and fenderwell. But if the car sat still and running, no smoke whatsoever... even if I rev the car there is still no smoke.

Fast forward to today. Rotors, pads, and calipers came in and I swapped everything out. Drove the car down the road and its STILL acting like a caliper is seized up and of course the smoke rolling out the engine bay when I get home. As before, I revved the motor slowly in park for about 10 minutes and couldnt replicate the smoke.

My guess is maybe a brake line is touching the exhaust manifold? hopefully someone here has had a similar problem or knows what could be going on. Sorry for typing up a story, I felt it was necessary for the diagnosing.

 

If it were burning brake fluid, you would notice fluid loss, and have at least spongy brakes. It may be the passenger side caliper isn't releasing. More often than not, it isn't the caliper itself that is the problem, its the soft line going to it. They tend to break down internally, and become a one-way valve....

 

@HeyYou The caliper is not releasing and the brakes are really tight. It was like that before I put the brand new calipers on too. It actually seems like both front calipers are locking up judging by discoloration in the previous rotors. So you think its a brake line causing that issue? any thoughts on the smoking from around the headers only when the vehicle is moving?

 

I suspect your brakes are getting hot, and that is where the smoke is coming from. Hence, why you can't reproduce it standing still.

Jack up the front end, take off a tire, spin the tire, spin the rotor, see if it moves easy, if it does, step on the brakes hard once, try again, probably doesn't now huh? Crack open the bleeder valve, move easy now? That's a bad soft line. Replace them ALL. If one is bad, the others aren't far behind.

 

@HeyYou You're 100% correct on the soft line I believe. I will be replacing both front end lines tomorrow. I've done many brake jobs and this is the first time ive come across this issue. As for the smoke from the engine bay, I believe its another problem as I only have to drive 2 minutes for it to start rolling out. My only guess on it is one single bolt on the lower part of the valve cover is leaking and I cant see it. Its almost impossible to see down in there. I cant even fit my hand between the valve cover and fenderwell.

 

Try and install headers on it. That was a fun job.......