I had to nip to Glasgow earlier today and upon arriving I noticed that there was a slight smell of warm brakes from the rear.

I collected the bits I'd gone for and in an effort to keep my speed down I ventured home whilst staying off the motorway. By the time I got home the smell of hot brakes was horrendous and there was smoke coming from the rear wheels.

I grabbed the hose pipe and gave the discs a soaking. I know it wasn't the greatest idea but I wanted to see which part of the discs was the hottest. The face of the disc that the pads touch didn't bubble that much but the bell of the discs where the handbrake shoes make contact with was bubbling ferociously.



When we were away in October and using the adaptive cruise control the rear right brake got hot whilst we were sitting in the average speed cameras on the M6. For the rest of our trip I avoided using the cruise control and we had no problems with any heat in the rear brakes at all.

I've been thinking about what could be causing the rear brakes to get hot only when using the cruise control and haven't really come up with a credible answer. I think most of this has started as I parked on a steep slope yesterday and used the handbrake for the first time in a few months.

In the hope of fixing it once and for all, I've ordered new handbrake cables (not looking forward to fitting these), new handbrake shoes, new discs, new pads, new brake flexi hoses, and a new wear sensor so I'll refurbish everything in one go. After giving it some thought I've ordered everything genuine Land Rover as it'll all fit and work properly with no fuss or messing around.

In some ways, it was a good time for it to break as JLR had a 30% discount code on the Land Rover Classic Parts website. I bought the handbrake cables from them and found some genuine bits on eBay. Total cost of everything was a little over £500, buying them at full price normally would have been a few quid shy of £900 so some decent Black Friday savings.

It's also due it's 6 month oil change despite only having done 4000 miles since the last one so I've got more FUCHS Titan oil arriving along with a genuine Land Rover oil filter. That's its 3rd oil change in the 18 months (10k miles) since I've owned it. One of the front parking sensors has started giving false alarms when it's been very wet so I've got one of them arriving, I also managed to find a deal on a High Beam Assist mirror with HomeLink on it from eBay so I've got a few things to keep me busy in the coming days.

The calipers were rebuilt around 12 months ago and last time I checked them after it got hot on the M6 they were both moving nice and freely so I'm hoping that's still the case!

For the first time in a long time I don't actually have a working car tonight! Thankfully, the reason I was in Glasgow was to collect parts for my other car so I'll try and sort that tomorrow evening and then sort the Range Rover when all the parts I've ordered arrive.

Typical as well as I'd just decided on Saturday that I was going to hang on to this rather then changing it.

David. 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2007 Range Rover Supercharged in Java Black with Ivory Leather
2012 Range Rover 5.0 SC Autobiography in Indus Silver with Jet/Ivory Interior
2012 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography in Baltic Blue with Sand Interior

David,

The fatty only uses just the rear brakes when on adaptive cruise control to reduce speed.

Apparently it stops the front dipping all the time..!!

It's why it sometimes askes the driver to take over when it thinks just the rear brakes won't be enough to stop hitting the vehicle in front..!!

Now, I can't say if it uses the brake disc calliper or the handbrake shoes but it's one or the other or both.. Pete

__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

Thinking about it it's got to be the calliper on the discs. If I drive mine a lot on adaptive the rear wheels are covered in brake dust as much as the fronts.... Pete

__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

The calipers are nice and free though, it's really weird.

It's in the workshop on the ramp now so I'll strip the whole lot down over the next couple of days whilst I wait for parts to start arriving. 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2007 Range Rover Supercharged in Java Black with Ivory Leather
2012 Range Rover 5.0 SC Autobiography in Indus Silver with Jet/Ivory Interior
2012 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography in Baltic Blue with Sand Interior

Maybe the handbrake is sticking slightly and the extra heat created from the rear braking with cruise isn't helping...!!!

Anyway I'm sure you will get it sorted....  Pete

__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

Ordered handbrake cables from the JLR Classic Parts website on Monday afternoon and they’ve just been delivered by DHL.

The discs are due for delivery today too.

Handbrake shoes, rear pads and the wear sensors are due later this week.

Thinking about ordering the springs for the shoes from the local dealer as I forgot to order them from JLR.

David. 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2007 Range Rover Supercharged in Java Black with Ivory Leather
2012 Range Rover 5.0 SC Autobiography in Indus Silver with Jet/Ivory Interior
2012 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography in Baltic Blue with Sand Interior

Maybe check the park brake shoes retaining pins are holding in the backplates properly if it has that setup . Older type pin washers can be fitted on the pins . Kits can be found on eBay and Amazon

Thanks for the pointer.

I’m going to strip everything, clean it all up and replace anything that’s worn with new.

The list of new bits so far includes:

Handbrake cables
Handbrake shoes
Shoe retaining springs
Rear Discs
Rear Pads
Rear Brake Flexi Hoses

I’m hoping the calipers are OK as they were cleaned and rebuilt last year but if there’s any doubt I’ll order those as well.

David. 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2007 Range Rover Supercharged in Java Black with Ivory Leather
2012 Range Rover 5.0 SC Autobiography in Indus Silver with Jet/Ivory Interior
2012 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography in Baltic Blue with Sand Interior

Another trick is to partially fold a suitable size washer over the shoe retaining pin if the correct washer is not available. The retaining pin should be orientated to remain secure