Brake Fire

[TeX19]

I had a ten mile drive, 50 mph average, last week. Pull into the store parking lot, a guy is pounding on my window saying you're on fire. WTF? Jump out, smoke pouring out of left rear wheel well along with a small orange flame coming from brake pads. Fortunately, it was small enough for me to blow out. So glad the trip wasn't longer. I recall seeing semis burnt to the ground from seized brake fires. Have no idea if the wheel was locked when I left the house or it engaged enroute. Called for a flatbed back home. After it cooled somewhat, I backed to pickup location. Tow driver said it was turning freely. It goes to SC in two days for replacement rotor and pads. Since we cannot control the parking brake mechanically, like back in the day with that lever under the dash, was this not an electrical or software anomaly? There was no indication on the touch screen of a malfunction. How does the brake on one wheel decide to lock up?

Sponsored

 

[NotMyTruck]

Your caliper and bracket appear to be painted and/or powder coated - what was actually done? If you rattle canned it on with some high temp paint, one of the pins/pistons could’ve seized.

if you did it correctly, and removed the bracket and the caliper for powder coat — did you isolate all moving parts and bleed the brakes properly after?

Your answer: somewhere in between.

 

[REM]

Since we cannot control the parking brake mechanically, like back in the day with that lever under the dash, was this not an electrical or software anomaly?

You can engage the parking brake a couple of ways:


1. Engage the parking brake:

• Touch Controls on the touchscreen.
• Navigate to Safety.
• Select Park Brake.
• Alternatively, touch and hold the Park button on the drive mode strip.
  

2. Release the parking brake:

• Shift the vehicle into another gear.
  The parking brake will automatically disengage.

 

[TeX19]

Your caliper and bracket appear to be painted and/or powder coated - what was actually done? If you rattle canned it on with some high temp paint, one of the pins/pistons could’ve seized.

if you did it correctly, and removed the bracket and the caliper for powder coat — did you isolate all moving parts and bleed the brakes properly after?

Your answer: somewhere in between.

Truck was wrapped with color coordinated calipers by one of the big name professional shops one year ago. At this late date I'm confident their work did not cause this. I'm sure the SC will attribute the fire to the paint.

 

[TeX19]

You can engage the parking brake a couple of ways:


1. Engage the parking brake:

• Touch Controls on the touchscreen.
• Navigate to Safety.
• Select Park Brake.
• Alternatively, touch and hold the Park button on the drive mode strip.

2. Release the parking brake:

• Shift the vehicle into another gear.
  The parking brake will automatically disengage.

Thanks for those tips. When not driving, park seems to be the default position.
I put the truck in neutral to see if the caliper opened up. It automatically went back in to park when I opened the door.

 

[REM]

Thanks for those tips. When not driving, park seems to be the default position.
I put the truck in neutral to see if the caliper opened up. It automatically went back in to park when I opened the door.

What's your mileage? Maybe you are past due for piston lubrication.

 

[CyberZephyr]

You're lucky the guy that told you wasn't a crazy hater! They would probably just stand there chuckling.

 

[CyberGus]

I had a ten mile drive, 50 mph average, last week. Pull into the store parking lot, a guy is pounding on my window saying you're on fire.

Good thing you kept it under 88MPH

 

[TeX19]

What's your mileage? Maybe you are past due for caliper lubrication.

Just under 5k miles. It went in to the SC today. Gave me a '25 CT for a loaner. Said it could be a few days while engineering studies what happened.

 

[Deleted member 22486]

Truck was wrapped with color coordinated calipers by one of the big name professional shops one year ago. At this late date I'm confident their work did not cause this. I'm sure the SC will attribute the fire to the paint.

You wrapped your brake calipers? Of course that contributed to the fire.

Why It Can Be Risky:
• Brake calipers get extremely hot during normal driving, especially during aggressive or prolonged braking. Temperatures can easily exceed 400°F (200°C) and go much higher under track or mountain driving.
• Most vinyl wraps and adhesives are not rated for these high temperatures and may melt, deform, or ignite, especially if exposed to sustained heat.
• Flammable adhesives or films could ignite if they come in contact with hot brake dust, oil, or fluid leaks.

 

[TeX19]

You wrapped your brake calipers? Of course that contributed to the fire.

Why It Can Be Risky:
• Brake calipers get extremely hot during normal driving, especially during aggressive or prolonged braking. Temperatures can easily exceed 400°F (200°C) and go much higher under track or mountain driving.
• Most vinyl wraps and adhesives are not rated for these high temperatures and may melt, deform, or ignite, especially if exposed to sustained heat.
• Flammable adhesives or films could ignite if they come in contact with hot brake dust, oil, or fluid leaks.

Not wrapped. Painted to match. Awaiting Tesla SC report on cause.

 

[DittoDan]

Not wrapped. Painted to match. Awaiting Tesla SC report on cause.

Did they use high temp paint? Like paint for headers?

 

[TeX19]

Yes, no indication of scorched paint.

 

[Galvatron]

Yes, no indication of scorched paint.

Do you have an update on the SC feedback?

 

[TeX19]

Do you have an update on the SC feedback?

Electrical malfunction causing that one wheel to seize. They had it for three days, gave me a CT loaner. Replaced rotor, caliper and pads under warranty. Excellent service from my SC. Could have ended differently had I driven another mile or so.

Sponsored