If I'm not mistaken, the last time I smelled this was a long time ago...maybe before the dealer told me the clutch pack in my read end (limited slip) needed replacing (factory defect). I've got a 30 minute drive to work - mostly highway. When I got to work the last few days I've been smelling something. I finally figured out this morning, it smells almost exactly like someone smoking their tires (burning out). It's sort of like that. Not super strong, but you can easily notice/smell it. Anyone else had something like this happen? I'm inclined to let it go for awhile until I can figure out exactly what it is, but I've got a 500 mile (one-way) trip coming up at the end of this month so it bothers me a little smelling this. Other than the smell I don't see/hear/feel anything else wrong. What do you think?

 

Could be the e-brake sticking. That's been a problem for some on these trucks.

 

If I remember correctly, the e-brake is made up of drum brakes inside the rear rotor/hub assembly. There was a thread here where a guy took his apart and the parts were rusted together. I am more likely to agree with the clutch pack idea though.

 

Yeah I've gone back and forth between a brake issue and the rear end...but it really doesn't smell like a brake smell like you'd get after riding the brakes down the mountain...it smells more like a burning rubber type of smell. Like I said, if you've ever smelled the smoke from a smokey burnout...it smells pretty much like that.

So let's pretend it's the clutch pack. Any harm in driving it for awhile? I mean, it's not going to leave me stranded on the highway is it? That's my only concern at this point.

 

I have noticed this smell on my truck as well. I just thought the exhaust was getting the spare to warm since I have aftermarket exhaust on my truck. I also thought that it could be one of the rubber exhaust hangers getting hot as well. I never thought it could be the limited slip.

 

I've had that one happen before! Easy way to check is to put your hand on the back wheels after you drive it. BE CAREFUL THEY WILL BE EXTREMELY HOT if the ebrake is stuck. My problem is not being able to get the rotor off and since I'm at college and the truck is at home, I am going to give it a go when I get home for summer break. I just don't park on inclines right now

 

ive had the same stinch since i went wheelin yesterday in my stock 150.. i havent checked it today, im gonna go wash it sometime today

 

Clarification: I DID have my clutch pack replaced under warranty maybe 2 years ago. At that time there were several posts on here about people have trouble with the new '04 F150's and the limited slip. The compaint back then was the rear wheel on the inside of a sharp turn would hop as if the rear wheels had a totally rigid axle all the way across...sort of like if you're in 4x4 and turning on dry pavement. So they replaced mine. Just wondering if I have another problem with it. So far I've not noticed any unusual grabbing on tight turns in parking lots and so on. Just the smell is what I've noticed.

I'll try to check the rear brakes/e-brake just in case.

 

04 up has 4 wheel disk brakes.

 

I smelled this as well and think it may be the e-brake as mentioned by the others. Although the "burning spare tire" issue should be looked into, I have the oem spare and do not have an aftermarket exhaust that could cause this issue. BTW, I also think this may be the source for the vibration I get at ~50mph.

Anyway, I bookmarked this link...I should look into this over the weekend:

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...g+brake+repair

 

Thanks for the link. I'll have a look at that before my trip!

P.S. Yes, disc brakes in the rear - but the disc has a drum portion for that emergency brake. Sort of an weird setup, but that's what it is.

 

My burn smell is coming from the engine bay, any idea as to what this is?

here was my thread about it
https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=317010

 

i used to smell this when i drove around in my old mustang....

 

I think I know what the smell was. I took the passenger side rear wheel off to get to the brake rotor. Once I had that off, I noticed the exhaust was covered in a thick layer of raod salt and grime. So much so that I can scrape it off with a screwdriver and it comes off in big pieces. The bottom of the muffler is that way too. I think the salt grime was heating up and causing the smell.

The brakes looked good. Although the emergency brake setup was pretty rusty so I cleaned both side and lubed it where necessary. I really need to get those rotors turned this spring. They look pretty nasty but not too awful bad yet.

One other possibilty. The driver side axle seems to be seeping out a little rear end fluid...just a teeny tiny bit. Maybe enough to make the area damp in there, but no where near a drip. Maybe that was warming up and smelling. My bet is on the road salt covering the exhaust though. It's pretty thick! Once it warms up some (it's 15 now), I'll rinse it off.