Smell of burning rubber

[skyline]

Can anyone tell me if it is normal to get the smell of burning rubber from the rear wheel arches after using car. Done it since iv,e had it , Checked tyres for catching, heating up binding brakes, & nothing amiss. The silencers are right behind so is it just bits of rubber burning on them, Baffled, No water leaks either, Drive belt seems fine too, :angry:

[a9jlu]

Can anyone tell me if it is normal to get the smell of burning rubber from the rear wheel arches after using car. Done it since iv,e had it , Checked tyres for catching, heating up binding brakes, & nothing amiss. The silencers are right behind so is it just bits of rubber burning on them, Baffled, No water leaks either, Drive belt seems fine too, :angry:

my car has the same problem. very strange..

[cyclocross]

Can anyone tell me if it is normal to get the smell of burning rubber from the rear wheel arches after using car. Done it since iv,e had it , Checked tyres for catching, heating up binding brakes, & nothing amiss. The silencers are right behind so is it just bits of rubber burning on them, Baffled, No water leaks either, Drive belt seems fine too, :angry:

I've also noticed the same odor with my 2002 C2. And, like you, I cannot find any evidence of rubbed or overheated rubber. I do not see any water leaks and the radiator cap is sound. To me coolant smells differently from rubber. Puzzling.

Edited February 23, 2006 by cyclocross

[eastriver]

coolant reservior cap.

check to see if the coolant reservior edge has some coolant leaks out.

i had this problem. resolved by a new coolean reservior cap. $16.

[rcg412]

coolant reservior cap.

check to see if the coolant reservior edge has some coolant leaks out.

i had this problem. resolved by a new coolean reservior cap. $16.

this topic has been covered... the smell seems to be normal for 996s

Edited February 23, 2006 by rcg412

[dphil66]

I have the same "issue" with my '99 C4, and here's why I think it is "normal":

The rear camber (the amount that the rear wheels tip inward at the top) is specified by the factory as negative. The acceptable range is between -55 minutes and -1 degree 25 minutes. (Thus the total acceptable range spans 30 minutes, or 0.5 degrees.)

So, the rear wheels, if "aligned properly", are tipped inboard at the tops of the wheels. They do this, in my estimation, to achieve a particular handling balance, a particular feel, a particular level of performance during hard cornering and accident-avoidance maneuvers. It essentially "pre-loads" the rear tires so that even before you start turning, the tires are already digging in for "ultimate grip".

This setup also results in "ultimate tire wear", and this is why my dealership told me that, aside from driving their cars pretty hard, most 996 owners go through a set of tires every 10,000 to 12,000 miles. On my 18" rims, those rear tires, new, are about $600 a pair!!

Your car, if "aligned properly", is literally grinding up the rear tires with every revolution. You can feel the heat on the insides of the rear tires, but it is not all from engine heat - they truly are being ground down to nothing with every turn of the wheels. If your tires wear unevenly - the inside edges go first - then your alignment is probably "correct".

[skyline]

Well that is reassuring knowing the answer is that most of you have the same smell. My nissan skyline that i have just sold was running 640BHP on full boost. & trashed rear tyres at around 2500 to 3000 miles a set, But of course the shreds of rubber were being thrown out the back of the car & not directly on to a hot exhaust. Thanks all who answered. :renntech: Steve uk.

[gcp]

Nice explanation, thanks dphil66!

[Neilpeel]

Can anyone tell me if it is normal to get the smell of burning rubber from the rear wheel arches after using car. Done it since iv,e had it , Checked tyres for catching, heating up binding brakes, & nothing amiss. The silencers are right behind so is it just bits of rubber burning on them, Baffled, No water leaks either, Drive belt seems fine too, :angry:

I've got the same burning smell, but I always assumed it was a burning oil smell rather than rubber? However there are never any signs oil oil drips on the tamac where it is parked?

Also reassured that it is not just me :)

[violaGT3]

I have the same "issue" with my '99 C4, and here's why I think it is "normal":

The rear camber (the amount that the rear wheels tip inward at the top) is specified by the factory as negative. The acceptable range is between -55 minutes and -1 degree 25 minutes. (Thus the total acceptable range spans 30 minutes, or 0.5 degrees.)

So, the rear wheels, if "aligned properly", are tipped inboard at the tops of the wheels. They do this, in my estimation, to achieve a particular handling balance, a particular feel, a particular level of performance during hard cornering and accident-avoidance maneuvers. It essentially "pre-loads" the rear tires so that even before you start turning, the tires are already digging in for "ultimate grip".

This setup also results in "ultimate tire wear", and this is why my dealership told me that, aside from driving their cars pretty hard, most 996 owners go through a set of tires every 10,000 to 12,000 miles. On my 18" rims, those rear tires, new, are about $600 a pair!!

Your car, if "aligned properly", is literally grinding up the rear tires with every revolution. You can feel the heat on the insides of the rear tires, but it is not all from engine heat - they truly are being ground down to nothing with every turn of the wheels. If your tires wear unevenly - the inside edges go first - then your alignment is probably "correct".

Dead on. I went through everything trying to find out why it seemed difficult to start a normal take off, while doing my inspections I noticed this same smell. I called some firends and they checked it out and concluded that it was due to the aggressive camber that my 295-30-19's were sitting on, as my c2 was lowered and tuned by Champion Motorsports it has resistance not onlt while taking off but also while rolling.

So yea it is not a critical problem. Unless you consider $440 a tire critical? :D