Ford Focus Zetec 1.6 2002 - Offside front wheel running very hot!!

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Sat 12 Mar 2011 06:48
Ford Focus Zetec 1.6 2002 - Offside front wheel running very hot!! - elvabanfer

I have noticed a weird burning smell over the last few days from the engine bay and thought the car was labouring when driving, (i.e no pick up in higher gears on the flat). Last night it was worse than ever and when I hit about 50 mph the steering wheel was vibrating quite noticeably and all in all made for a distressing 45 minutes of motoring. When I eventually arrived back home I felt a brief wave of heat as I opened the door and quickly located the source....that being the front offside wheel. It was seriously hot to the point of not being able to touch it.

I had all brakes replaced last year about 4 or 5k ago and other than being a bit squeeky, have given me no problems. My other thought was a wheel bearing seized, but I have had no evidence to believe it was 'on its way out', by way of a noise etc.

Your thoughts and helpful hints/ideas on this matter would be very much appreciated.

Many thanks.

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Sat 12 Mar 2011 08:34
Ford Focus Zetec 1.6 2002 - Offside front wheel running very hot!! - Roly93

Seizing brake calliper leading to a heat damaged and warped disc I would suspect.

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Sat 12 Mar 2011 10:11
Ford Focus Zetec 1.6 2002 - Offside front wheel running very hot!! - sandy56

If the wheel hub is hot then it probably is a wheel bearing failed.

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Sat 12 Mar 2011 12:00
Ford Focus Zetec 1.6 2002 - Offside front wheel running very hot!! - Peter D

I doubt a hub bearing would get that hot without making a nose. I suspect a caliper issue.

Regards Peter

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Sun 13 Mar 2011 13:23
Ford Focus Zetec 1.6 2002 - Offside front wheel running very hot!! - Roly93

If the wheel hub is hot then it probably is a wheel bearing failed.

This logic may be true if it were a diesel locomotive, but for extreme heating of the hub I would go for binding brakes any day.

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Sun 13 Mar 2011 20:21
Ford Focus Zetec 1.6 2002 - Offside front wheel running very hot!! - gadgee

Same thing happened to my 2002 Focus. It was a seized brake caliper

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Mon 14 Mar 2011 18:13
Ford Focus Zetec 1.6 2002 - Offside front wheel running very hot!! - elvabanfer

Yes guys seized brake caliper it is!! Many thanks for your advice.

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Tue 15 Mar 2011 06:37
Ford Focus Zetec 1.6 2002 - Offside front wheel running very hot!! - jonny10buds

It won't be the wheel bearing, it's a siezed brake calliper.

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Thu 31 Mar 2011 22:36
Ford Focus Zetec 1.6 2002 - Offside front wheel running very hot!! - engineMtech

NEEDS A NEW CALIPER AND A BRAKE FLUID CHANGE, PISTON RUSTS INSIDE DUE TO THE FLUID BEING HYDROSCOPIC( MEANING IT ABSORBS WATER) THEN CANT RETURN IN TO THE CALIPER PASSED THE SEAL NEW CALIPER WILL FIX THIS PROBLEM, ABOUT £60 FROM LOCAL AUTOFACTORS.

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