This not really a question, but something I thought I would share because I’ve never seen anything like this. Our ‘52 DeSoto has an Explorer disk brake rear axle, we’ve been driving it for 3 seasons and have put 3,500+ miles on it without any issues. last week we headed out for a camping trip with our 25’ Spartan trailer. We got about an hour from home and were driving through the town of Charlotte MI, with a cement truck ahead of us about a car length on our right. He had a hot brake, which I smelled all the way through town. After a couple miles he took an exit to the highway, we went on. The hot brake smell didn’t exit with him. I stopped at the first gas station where we could get off the busy 4 lane, smoke was rolling off the left rear wheel. I debated what to do, and decided since the brakes felt good that we’d head back home. If they hung up completely and the car had to be towed the closer to home and off a divided highway or the freeway it would be a better outcome. And, if we needed to just let things cool do we could do that. We got home without incident although by then the right side was hot as well. I unhitched the trailer, pulled the car into the shop, lifted the back and popped the left rear wheel off. The paint was scorched on the center, but oddly I could easily spin the wheel and rotor in the caliper. Curious. We took our new truck instead and got home yesterday. This morning I pulled the rear wheels to inspect things, thinking I was going to replace the (new) flex line, calipers, pads and possibly the rotors. Once again the wheels spun easily. I popped the calipers, noticed that both had spots ground off on the upper edge, and a corresponding scar on the inside of both rims. The pads and rotors look like new, which they are. The only thing I can think is that after 3,500 miles the pads must have worn enough to let the calipers slide into the rims as the brakes are applied. A few thousands would have made them contact. Ii didn’t realize there was so little clearance. I put it back together with a 1/4” wheel spacer on both sides. The brakes don’t drag, I no longer hear the faint grinding noise I thought I heard before ( thinking it was because everything was red hot. Anyone have any better guess? I’m calling it good to go…
Looks like you might have discovered whey they started using "disc brake" wheels about the time they started using disc brakes on cars? They have the rim configured to clear the caliper. You can often get away with using early wheels on rear disc brakes, but not on the front. That's how it is with the Wilwood brakes on my 62 Corvette...stock wheels fit the back, but not the front. Thanks for the write up.
No harm in using a grinder to shave off some of the meat on those calipers for some extra clearance, Clarence. Sounds like you pin-pointed the problem pretty easily. Glad it wasn't worse.
Did that first, then I remembered the wheel spacers hanging on pegboard over bench . Extra insurance.
yep just went through this with our 61 Impala. Wanted 14” wheels and had to track down some steel wheels from a 70s GM car to clear the brake caliper up front. Luckily we nice you know what to look for on the rim design it’s easy to spot and pick up cheap wheels.
@flynbrian48 You seemed to have found the root cause and done proper repairs. I will mention that if it baked the paint, it would be a very good idea to pull the axles and inspect the outer axle bearings too. That's a lot of heat. https://www.explorerforum.com/forums/threads/how-to-replacing-rear-axle-wheel-bearings.214805/
That's on the "to do" list as the left tire has gear lube on it. We're going 2 miles with it today for an event at the Gilmore Car Museum, after that it's coming apart.
From the "Smack My Head" files, this: We drove the car to dinner after "fixing" it with the wheel spacers, all seemed fine. On the way home, it developed a GOD AWFUL squealing, screeching noise from the back, which seemed to come and go. Figuring I had Effed something up, I pulled the left rear wheel and, sure enough, I had. The little stainless steel cap on the lower lip of the caliper bracket that it slide on was out of place, wedged between the bracket and the rotor. I put it back where it belongs and FINALLY, everything is as it should be.
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