1990 Ford F-250 Strange Smell

Tiny
STRAYKATJJL
  • MEMBER
  • 1990 FORD F-250
  • 7.5L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 135,000 MILES
This has been going on for over a year now. The issue is I get a strange smell which is very similar to burning brakes after going down hill over a period of time. I had new brakes put in which didn't fix it and then I complained and Les Schwab replaced the brakes and put an entire new set in. I never notice the smell around town. I only smell it after being in the mountains and am driving back a prolonged down hill road. It might only take 10 to 15 min and the smell becomes overwhelming. I have the transmission in drive and am really only taping the brakes. I am going slow too 20 mhp or so. Although I have had it happen driving down a pass doing 60 mph too. The engine is running fine and so is the tranny. All the fluids are new too, In fact I had the tranny fluid completely changed 1500 miles ago. It never happens going up hill or driving around level ground. I let it sit for 15 minutes or so -to cool down after this happens and then all is good to go again. My next test was going to put the truck in neutral just to see if something is causing stress on the tranny. The tranny is a E4OD the engine is 460
Thursday, March 5th, 2015 AT 1:28 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
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I would be looking at the rotors for signs of blueing, and glazing, what type of pad was used?
It does sound like a brake problem.
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Thursday, March 5th, 2015 AT 1:55 PM
Tiny
STRAYKATJJL
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  • 3 POSTS
I would tend to agree with you except the fact that I have had two sets of new pads put in and the rotors are fine based on the shop who serviced it. I'm sorry but I don't know the manufacture of the pads. Is it possible something in the trany is bad? Is there a stress when the gas is off and moving forward? Really diving me crazy. When I stop I am unable to locate the source of the smell. It is not plastic, It smells burnt - really like a stuck caliper but, again I know there is nothing there.
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Thursday, March 5th, 2015 AT 2:40 PM
Tiny
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If there was a problem min the transmission, the oil would start to turn a dark red to black colour and also smell burnt, is this the case?
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Thursday, March 5th, 2015 AT 4:05 PM
Tiny
STRAYKATJJL
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  • 3 POSTS
No, cherry red. I had to have the upper flange gasket replaced 6 months ago or so. No leaks, no smell, no discoloration.
Does it hurt to put it in neutral while going down a hill and rely on just the brakes? I meant just to rule out the fact it could be the trany?
Seem if it smelled then it would have to be the new pads / brakes
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Thursday, March 5th, 2015 AT 4:16 PM
Tiny
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Just to test the theory will be fine.
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Thursday, March 5th, 2015 AT 8:28 PM

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