Hi all,
I just introduced myself in the Introductions forum, and I should also say pardon me if I sound like I don't know what I'm talking about- I mostly don't. It'* my car but my ex-boyfriend does the work on it. (He worked as a mechanic for a while and has done a good job on everything so far, so I trust him.)

So last week I noticed a weird smell and then some smoke coming from the front passenger side of the hood. It looked like it was coming from the wheel. I had the ex look at it and he says my brake calipers are maybe sticking. Assuming this is the case, what types of repairs are going to be necessary? Machining the rotors? Fixing whatever was causing the sticking to begin with? What other potential problems? The ex isn't going to have time to take it apart until next weekend, I'm just trying to figure out how much this is all gonna cost me..

TIA,
Adrienne

It might be a problem with your master cylinder. Does it happen all the time? Is your fluid at the right level?

Yes it happens pretty much all the time. I have a feeling that it had been happening off and on for a while and I didn't know and it got worse.

Yes the fluid is at the right level.

It is either the cailper or the brake hose causing the brakes to hold like that...I do not think the master cyl will cause that, especially if it is only on one of the front brakes.

Other than that one wheel "sticking", how is the overall response of the brakes? Do you have to mash the peddle to the floor in order to stop?

The response of the brakes seems pretty normal MOST of the time, but I have noticed a few times where I really had to stomp on it recently.

If your master cylinder is the original I would first start off by getting that replaced. Sounds like it might be failing on you if you really have to stomp on them. They're notorious for failing over time on the Bonneville'*. That may correct your issue, but at the same time you might have another issue as well: seized caliper. Changing the master cylinder will at least give you a fresh basis for a known point of failure and get rid of that soft peddle.

The master cylinder was replaced three or four years ago.

Remove the caliper and see if the brake piston can be push in, with a C clamp or what ever. Depending on your mileage is high replace the brake hoses.(I had the same experiance with a 92 Dodge I had, I replace the frozen caliper with a new one but later on the problem arose again. So I removed the brake line, even tried to blow air through it, nothing. So I replace the line and problem solved). I have been an auto technician for over 15 years. And when dealing with brakes on high mileage cars;100k if you can afford it the next time you replace the brakes, do it all calipers, wheel cylinders rubber lines, etc. And flush the brake system.

I basically agree with SD-421. Replace both front calipers, brake hoses and the pads. Make sure you check the run out of the front rotorsl. If they are slightly warped or scored, you can get them resurfaced. Otherwise you'll need to replace the rotors as well. Get good quality front pads like Delco Dura-Stop or Wagner Thermo-Quiet. And last, but not least, bleed the brake lines well. Good Luck.