[jaydee]

I have about 3600 miles on my C. Yesterday, I returned home from a furniture store with a fairly heavy piece of assemble-able furniture in the trunk with the rear seats down. When I was driving (about 10 miles) home, I realized the car was not responding as usual and when I got home, the right rear wheel smelled and felt hot.. I am fairly certain my emergency brake was not on. What could the excess heat be due to?

Jaydee

 

[jhelmuth]

Almost 100% sure you have a condtion due to excess braking. Now why you have it is unknown. I doubt the heavy funituer was a problem since there is no issue with 4 adults in the car, and while the funiture was probably heavy - I doubt it was heavier than 300 lbs! So that leaves the "rear parking brake" as a possibility. Did you set it before "loading"? Were both sides of the rear wheels "hot"? If so, then you probably either didn't realese the parking brake. If only one side of the car was affected, then my guess is that you have a bad caliper that is causing the pads to "freeze" on the rotor.
The excess heat has just about got ot be a transfer from the brake. Your description is very familiar and I can't help but feel that this is the source. You definatley ned to have this looked at. Is this still an issue?

 

[wesexcellence]

I too don't feel it's a weight issue.
I have 535lbs in my trunk.(4 SP1700 batteries, 5 MB Q series amps, 3-10's, 2 power supplies, wood etc...)
The only problem I have is the occasional bottoming-out.

 

[goddardzilla]

Jaydee

Questions for diagnosis

. Smell of overheating brakes - not a rubbery smell?

. No obvious marking or grooving of tire where contact could have occured?

. Is your car lowered?

. Have you changed to aftermarket rims - if so what size tire?

. Did you load the flatpack on the side the tire got hot?

. Was the other rear tire hot?

. Is the measured distance from top of tire to body same both sides in a no-load condition?

You might have got the answer from the questions, but if you need more help post again no prob.

Dr. Zilla

 

[goddardzilla]

I too don't feel it's a weight issue.
I have 535lbs in my trunk.(4 SP1700 batteries, 5 MB Q series amps, 3-10's, 2 power supplies, wood etc...)
The only problem I have is the occasional bottoming-out.

Hi Wes

Why did you not go for Nivomats and Nivomat springs as a solution. as used on the SRT8?

Zilla (in help mode)

 

[Gary C]

You might have melted the inner fender wheel with your tire, carefully run your hand at the top of the fenderwell on the inside, I replaced all four fenderwell inserts from running to low with my air ride.

 

[wesexcellence]

Hi Wes

Why did you not go for Nivomats and Nivomat springs as a solution. as used on the SRT8?

Zilla (in help mode)

I haven't heard of it...tell me more.

 

[jhelmuth]

I don't think that melting the wheel well (or tire) will cause the wheel to get really hot.

 

[goddardzilla]

Answer to Nivomat Load-levelling shocks question

I haven't heard of it...tell me more.

Sure glad to ......

Nivomats are a type of load-levelling shock absorber that compensate for added load in the rear of vehicles.

They have been OEM on Certain Volvo's, Jaguar XJs, Chrysler Voyager Minivans and others. They are standard equip. on the Magnum (same LX platform) with towing package, and on the SRT8

They must be fitted with the springs that they are packaged with - counter-intuatively the springs are lighter -rated than stock because unlike most other shocks Nivomats themselves support part of the load.

The only caveat - and this is just my opinion - that if your car is severely lowered because of the way Nivomats operate they may raise the rear of your car, I'd findout if the SRT8 (a factory lowered car) part #s are different from the Magnum units - if they are different I'd go with SRT8 units/SRT8 springs.

Chrysler's description of them for use on the rear of the 2006 Charger:
"This vehicle is available with either standard gascharged
shock absorbers or Nivomat™ load-leveling
shock absorbers for the rear suspension. Depending
on options, the load-leveling shock absorbers may
either be standard or optional equipment.
On the exterior, the load-leveling shock absorbers (1)
are larger in diameter than the standard shock absorbers.
Each load-leveling shock absorber is a self-leveling,
self-contained vehicle leveling system and shock
absorber combined. It does not require any external
compressor, hoses, or height leveling sensors. When
cargo or passengers are added, the load-leveling
shock absorbers use normal ride motions during driving,
even on smooth roads, to raise the rear of the
vehicle automatically to the unloaded (or curb) height.
When the load is removed, the vehicle maintains this
rear ride height."

Tech. paper
http://www.cadillacfaq.com/faq/answers/pdf/nivomat.pdf

Hope that helps, want to ask more I'll answer to best of ability

Zilla

 

[jaydee]

Thanks for the responses

It looks like I don't have that heating problem now- I can't say for sure what happened-- My tires/rims brakes etc are all stock- no changes there structurally.. The smell was not so much rubbery but there was a rubbery component to it. I haven't checked for tire wear- will do it tomorrow by the light of day ... I am just hoping it was nothing but a partially engaged emergency brake with no warning light to tell me of the condition.. As I find out more, I will post here- You guys are the greatest!!

jaydee

 

[wesexcellence]

Sure glad to ......

Nivomats are a type of load-levelling shock absorber that compensate for added load in the rear of vehicles.

They have been OEM on Certain Volvo's, Jaguar XJs, Chrysler Voyager Minivans and others. They are standard equip. on the Magnum (same LX platform) with towing package, and on the SRT8

They must be fitted with the springs that they are packaged with - counter-intuatively the springs are lighter -rated than stock because unlike most other shocks Nivomats themselves support part of the load.

The only caveat - and this is just my opinion - that if your car is severely lowered because of the way Nivomats operate they may raise the rear of your car, I'd findout if the SRT8 (a factory lowered car) part #s are different from the Magnum units - if they are different I'd go with SRT8 units/SRT8 springs.

Chrysler's description of them for use on the rear of the 2006 Charger:
"This vehicle is available with either standard gascharged
shock absorbers or Nivomat™ load-leveling
shock absorbers for the rear suspension. Depending
on options, the load-leveling shock absorbers may
either be standard or optional equipment.
On the exterior, the load-leveling shock absorbers (1)
are larger in diameter than the standard shock absorbers.
Each load-leveling shock absorber is a self-leveling,
self-contained vehicle leveling system and shock
absorber combined. It does not require any external
compressor, hoses, or height leveling sensors. When
cargo or passengers are added, the load-leveling
shock absorbers use normal ride motions during driving,
even on smooth roads, to raise the rear of the
vehicle automatically to the unloaded (or curb) height.
When the load is removed, the vehicle maintains this
rear ride height."

Tech. paper
http://www.cadillacfaq.com/faq/answers/pdf/nivomat.pdf

Hope that helps, want to ask more I'll answer to best of ability

Zilla

Where would I find them...Wychoff or a Dodge dealer? Or do I need a specialist? Thanks for the info. I'm tired of the scraping.

 

[goddardzilla]

Where would I find them...Wychoff or a Dodge dealer? Or do I need a specialist? Thanks for the info. I'm tired of the scraping.

Wes

Depends which ones you want to use if new SRT8, then yes try all the forum sponsor outlets, not cheap though. I haven't compared the SRT8 & Magnum Rt (with towing package) part #s ---so SRT8 may be the same part #s as Magnum

When checking prices I usually ask for the part #, this is to save the part's guy having to look it up again when I order. That way you can also verify whether SRT8 and Magnum versions are the same part or not from the part #s.

If you want the units from a Magnum --- seeing as all these cars are relatively low mileage --- I would look thro all the Magnum forums, LX Forums etc. (Google) and Ebay, for a good used set with springs, in their Buy/Sell section. Some guy with a Magnum towing package will be installing something like a full set of lowered springs/shocks and let the Nivomats go cheap.

Caveat: the units may raise the rear of your car away from the "lowered look"

One last thing I would pm our ResumeSpeed from Brampton - bringing attention to these postings, to asking if he has any advice which units to use, there's a guy who'll give you the straight goods.

ZIlla