Smell during hard right cornering

White95Max · 08-01-06, 08:09

I've got this nasty smell that presents itself whenever I take a hard right curve/corner at high RPMs. It smells like something hot/burning. It's only happened when I'm turning RIGHT. 4 possibilities came to mind (what could be getting hot enough to cause a smell in the cabin?):
Low oil level or old oil (oil level was fine this morning after cooling overnight. Currently has about 2600 miles on it and looks fine).
Coolant low? (Coolant level was fine this morning also).
Belt getting old/worn, slipping. (Belt has no signs of cracking or other damage. Seems fine.)
Wheel bearing. This is the only one that still seems a possibility. I'd assume that it's the front left bearing if any, because that would take the majority of the cornering force on a hard right turn, correct? And even more stress would be put on the bearing if I'm accelerating hard out of the corner in a low gear.
I drove for about 20 seconds this morning at 4000RPM, to see if the high RPM is behind the smell. I did not smell anything. I took several LEFT curves/turns at high speed and low gear...no smell.

Any ideas other than the wheel bearing? Does the bearing idea sound correct?

I might be driving to Oregon next week, so I would like to solve this mystery before I take a long-distance road trip.

Thanks for any help.

Setec Astronomy · 08-01-06, 08:20

Nothing is rubbing? Tire against some of your new suspension components? Nothing spilling out of a reservoir--coolant overflow tank, etc?

Danase · 08-01-06, 08:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by White95Max

I've got this nasty smell that presents itself whenever I take a hard right curve/corner at high RPMs. It smells like something hot/burning. It's only happened when I'm turning RIGHT. 4 possibilities came to mind (what could be getting hot enough to cause a smell in the cabin?):
Low oil level or old oil (oil level was fine this morning after cooling overnight. Currently has about 2600 miles on it and looks fine).
Coolant low? (Coolant level was fine this morning also).
Belt getting old/worn, slipping. (Belt has no signs of cracking or other damage. Seems fine.)
Wheel bearing. This is the only one that still seems a possibility. I'd assume that it's the front left bearing if any, because that would take the majority of the cornering force on a hard right turn, correct? And even more stress would be put on the bearing if I'm accelerating hard out of the corner in a low gear.
I drove for about 20 seconds this morning at 4000RPM, to see if the high RPM is behind the smell. I did not smell anything. I took several LEFT curves/turns at high speed and low gear...no smell.

Any ideas other than the wheel bearing? Does the bearing idea sound correct?

I might be driving to Oregon next week, so I would like to solve this mystery before I take a long-distance road trip.

Thanks for any help.

I don't think any of those would cause a burning smell at hard right cornering. Could it be something rubbing? Maybe a worn suspension part is causing something to rub?

rjstaaf · 08-01-06, 08:49

I wouldn't expect any smell from a bad wheel bearing. Assuming nothing is rubbing in the suspension, have you checked the power steering? Open the power steering fluid resevoir and check for a similar odor. Could the drive belt tensioner be worn letting the belt slip? Is the back of the belt glazed, that would be an indication of slipping?

White95Max · 08-01-06, 10:29

It just didn't seem like a rubber smell, so I didn't think to check tire rubbing. But I will check on that when I get home this afternoon. I also thought about taking a hard right corner on the way home (I've got a particularly fun one in mind

) and then pulling over on a sidestreet to smell various areas on the car.

As far as the power steering goes, I've done a partial fluid change several times (until the fluid remained pink/red) so I don't think the fluid would be bad. I will check the fluid levels right away when I get home to see if any are possibly overflowing. I'm just not sure that any fluids are to blame, because the smell only presents itself during right cornering, not left.

That's why I thought maybe it had to do with the front left wheel. That does leave the possibility of something rubbing on or near the front wheel though. hmm

dmxsoulja3 · 08-01-06, 04:02

I'm assuming you checked to make sure your axle boots to make sure they aren't split open? If something is up with the axle the grease could smell also may want to check your tranny fluid that usually smells like complete junk when it gets hot. Just some suggestions.

truzoom · 08-01-06, 05:08

Maybe one of your calipers is stuck?

I remember once driving home with the E-brake on and the smell will never leave my memory.

White95Max · 08-01-06, 06:00

I will check the tranny fluid tomorrow morning after it cools overnight, and I'll take a look at the boots when I get home in a little bit. Still at work

Cliff Frazier · 08-01-06, 06:50

How long has this been happening? I'd think that you would hear a bad wheel bearing long before it got hot enough to make stuff smell. Likewise, my first guess would be that other "rubbing" explanations would be making some noise, also.

What about header or exhaust parts touching something during a hard right? Are engine mounts and exhaust hangers ok, and heat shields secure?

Another possibility is leaking fluids landing on something hot. You've checked oil and coolant; what about windwhield washer fluid?

Setec Astronomy · 08-01-06, 07:47

As far as the fluid theory and direction of turn, the liquids will slosh to opposite ends of the reservoirs, so might come out one direction while not the other. I'm still voting for something rubbing, like your new suspension bits...although Cliff makes some good points about loose stuff, broken mounts, etc.

Black240SX · 08-01-06, 09:43

Transmission fluid is a possibility, as it is normally a bit smelly. Check that the rubber seal around the gearshift is not damaged.

White95Max · 08-02-06, 06:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cliff Frazier

How long has this been happening? I'd think that you would hear a bad wheel bearing long before it got hot enough to make stuff smell. Likewise, my first guess would be that other "rubbing" explanations would be making some noise, also.

What about header or exhaust parts touching something during a hard right? Are engine mounts and exhaust hangers ok, and heat shields secure?

Another possibility is leaking fluids landing on something hot. You've checked oil and coolant; what about windwhield washer fluid?

I first noticed this a few weeks ago.
Back in May, I had my wheel bearings checked, and the front right one replaced. The other bearings were said to be fine. My car does make an audible humming sound while driving, but the mechanic was confident that it was the performance tires making that sound, not a wheel bearing.

Exhaust parts touching...that's a possibility I guess. I'll take a look at the exhaust as well.
Windshield washer fluid...my fluid reservoir is well below full, so there's no way it would be sloshing over the edge. I can't even see where the fluid level is. I know that I have at least 1/2gal in there, but most of the reservoir is hidden below the engine compartment.

Oh yeah, I checked the axle/CV boots last night, and they all look fine. No cracks, no grease on them or in the wheelwells. I clean and condition them with 1Z Tiefenfleger every time I swap my wheels, so I didn't expect them to be damaged. They stay pretty soft and flexible when you condition them.