What causes the burnt smell after driving a few hundred meters without releasing the handbrake?
3 Answers
Driving without releasing the handbrake causes a burnt smell because the unengaged handbrake accelerates wear on the brake discs and overheats the brake pads, making them harden. The handbrake cable may also stretch, reducing braking performance and producing the burnt odor. The hazards of driving without releasing the handbrake are as follows: Severe wear on the braking system: Forgetting to release the handbrake in an automatic transmission vehicle causes severe wear on the braking system. It can also rapidly increase the temperature of the automatic transmission fluid, leading to fluid degradation. Impact on the engine: Additionally, it leads to premature wear of the clutch plates inside the transmission. The faster the speed when driving without releasing the handbrake, the greater the damage to the braking components, and it may also cause some tire damage. In severe cases, it can even affect the engine.
This is quite common when driving. Having driven for over a decade, I've encountered many friends with similar experiences. If you drove a few hundred meters without releasing the handbrake, that burnt smell definitely indicates an issue with the rear wheel braking system. When the handbrake is engaged, the brake pads continuously rub against the brake drum or disc, much like two stones grinding against each other. This can generate extremely high temperatures in just a short time—a few hundred meters is enough to heat them up to several hundred degrees. The brake materials contain resin or rubber, which start to burn or melt when heated to their limits, producing that pungent odor. In severe cases, the brake pads might fuse to the drum, the drum could warp, or even the bearing system might get damaged, compromising braking safety. My advice is to stop immediately if you smell it, let the car cool for an hour, and then inspect it. If the brakes feel off, head straight to a repair shop for a thorough check to avoid bigger problems down the road.
I had a personal experience: when I first bought my new car, I was so excited that I forgot to release the handbrake and drove for almost a kilometer. A strong burning smell suddenly filled the air. The reason was that the handbrake acts on the rear wheels, causing the brake pads to tightly press against them. As the wheels turned, the friction generated continuous heat. The high temperature of several hundred degrees burned the polymer material in the brakes, producing that burnt smell. This process can damage the brake linings and drum surfaces, reducing braking efficiency. Driving a few hundred meters is still relatively short, but if not addressed promptly, going further could lead to brake failure. Afterward, I parked the car to let it cool down, used a wet cloth to wipe the wheel hubs to lower the temperature, and then took it to a professional shop for inspection, where some worn parts were replaced. Since then, I’ve made it a habit to check the handbrake position before every start to avoid trouble.