Hey guys, got kind of a strange situation, hoping someone can help. Recently replaced my rear brake pads and rotors on both sides. Everything was fine a few days, and then this vibration started in the rear (don't feel it much in the actual steering wheel). Autozone had actually sold me the rotors and pads for the 17" wheels instead of the 18" and the pads had significant wear where the pad was in contact with the rotor, with a small area that had no wear from no contact. They let me return them for the correct size, which I installed Thursday. Car was driving fine, drove it 2 hours home for Christmas, 2 hours back.

On the way to work today, the same vibration started back. It seems to always start when I am going up the incline of a bridge on my commute. It's a gradual vibration coming from the rear that gets worse as I climb. When i'm on the decline, and then on flat grand afterwards, there's this vibration coming from the rear. I don't feel it much in the wheel itself, but the cabin of the car shakes. When I get to work, there's a strange smell that's coming from the wheels, like almost a burning clutch smell. I'm not overly knowledgeable about this stuff so hoping for a little guidance in trouble shooting. Could it possibly be a bad bearing, or a caliper being stuck? What would be the best way to diagnose these?

Thanks very much for the help.

 

I would look at rear brakes. If there dragging vibration and odor would occur. Feel rear wheels for heat it one is hotter than the other I would look there first. Make sure lug nuts and are correctly tightened.