I dont even know if this is a question as I'm really just looking for opinions and people to listen to me think here.

I was out driving it really hard trying to diagnose my clutch problems. I was also braking really hard the whole time. Many 100+mph down to 55 mph speed limit braking etc.

When I pulled into my driveway there was smoke coming from my back drivers side rotor/pad, but it didn't smell like pad, it smelled like burning oil. So I'm assuming I have a brake fluid leak somewhere that I'll have to track down. I've never smelled burned brake fluid though so I'm not sure. I suppose it could have been all the rust and dirt burning off as I was driving it last time in some heavy rain and puddles.

There was also a hissing sound like leaking air coming from the passenger rear wheel. I thought I had run over something and had a tire leak, but it seemed to slow down a lot and stop when the brakes cooled down a little. Still might be a tire leak though, I'll check it later. Any other ideas on this one? All front seemed to be fine.

 

Wow that is a tough one, you may have cooked the brake fuid with all the hight speed stops. Is there any visible evidence of fluid leaking anywhere? Also, check the slave to make sure it is not low or even empty.

 

No, there are no visible leaks in the line or fittings. That doesn't discount the possibility of a leak through the caliper piston seal. As far as smoke, I don't think I'm cooking fluid, even though I was doing so much high speed braking, I would hope the car could take a lot more than what I gave it before I'd have problems. I'm thinking whatever leak I have is dripping onto the hot rotor and burning up.

Though as far as that hissing sound, it's definately not the tire. I went out to check it this morning and pressure was fine. I have no idea what that could have been.

Edit: I was not getting any brake fade and there was no mushy feeling in the pedel at all. Also when people do brake upgrades to the LS1 style or better, do they do anything with the rears?

 

The worst problem you will encounter with the LS-1 front brake upgrade is if you use the factory rotors, they tend to warp easily, which is why many people like myself prefer to upgrade to a cross drilled and vented rotor. As for the rear, I am not 100% but I blieve the LS-1 rear calipers are PBR calipers and I know are aluminum which dissapate heat better than the stock LT-1 caliper. Also the LT-1 rear end has the rear caliper facing the rear of the car, whereas the LS-1 faces the front. I think the rotors are the same size on the rear, but agai, I think someone more qualified will chime in and confirm; I am more a paint and body guy that knows just enough to get by with the mechanics of the car.