Heat and smell after motorway run

[Mobius1]

About a month ago I drove a friend back to his house and used the motorway. Roughly 10 mile journey each way. On the way back I noticed when the car was moving slowly on normal roads, or at a stop, there was a strong smell like burning. When I got back I popped the bonnet and couldn't see or smell anything untoward. It didn't happen again so I thought nothing of it - maybe I'd just pushed the engine a bit.

Last night I made the same journey and got the same smell. This time when I got back I acted quicker and have found that the smell comes from the front near side wheel arch. It was also very hot; you could feel heat radiating on your face from it from about 12 inches away from the o/s. I checked the other wheel arches and no smell or heat.

I don't often take my car on fast longer journeys. It's a 1.0 Micra 02 plate. I've looked at the tyres and can't see anything wrong. What might this be?

[tonyav]

Could be the brakes on that wheel, get the brake pads checked out as sounds like the pads are rubbing on the brake disc after you have taken your foot of the Brake pedal. This would generate heat.

[shoota]

Yup, sounds like a stuck caliper, I had exactly the same on a Mitsubishi Delica.

[Mobius1]

So it sounds like a brake problem then? I hadn't even thought of that.

Is it dangerous? I want to get it checked by a garage but I'm working until Friday. My normal journeys are only 5 miles each way but now I am a bit concerned if it's brake related.

[shoota]

It is best not to drive the car with the brakes like that but a short journey to a garage to get it fixed will be OK.
If the pads are binding they will eventually wear down if you carry on driving so the problem will appear less severe, but you can end up doing more damage to the rest of the mechanism.

[Mobius1]

Thanks for the answers guys. Very fast and very helpful.

[TWR]

If you are clued up with Mechanics, take the N/S/ Wheel off, put a Flat screwdriver between the piston & the disk, push the piston right back into the caliper, pump the brake & try spinning the wheel

[Graham-W]

Also could be a wheel bearing, but the garage will diagnose that as well.

[Mobius1]

Thanks TWR, sadly I am far from clued up when it comes to mechanical workings of cars. I only trust myself with the most basic of maintenance and checks.

I've booked it into the local garage I use, when I described the problem the first thing he said was 'the brake caliper might be sticking'. I'll leave it to them, they're usually really good and honest.