Chris,
 I have heard the rubber brake lines can fail internally, acting like a one way
valve. You can push fluid into the cylinder but it can't get back out on its
own, causing the pads to drag.
KenLewis

Quoting JordanVw@AOL.COM:

> so after driving my vanagon for a little bit today, i smelled this "burnt
> rubber" smell from the RF wheel area, not bad, barely noticible.. but i
> touched
> the alloy wheel and nearly got burned!!   it was sooooo hot..   what is the
> symptoms of a sticking caliper?  i dont hear any dragging...  but the brakes
> do
> suck on this van.....
>
> any ideas as to why that wheel would be so hot?
>
> chris
>