Mine do, and this will be the 4th time I've taken it in for the same issue. I only have 15k miles on the car, but about every 3k-4k miles, the rear shoes start squeaking during light braking (which is everytime, since all braking starts with putting your foot on the brake). I'm about fed up with it.
Considering invoking the Lemon Law, but don't want to. Why did they cheap out and use drum brakes, when disc brakes are the preferred system, and have been for decades!? Cheapos! I live 1/2 mile off of a gravel road, so it could be the dust from the road. But, that's no excuse in my book. My 95K mile truck doesn't squeak; nor does the 124k mile CR-V, or the 113k Corvette. They replaced the drums, shoes, backing plates the last time, so I'm not holding much hope out for a fix from them. Geez....

 

No squeaks here (yet) but do agree about that they should have put discs on the rear. From a supplier cost basis it can't have made that much difference in expense to uses discs instead of drums.

 

Only when I drive over something that squeals, like the neighbor's 42 pound obnoxious cat. And there is no truth to the rumor that I aim for it when I am coming down the sidewalk...ah...street.

I love my HHR.

 

33K and not one squeak or squeal.

 

5400 miles, no squeaks,squeals,rattles,thumps,or whistles.

 

Too many people equate standard with free. All standard really means is a lack of choice. Drum brakes work well for many applications. I like having a choice and if I want to pay extra to get discs, I have that as an available option, which is what I like to have. Choice is good. Want discs? Get them!!!!!

 

I disagree. That's like saying VHS works well, while in reality DVD is 1000x better. Disc brakes aren't susceptable to as many problems as drum brakes. Try stopping a car that has 4 drum brakes, after you've driven through standing water - you won't stop - I know - I did it a long time ago. Disc brakes are safer - they are more effective at stopping. If they weren't, we would have all-drum cars.

As far as choice goes, my '07 did not have any 4-wheel disc brake option when I bought it. Had it been available, I would have gladly paid to have them, knowing what I know now.

I think if your HHR squeaked EVERY time you stopped, you'd understand my point of view better. Disc brakes can squeak, but in my case, it's the out-dated drum brakes that are squeaking.

 

There are parts of the country that see no real advantage in discs. When GM made them standard on just about everything a few years ago, they saw sales drop in those areas. Offering discs as an option lowers base price and in GM's case, brought some lost sales back. Drum brakes for the rear should work fine w/o noise. There is obviously a problem and I believe it might not just be that drum brakes are used in the rear.

 

[QUOTE=Danko;287271]There are parts of the country that see no real advantage in discs.

??? Stopping 5 or 10 feet quicker isn't an advantage, for instance, when someone pulls in front of you? Seems like that's universal, not area specific.

When GM made them standard on just about everything a few years ago, they saw sales drop in those areas.

Okay, you've got to elaborate on that statement. Why did/would they drop? Where? How much?

Offering discs as an option lowers base price and in GM's case, brought some lost sales back.

Does it really? When you have to have a supplier supply you with shoes and pads, instead of just pads, and along with that, calipers and other similar hardware? If that's GM's thinking, then perhaps they need to review their real accounting costs. And who exactly held out for drum brakes, or a car that was $200 cheaper? C'mon!

Drum brakes for the rear should work fine w/o noise. There is obviously a problem and I believe it might not just be that drum brakes are used in the rear.

"Fine" is a relative term, like "well", or "adequate". Brakes are perhaps the most important safety item on a car. So why skimp on them? A disc brake will always outperform a drum brake - always. If they didn't my 1970 Corvette wouldn't have 4 wheel discs, nor would the 2008 Corvettes. That's like having an airbag from 10 years ago, because it's "fine". Compared to today's airbags, I wouldn't consider it fine. We'll just disagree on this and that's cool. In the meantime, I get to go to the dealership for the fourth time. Thanks GM.