I've had my HHR since about 2007... I bought it used, 2006 Model... and since then it has ran with the same Brakes it had since I bought it.

They seem fine, and have been fine ever since I bought the car. I only drive maybe less then 10 miles a day to and from work, 5 days a week...

So anyway, the past couple months I've started to hear a feint whine, like a constant "squeeeeee" coming from the front wheels. Very feint and can be barely heard, and only does it when I'm just getting going and under 20 mph.... but once I apply my brakes, the sound goes away, or if I speed up it also either goes away or is just droned out by road noise...

SO.

Could this be brake pad indicators?

Lastly, does the HHR have wear indicators on the wheels themselves? As I know some cars do and so you don't have to buy new pads with them. Or if I have my brakes done, should I get pads with the indicators in the pads?

I'm shopping for the pads myself, so I get some decent ones rather then just the cheap knock off brands that the local shops slap on...

The only shops near me are Pep Boys, NAPA, and an NTB, , and I am also wondering if anyone knows if they charge per WHEEL, or per AXLE?

 

Could it be the brake pad indicators? It could - if you suspect it might be, you need to pull your wheel off and give the pads a visual - if you have non steel wheels you can likely check the pads for wear by looking at the back of the caliper thru the spokes of the wheel.

Not all pads come with the wear indicators and being you bought it used, who knows if the pads were changed or not - so it's hard to tell if they are installed or not.

The indicators just clip onto the pads, so some people may not put them on when doing brakes.

Re: one wheel or one axle: no self-respecting shop would charge per wheel - brakes are best (in my opinion required) replaced in pairs.

There are lots, and I mean LOTS of posts/threads here on what pads are found to work well with the HHR's, as well as some very clear instructions on how to replace them yourself. Just just the SEARCH TOOL at the top of the page for the info.

Be aware that most every shop will pretty much insist that when replacing the pads, that the calipers need to be rebuilt or replaced with new ones. That will drive the cost up considerably - and likely is overkill on their part (IMO).

Replacing the pads yourself is an easy easy job and will take <two hours if you take your time, but are handy with wrenches.

Obviously a typo, but no, the wheels do not have wear indicators.

 

Cool thanks.

Its been going on for a few months now but didn't do it as much through the Winter... guess I drove less through the winter too. But its started doing it again and now I got my Tax Return, I figure I ought to take my car in somewhere for a brake inspection... before... I go and blow $500 on a new video card for my computer!

But I wanted to have a better idea as to whether the squeee sound I'm hearing really could be the brakes so I have better information to tell the shop that I take the car too.

Will do a search here too, for the best pads for the HHR... we're planning a little road trip in the next month or so and if it is the brakes, then I want it done before then and done with the best pads I can budget...

Thanks for the info!

 

If it's been a couple of months, you are in the danger zone! While you are shopping look at rotors too, they most likely have been ruined

What you should tell the shop is "look at my brakes" or exactly what you described in the OP. And make sure your rear drums get adjusted and inspected.

 

Rotors are pretty much fine, I can inspect them myself with my current RIAX rims...

Of course, my personal inspection is no substitute for a professional mechanics, but from what I can tell there is no damage on them, neither on the front or the back side, no gouges or unusual markings, and they do not appear to be warped... though I'm sure a professional mechanic has ways to measure it down to the smallest fraction...

Either way, they appear fine...

But I'm still considering replacing them. I've done some searching here, and found that a lot of people favor EBC and Wagner pads, and there is an OReilly's Auto Parts right around the corner from where I live, in fact within walking distance and they sell the Wagner ThermoQuiet ceramics for around $62.99 per set.

If after the current brakes are inspected, and am told they need replacing, then I'll just go to that O'Reilly's and buy ThemroQuiets and maybe grab a set of these Rotors to go with them...

Then go find a shop that will install it all cheap...

Could probably do it myself, only I just don't have the time and I would rather it be done by someone who knows what they're doing with it, rather then doing it myself for the first time, and messing it up somehow...

Otherwise, who knows... the "squee" could be something entirely different!

 

I get nervous on brake shops ever since the wife got taken at a lex swabs shop for a full brake job on the front - pads, rotors and calipers, all due to a rock getting trapped behind the dust shield and causing a loud intermittent screech as it bounced around. The pads had just been replaced a week earlier, and the rotors were still 100%. She got ripped off for over $500 - she had asked them to check it out, and was waiting for the estimate.......... and got handed the $500+ bill. You want your vehicle back - then pay up!!!!

So buyer beware.

 

A friend of mine once got a complete "Guaranteed Forever" brake job at a M***s shop. A couple months later he had a problem and took it back without mentioning the guarantee, The estimate came back in the thousands for an entirely new brake system, everything bearings out front and rear. Then he showed them his guarantee, the estimate suddenly became "you just need a new set of pads".

 

Buyer beware indeed...

I just found the same Brake Pads, and a different but similar priced set of 2 Rotors, over at Advanced Auto and got a coupon from THIS website that gave me $40 off... so I could, get those same pads and two rotors for just about $100!

Tempted to just order it anyway and go have someone put them on...

But then if I still have that squee sound after that, not having the brakes inspected before hand... I'm gonna feel like a shmuck...

 

Take a look at Ebay.

If you can get a jack and jack stands and a small metric socket set. The job won't take more than an hour and a half including breaks to look at the Shop Manual. After you get the wheels off you only have 4 more bolts to go (six if want do it the hard way), no magic is involved, borrow a torque wrench and caliper compressor (could use a large C-clamp) from the local O'reilly/Advance/zone. Save another $200.

I think there is even a how-to with pics here, on Youtube for sure. It is a generic thing except for the torque specs.

 

I would love to do it myself... but it has to be done either tonight, or tomorrow...

I took it to the local Pep Boys for an "inspection" ... and interestingly, as I left my office this evening to drive over there, only just then did I start hearing that infamous "grinding" sound coming from the front right wheel... obviously contact with the rotor finally.

Got to pep boys and they inspected and confirmed, even let me have a look at it myself... and yea sure enough its metal on metal...

THEN, the dude tried to tell me I needed new Caliper's; something about a "pin" that was pushed out, and likely could not be pushed back in... trying to sell me on a pair of $74 calipers...

Basically, they're trying to sell me on a $600+ brake job... when I barely have more then $300 available right now.

No thank you!

I'll go to Advanced Auto, buy the pads and rotors for $140, get $40 off with my coupon and pay $100 total ... then go find someone who can put those on for far cheaper!

Their mechanic also tried to talk me out of buying Wagner ThermoQuiet Ceramic pads, claiming that they were "fake ceramic" or some such... I don't know about that, maybe they are, but I've read a lot of posts through the SEARCH function here on this Forum that tells me quite a few people have liked the Wagner pads....

The only others that seem highly recommended are the EBC andf Hawk, which are waaaay out of my current budget...