New HHR owner here with a rear break question. 2008 LS with 60K

When i left my foot off of the break pedal I hear a quick squeak from the rear breaks. Do you think it is a spring drawing the shoes back. It makes me think somthing could use a drop of oil or greese but im not sure what or where. When I get some "free time" im gonna have to dig into it because it is driving me crazy.

Otherwise I love the HHR and this forum that has saved me alot of time and money. Thanks everone, Mike.

 

Welcome Mike..

 

Welcome to the forum....... I'd clean and adjust those back brakes and see if the noise continues.

 

to the forum Mike!

To echo Greybeard, clean and adjust the rear brakes, and only use an approved brake grease on the areas where the shoes slide on the backing plate. No other lubrication is needed, and never oil anything on your brakes, oil and brakes are like oil and water....they don't mix.

 

X 3, (see pic) the backing plates likely need a light thin smear of approved Hi-Temp grease. Only 4 points of contact per side.

This can be done with only removing the drums, 1st clean brakes & drum (as previously noted) then use a thin blade screwdriver to gently pry up each brake shoe, them use something thin (I use a feeler gauge) with a tad of grease on it...Wipe it on the backing plate where it contacts the shoe.

This is a case of more grease is NOT better.. once done adjust brakes properly,
reassemble & enjoy..

 

Thanks you for the replies and the pic Sleeper. I dont have a lot of rear break experience so this information means a lot to me. I will report back in the next few days with the results.

 

NorthernMike-

Use caution when cleaning the brake dust off. You can even use a spray water bottle (with water) to spray the brake dust off & into a pan under it..

Don't want to breathe any of the dust,..

Adjusting: I wind them up till they sprag lightly, then back off 1 click.

This also helps keep the front pads & rotors living longer..

 

AND KEEP YOUR LEFT FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE PEDAL!

I know, a sausage finger, but I can still hear my father teaching me to drive...

 

Maybe when I said that I didnt have a lot of rear break experience I should have said that I have NO rear break experience lol. What exactly and where am I gonna wind up. I feel like this is going to be one of those learning experiences. If this is covered in a sticky let me know and thanks for the dust tip, never thought about using water.

 

Here's a link to a video from Robinson's Auto Repair, its a "how to" on changing the rear brake shoes...hope this helps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm7Hg4sSqmY