I've been trying to following the threads about adding the vacuum pump to help some of the breaking issues.
Where I get a little lost is in figuring out if the 2009 madels had the same issue, or if after a certain build date, Gm made the corrections. Having taken ownership of a 2009SS just a few days ago, is this an issue I need to press as a recll, TSB or what?

How do I know my vehicle needs this fix? when I picked the car up, it turned out that the same dealer sold the vehicle when new, and took it back in as a trade.. The vehicle history showed a change of shift linkage at about 1K miles no vacuum pump added. The service guy didn't know anything about it (so he claims)

Feel free to straighten me out here folks!

 

As far as I know its only early 08 autos. I had it done on mine and fixed, just took in the tsb #. But 09's don't have it from what I know.

 

thats what I hear as well but wonder why it wont spot when I pull it out of garage in the morning only time it does it

 

Do you have the Brembos? I've found that the rotors need a slight scub in if there is any rust on them.

 

nope they work great the rest of the time planning on putting red stuff pads on when I ever get down the list that far its just the roll out of the garage drive is a little down hill or I probably wouldn't have noticed.

 

All 08 Autos and early 09 Auto's need the pump. I forget the date but it was around Jan 09 and later the Vaccume pumps became standard equip on all new Auto SS.

If they changes shift linkage on your HHR I assume you have a standard and they are not in need of the pump.

If you do have a Auto just look down by the starter and there should be a vaccume pump there. If it is not there and you do have a Auto it needs to be installed.

 

I recommend the GREEN STUFF not the RED STUFF....the red is to harsh tore my rotors up on my civic... I got the green stuff on my SS works just fine

 

Getting back on topic, since this thread is NOT about the color of your brake pads............

The vehicle is question is an automatic, not a 5 speed. it has a build date of 10/16/08 on it according to the VIN number. Anybody got a picture of the pump they can post up so I know what I'm looking for?

I know this isn't it



Thanks in advance of of your efforts, Dave Buchholz Rochester NY.

 

Not all of them do it either.....have you ever experienced any brake pulsing,brakes not grabbing or any other abnormality after the first start up of the day and before the 1st 1-2 min of operation? If not then just monitor it and if you DO have any issues go back to dealer and tell them and they will install the TSB vacuum pump...what happens at start up is the turbo is slightly pressurized to get over initial startup, after about a minute the turbo settles down and vacuum starts being produced...you'll see this on the vacuum gage..at idle it will read about 8-10 and about a min or so later it wll drop to 20 vacuum, once it drops the brake booster will start working correctly.
As far as looks..you only have 3 external accessories on the motor..AC..alt and turbo......anything else would be the vacuum pump

 

No photo as it is where you just can't photo. It is silver and has a black braket bolted to the starter for support. Also near the top of the engine look for a 1/4 in black vaccume line. It will be spliced and going down to the pump in front of the starter.

The dealer only has to run the report on your vin and it will show if it was done. If it shows it is not done they should fix it. Just tell them upon start up i the AM it has no vaccume assist in the brakes. Look in the TSB section here has copy off the TSB and give it to them.

My dealer got the parts and had it installed in just a couple hours.

Note your SS should not have it factory with a early build. So if it was not installed by a dealer and shown in a report it needs it.

FYI as for EBC brakes EBC recomends the red for less dust. If you can mind a little dust the green are fine. Both are fine and I toss rotors and don't turn them anyways. They are there to use up. New ones are cheap if you don't fool with the fancy dimples.