brake question
 

noticed a grinding the other day. couldnt check the front brakes until today. the rain let up for a bit. WOO HOO!!!

well took off the passenger side and all was well, plenty of meat on the pads.

took off the drivers side and noticed the inside pad is well paper thin. also saw that the piece that the 9/16 bolt goes into that slides well doesnt slide. tried hitting it to free it. nothing it just spins. any suggestions??

THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!

a picture would be a big help. & always check the inner pads, for what you found.



Have you been adjusting the rear brakes, I do every oil change, since the self-adjusters don't work. & if the fronts are doing all the work, that's not good. Need all working as a team.

Sleeper,

What procedure do you follow to adjust your rears.

I have never had the rear drums off to see what's inside and wondered if there are one or two adjusters on each side. I assume you just pop off the rubber covers and use a brake spoon or flat head screw driver or custom tool.
I have had Chevrolet do it but do not pay that much attention since I have adjusted hundreds of brakes over the many years on cars, trucks, and Marine trailers.

Silverfox....

That's right , one adjuster at the top, the direction of turning depends on year.

thanks, but my rear is adjusted. LOL

seriously tho, my issue is on the drivers side front clamshell that holds the caliper. the sliders. one does not go in and out it just spins, not freely tho.

my inner pad on that side is real thin the outer is fine.

i am having trouble posting pics from photobucket.

Don's got a link above your post. How to post pictures.

Why use photobucket when you can post directly here on this site.

Photobucket changed it's TOS many months ago.

The easiest thing to do is get a rebuilt caliper with the bracket.

Are you talking about this part ?

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...fefe3b8497.jpg

Hey man, those are my brakes! They don’t gleam like that anymore! You should’ve able to pull the pins out and clean them and lube them with brake slide.

SF- It's simple really, each side you just put in the brake spoon & pull down on spoon on the star on the adjuster, that expands the shoes, I do that till I hear the slightest sprag & stop.

I never remove the wheels or drums, unless for a clean out & inspection. But the pic of my left rear brake is to show the workings inside.



Used to be the adjusters were on the bottom. HHR has em on top. Hope this helps buddy.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...63fa69ecc9.jpg

That is from a 2006-2008. Sometime in 2009 they changed to the "America" system.

I'd like to see a pic of the newer version you described Don.

Sleeper,

Thanks for that.

I always used to start the vehicle and press down on the brake pedal firmly a couple times before starting the adjustment so as to center the linings into to the drum. That was mostly on older vehicles so it might not apply now.
I guess on the HHR you could also do it by pulling the emergency brake lever tight and then release instead.

SF

YES CATMAN THATS THE PART!!!

The pins just pull out?? hmm i may have a problem then. i tried to pull on them and nothing.

i will try again when this rain lets up a bit.

man i was always taught april showers bring may flowers.... i think the months have realigned!!!

THANK YOU!!!!

and May showers bring MUD... :corny:

After you remove the lower bolt the entire frame should slide off the upper pin.
This is the correct way to replace pads.


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...deee0b7f5d.png

Rotate it upward using the top pin as the fulcrum.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...3b285da827.png

After it is clear of obstacles and hose disconnected it slides off.

Or, if you can remove both bolts the frame should pull off the pins, the bolt goes into a threaded end of the pins. I can't find a good pic.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...b399ff7fae.png


A "semi-loaded" caliper will include the bracket.

This is the other kind of rear brakes.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...347adfe361.png

SF- Yes, I agree yanking the E-brake & releasing it prior to adjust would center the shoes. Good point.



Don- the only obvious difference 'looks to be' the retaining springs, like we all grew up having. The adjuster still appears to be in same upper location, if my eyes are not playing tricks on me.

I don't think GM would change the adjustment location to the bottom, do you ?



https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...347adfe361.png

No, but the adjuster turns the opposite direction.

OK Don, Thanks, learned something new then.

THANKS FOR THE PICS!!

but does the slider just pull out or is it screwed out OR do i need to get a new clamshell (bracket) with the sliders already in?

The bolt goes through the caliper and screws into the end of the pin which is in hole in the bracket. The slider is #1 in the pic.

You description of the damage is unclear.


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...780021be93.png

well i got it out today.

last time that i did brakes in this, i used anti-seize on the slide pins. i guess that was what i did wrong. this is the pin that has a grommet on it, and was keeping the brake compressed due to the anti-seize solidifying. i got the slide pin out and the grommet out of the bracket. well im gonna clean them up and use the 'proper' grease this time.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE INPUT!!!!!!

Always replace the stainless brackets that help hold the pads in. They should also be lubricated with Never Seize, as well as the back of the pads where the piston or caliper makes contact. Use as little as possible, and don't get any on the pads or rotor. The pins shown in the photo by donbrew need to be cleaned and lubricated also, or the pad may not release and wear out.

There is brake grease made for the purpose.

My personal experience with adding either glue or lube on the back of the pads is it doesn't make a bit of difference, as long as the shims are installed correctly. All of those "back of the pad" preps are supposed to be anti-squeal; I have never had squealing. I have even experimented with tossing the shims out with no squeal.

Do Not use never seize on the brake pad lube points, it can’t handle the heat!
Use a silicone grease brake line designed for the specific application


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...d8df637352.png