Rear Brake Question after drum and shoe replacement
 

The 2006 HHR now has a noise under braking. I have traced it down to the shoes moving under braking.

They make a clunk clunk clunk under braking, but only under moderate to heavy braking, under light braking they seem fine. Has anyone else dealt with the same problem?

Thanks
RustyNCA

I am not questioning your abilities....I would take them apart and inspect them. Sounds like they werent put back together right..post a picture up hear, maybe we can help.

Welcome to the forum by the way!

There is a picture of what they look like in this thread

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/problems-service-repairs-42/2009-hhr-rear-brakes-44971/

X2. Or just not adjusted tight enough.

That "universal spring" is a bear to get right and they can break.

No problem, I learned early, only take apart one side at a time.... at least with drum brakes. So, I think I got them back together right. It was mentioned to make sure they are adjusted tight enough? I assumed they were self adjusting so I didn't spend much time on setting them tight. I know I spend lots of time doing that on our 29 Coupe, but well, nothing on it does anything by itself...

Cheers and thanks, I will see if I have time to pull one side off this weekend. I have to demolish one section of our fence for the fence guys to replace, help a friend fix his honda, and get our hotrods ready for a bunch of car shows next week......

Cheers and thanks for help

RustyNCA

Uh, self adjusting works AFTER they are initially adjusted correctly, sometimes.

Guess I've gotten lucky on the other cars, they've never made noise, and the rear brakes don't do much. Only one I've spent time adjusting is this beast, well, because for obvious reasons, I knew for sure I had to adjust them... :cool:


Attachment 23418
Attachment 23419

I am currently battling with my rear brakes. I just did a complete overhaul, and have adjusted them twice but, it seems like the rears are doing nothing at all.

The "correct" way to adjust the drum brakes is to measure the ID of the drum, then set the OD of the shoes to .030" less than the drum ID. Then put the drum on and drive off. There is a tool made for this for about $50 J 21177-A + a .030" shim/gauge.

Those pics look suspiciously like the set of a "rehab" TV show?

Welcome to the site

That may work with newer drums, but I still have the original ones that have formed a ridge that prevents them from being removed/installed with the brakes properly adjusted.
I use the old tried and true method of adjusting with the drums installed, using a brake tool through the oval hole in the backing plate. I give it a few clicks until I feel the brake shoes dragging just slightly as I turn the drum.

Welcome to the site :smile: did you have the drums turned? If so they may have cut them at the wrong speed.

I had that happen a few times. When the drum are cut too fast it make the cut like a record. As you apply the brakes the drum pulls the shoe away from the baking plate then the shoes snap back.

Most of the time it's only one side that makes noise because the other side will push the shoes toward the baking plate.

If this is your problem get them both redone.

No, I bought new drums, cleaned all the oil they used to keep them from rusting off, painted the outside flat black and installed them. I have thought about pulling the drums and having a friend turn them for me.

I wish, no just my backyard, but it probably does need some rehab. :D

Attachment 23415
Attachment 23416

You seem to have more then enough experience dealing with this stuff. I just find that the HHR has a lot of weird little idiosyncrasies that have scratching my head.

I just did the rear drums on my wife's '06 LT. Had the drums turned and replaced all of the hardware with the change. I don't have the clunk but I had to back the adjusters out a lot more then I expected to get the rear brakes to do anything. Once that was done everything is good.

Nice shop and ride's by the way. That Rod is sweet.