ONELON : "I understand you know that the friction between the pads and the drums will wear the pads down and free the wheels after driving it a few miles." yes it will - and you will end up with overheated drums, possibly warping them if not catching something on fire.

If it is true that your mechanic said: " As far as tightening the brakes too much, he says it's fine. As long as you can move the wheel with your hands they're good. " - then you really need to find another mechanic.

I'm out of this one.

 

sounds like that action would make the brakes a tad bit tooooo tight. and, shoes, not pads....

 

Looks like this thread got a little out of control....

Anyway, I got home after school and hoisted the car up. The rear wheels gave me a good 8 or 10 spins, both sides. Apparently the measurement of "too much" or "too tight" varies a between individuals...

 

8 to 10 spins it a bit much, it should be 3 or 4!

 

One of the parts of the procedure that is often forgotten is the centering of the shoes.

After you think you got them adjusted you step on the brake pedal to center the shoes, then check the adjustment again. Usually they will be looser then.

 

I can live with that. Before working on the brakes it would give infinite spins.

 

I did do it. I stepped on the breaks to center them like the video shows. The I spinned the wheels and got 8 spins

 

I think it is safe to say that the rear brake system on the HHR is poo. I have stopped bothering to adjust mine about 50,000 miles ago and have had no problems stopping at all. Even when properly adjusted the just dont add much to the system.

 

But... poorly adjusted they make the fronts do more than they are designed for=failure.

The number one cause of "warped" rotors.

 

And rear end collisions!! Those rear brakes need to be adjusted correctly!!
The rear brake design isn't poo!!! It's the auto adjust mechanism not set or lubricated correctly!!