Brakes and rotors
06-15-2017, 11:34 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: 09-04-2012
Location: LI,NY
Posts: 170
i as well did the SS update, as described on the site, keeping my original calipers and
IM HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS!!!
no need for cross drilled rotors and i hear from people that have done the 4 wheel disc swap on other cars and they say it was NOT worth the money nor time. all it made was the job of changing pads easier the next time.
IM HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS!!!
no need for cross drilled rotors and i hear from people that have done the 4 wheel disc swap on other cars and they say it was NOT worth the money nor time. all it made was the job of changing pads easier the next time.
06-15-2017, 12:28 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: 09-16-2013
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 1,408
Besides, the rear drums can last the life of the car and then some. And contrary to popular belief, drum brakes are very effective at stopping a vehicle, even big rigs still have them!
06-15-2017, 02:37 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: 03-06-2010
Location: Ohio
Posts: 6,869
The rear drums on the HHR can last the life of the car because they really are not doing much of anything to stop the car. Even if properly adjusted, which has to be done manually because the "self-adjust" mechanism doesn't work for cr@p, they might be good for 10-15% of the stopping power of the system at best... Most HHR owners (non-enthusiasts) don't even adjust theirs so those people aren't even using the back brakes for anything. This is why there are so many "front brake judder/shakes/warped rotor" threads here on the forum and in reviews all over the internet. Basically the stock rear brakes are way undersized, in my opinion, but sized just enough to get the car road worthy in the US.
Yes, drum brakes can be effective at stopping a vehicle if sized for that vehicle properly and have adequate cooling, (most don't have proper cooling ) but disc brakes are a superior method in many cases. Which is why they are used by most manufacturers of automobiles these days.
(Ask me about trying to stop a '69 Pontiac 4 door from over 120 MPH if you really want my opinion of drum brake systems.)
As far as big rigs go... They have air brakes using drums and don't stop very well anyways. (Apples vs oranges... and a dancing pickle
)Trips over soapbox and mumbles something about going off topic.
.
10-25-2018, 02:23 PM
#14
Administrator
Join Date: 10-13-2011
Location: Welland,Ont Canada
Posts: 36,458
My 67 Plymouth Belvedere 383 auto stopped nice 11 X 3 inch police /taxi brakes, those drums were like tossing out an anchor, headed into turn 3 at Pinecrest Speedway on a warm summer Saturday night.
Disc brakes weren’t allowed in that class, late model , it was considered to exotic!
Disc brakes weren’t allowed in that class, late model , it was considered to exotic!
10-25-2018, 05:37 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: 08-26-2008
Location: Sequim Washington
Posts: 1,488
I would do the SS non Brembo switch in a Nano second except for the spare tire issue. I just had a flat tire the other day. Very Small nail.
Adding rear Discs would really be the way to go but it adds considerably to the effort and costs.
Really depends on how you drive and how much you want to spend.
In states where the Hiway speed limit is 70-75 the Stock HHR brakes fall Short.
Where I live the Hiway speed is 55-60mph so I get by Stock and manually adjust the rears..
I have 38,600 miles on my 2011 2LT with 50% left on the front Pads.
Silverfox.
Adding rear Discs would really be the way to go but it adds considerably to the effort and costs.
Really depends on how you drive and how much you want to spend.
In states where the Hiway speed limit is 70-75 the Stock HHR brakes fall Short.
Where I live the Hiway speed is 55-60mph so I get by Stock and manually adjust the rears..
I have 38,600 miles on my 2011 2LT with 50% left on the front Pads.
Silverfox.
11-02-2018, 05:50 PM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: 06-07-2011
Location: SE Mich
Posts: 2,180
Of course... none. I work for another OEM in Chassis, but this is completely unfounded. Not even close to the facts. So inaccurate that I had to speak up.
Do not attempt to spread false "facts" If your statement were true, it would never have been built.
Last edited by donbrew; 11-02-2018 at 05:54 PM. Reason: made less offensive
11-02-2018, 05:56 PM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: 06-07-2011
Location: SE Mich
Posts: 2,180
Strange, the larger front rotors, do address the problem, at least in my case! Perhaps it's the inferior brake pads used in the swap?
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/brak...ard-hhr-42938/
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/brak...ard-hhr-42938/
11-02-2018, 05:59 PM
#18
Platinum Member
Join Date: 04-09-2006
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 7,032
Offensive was a good choice of words there Donbrew. I almost deleted the whole post, but you beat me to it.
I guess what we also have to say is "please behave".
I guess what we also have to say is "please behave".
11-02-2018, 06:02 PM
#19
Platinum Member
Join Date: 04-09-2006
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 7,032
Well tis time to close this thread.
11-02-2018, 06:02 PM
#20
Technical Moderator
Join Date: 01-23-2009
Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia
Posts: 24,670
I never had any problem with stock brake in excess of 500,000 miles. My region is high speed AND high traffic. When I say stop and go I mean panic stop, sit for 60 seconds, go to 70 MPH, panic stop, repeat 60 times; it takes 2 hours to get 35 miles on the Interstate.