So, I'm not sure if I should post this here, in the SS forum, or in the brakes forum, but this seemed most appropriate. As you may have guessed, I have an HHR SS (2009 auto) with a brake issue. I'm not sure if I have Brembo brakes. The brakes do not have any obvious markings for Brembo.
Oh and if anyone wonders, Yes I did do a search before posting. Didn't have much luck.

I purchased my SS nearly a year ago now and first noticed the issue a few months after purchasing it. When braking, there is a somewhat low pitched creak coming from the front brakes. It SEEMS to come from both but I know for sure it is coming from the drivers side. The length of the creak varies depending on the wheel speed and definitely sounds like it is being triggered with revolution. The creak does not happen when sitting still. The creak is not quite like the creak/squeak you'd hear from an old bed. It is more along the lines of the creak from an old wooden floor. The sound is loud enough that people turn heads when I'm braking in a parking lot. Interestingly, if I brake over maybe 60% (brake hard), the sound seems to stop. The pitch does vary some with it being a deep low sound at first and then getting a bit higher. CreeaaaaakkkkkkSqueak.

I got one of those free oil changes for buying my car at this particular dealership so I mentioned it when I took it in for an oil change. They "fixed" the issue for free and said that the calipers needed lubrication. Well, the issue came back a couple weeks later. Barely noticeable at first and then getting worse with time. The brakes don't seem as effective when the creaking is bad but that could just be me. Basically I'm wondering what could really be going on here and how I can permanently fix it. I would love to swap out the brakes altogether and get a big brake kit but that's not in my budget.

I also have a pop from the front end when going over large bumps or inclines, but that's probably unrelated and will need a new thread.

any help is appreciated

 

Welcome to the site.

What is the mileage on your SS? Is it possible that the brakes have been replaced by the previous owner? Sounds like either it just needs some maintence or cleaning up of the calipers. Or could need new pads.

Here's a picture of my Brembos(factory ones are a flat dark gray)
If you have an automatic transmission, Brembos were not an available factory option.

Which brakes do you have?

 

Sorry, I have 70K miles. I was not aware that auto didn't come with Brembo. Mine are a dark grey color but the calipers don't look anything like that. The tech at the dealership said that they cleaned everything up and then lubed it, but like I said that only lasted for a few weeks. Would pads really cause this sound? They don't appear thin and I haven't heard the typical squeal you get from low pads. Braking power seems adequate for the most part.

Now I want those brembos,

 

Yes pads can cause the sound. Cheap ceramic material will imbed into the rotor and at low speeds can be heard as the pad passes back over it.

 

With 70k miles it's most likely that the pads have been replaced. Question is, replaced with what kind. Just because they "don't appear thin", that isn't really relevent. If someone replaced them with cheap or incorrect type pads,that could be the source of the noise problem.
One of our members here, hyperv6, is really knowledgable on brakes. Maybe he will chime in and give you an opinion.

 

With out hearing it in person i would guess and say you rotors need to be machined or replaced.

 

Yeah if the issue persists I may try changing out the pads. It really doesn't sound like a metal on metal or even pad on rotor type of noise to me but I guess it's possible. The way the tech talked it sounded as if it was some sort of rubber component. The only thing rubber on the calipers I can think of that would move with the braking like that would be the rubber around the pin that connects the two sides of the caliper. I felt that rubber a few minutes ago and it did not seem to be brittle. I wouldn't think the issue would be with the rotor as there is not any pulsating, vibration, etc when braking; just the sound. To be honest, when I first heard the sound I thought it was coming from my suspension. I decided to go over some bumps without braking and shook the car around to get the suspension to flex and didn't hear the noise... and then the tech confirmed that it was not the suspension when they lubed up the calipers.

I was going to attempt to record the sound for you guys but the sound has magically disappeared for now. I can only attribute this to the cold weather in my area today, even though most sounds seem to get worse with the cold, lol. I'm certain it will come back.

 

lol fireman..your car parts are always so clean and shiny

 

you should make sure your lug nuts are snug too. just another guess

 

Check you Caliper pins and bracket. Make sure they move in and out freely. I had one stick and it made a creaking noise.