My girlfriend has a car with a problem, or a problem with a car, I don't know, it's more of a problem than a car I don't touch Cavis or Sunfires, I'm an A-body fan myself, and I drive a 1987 Cutlass Ciera. anyways!!
Ok so the specs 2000 Cavalier, 2200, auto 4spd, approx 173000kms, ABS.
So she has had this problem ever since she bought it and recently it has gotten really really bad. So it has to do with the rear brakes. The first time you drive the car after it's been sitting for awhile, if ever you touch the brakes, even the lightest pressure, they will lock up and screech, and heads turn and it's very embarrasing for Lindsey. It's also very annoying. So if you drive the car for awhile this problem eventually calms down and what you get it a "chug chug chug.." feeling when you apply the brakes. Sorta what feels like a high spot on the drum, which could very well be. So now that you know the syndrom, lets talk about the parts replaced. Everything has been replaced. And when I mean everything I mean every F***ing thing! Except for one last part. The Brake Control Module. The whole rear axle assembly has been rebuilt with new parts, and she had the Master Cylinder replaced from a used part and it was a working part. We're both wondering, and her mechanic too, what another problem might be. Becasue as soon as any little work is done to her car, it's 250% better than it was, but as the days progress on, the problem comes back until it's as worse as always or worse than before

Thanks, Chris

Rear drum brakes on those cars are notorious for rusting up overnight and causing that problem. Usually just a few mid-speed brake applications cure it until the next morning. Yours sounds a little more extreme than usual but not uncommon. The "thump, thump, thump could be caused by the rust issue and also can be caused by drums that are kinda tapered outside-to-inside and cause the shoes to suck in toward the backing plate and then snap back out. Hate to say it, but usually you just have to live with it.

i had 100k on my car before I did the rear disc swap.

never had it, but I have seen this before many times.

1, make sure the rear brakes are adjusted properly.
2, make sure the drums are true, get them cut or replaced
3, make sure your rear brakes are in good condition, that there are no sharp edges on the shoes, and no leaking from the WC, also that the adjuster is turning freely.
4, make sure all openings in the backing plate have a plug, otherwise moisture will come in and cause the drums to rust.

Just have her reset the back brakes by going in reverse and stopping twice before she takes off driving after it has been sitting for however long it takes this to happen. That's what I do sometimes, though my brakes haven't acted a fool lately.

Also, were the rear drums turned, or replaced? I'd replace them if they were turned, with top of the line drums, lifetime warranty ones.

Give her an attitude adjustment also, having a car is better than walking, very embrassing... puhlease.

KFLO wrote:Just have her reset the back brakes by going in reverse and stopping twice before she takes off driving after it has been sitting for however long it takes this to happen. That's what I do sometimes, though my brakes haven't acted a fool lately.

Also, were the rear drums turned, or replaced? I'd replace them if they were turned, with top of the line drums, lifetime warranty ones.

Give her an attitude adjustment also, having a car is better than walking, very embrassing... puhlease.

I'll have her try the reset trick, also the drums have been replaced time and time again.
Attitude adjustment. Her attitude is fine, and sure having a car is better than walking but having a car that won't stop at a red light, or a car which might endanger the life of the passenger or other people has nothing to do with attitude problems. If she could afford to trade the car or if she could afford to buy another car she would do so. But she recently graduated and she's working full time to pay off student loan and at this moment, trying to keep her car on the road. So thanks for the help, and the next time your car does something which it's not supposed to do, or something that embarasses you, remember the advice you gave me.
Chris

how long is the car sitting and is she using the parking brake when it's parked?

strat81 wrote:how long is the car sitting and is she using the parking brake when it's parked?

The car sits for about 12 hours max. It could sit for shorter periods of time, or longer periods of time and still do it. Most times she's not parking on a slope so she doesn't use the parking brake.

does it have one of these??-(really 2 )- /// -- a gm part --- Residual Pressure Valve

Where am I'm going to find one of those?

should be just in front of the dr rear wheel on the brake line/ frame rail

well my friends moms does it regardless and it locks both up and gets hairy when u need to panic stop she has flat spots in tires and all new brakes hardware and wheel cylinders and i am thinking its e brake cables

sounds like your freinds mom needs to find a new shop to do her brakes.....

Chris Ritcey-Conrad wrote:
Attitude adjustment. Her attitude is fine, and sure having a car is better than walking but having a car that won't stop at a red light, or a car which might endanger the life of the passenger or other people has nothing to do with attitude problems. If she could afford to trade the car or if she could afford to buy another car she would do so. But she recently graduated and she's working full time to pay off student loan and at this moment, trying to keep her car on the road. So thanks for the help, and the next time your car does something which it's not supposed to do, or something that embarasses you, remember the advice you gave me.
Chris

Dually noted... though my cars don't embarrasses me, not even the $50 cars I used to drive in the winter got me down. But I will remember the guilt trip you tried to send me on because I tried to make a joke. Thanks there puritan.