Hi!
I have a 01 Cavalier and just did a brake job on it last week. I replaced the shoes and the drums, along with all new hardware (springs).
It seems like I have a small problem though. There's a noise that comes from the rear of the car now when it's coming to a stop. It's kind of like a "click click click". It's not very fast, just maybe one click a second until the car comes to a halt. The harder you brake, the louder the click.
I took the drums off to take a look, and I couldn't see anything strange or abnormal. The only thing that I did not do was apply the grease (white lithium) to it. I used some all purpose general grease on the little adjuster spindle thing where the threads are. But that's really about it.
I'm going to pickup some grease later today and redo it. I'm thinking you apply the grease to the back plate where the shoes touch it, but if there's anywhere else, let me know.
If anybody has any ideas on why there's a clicking noise, please help me out!!!
thanks in advance
I also forgot to say that when I jack up the car, I can freely spin both rear wheels. The passenger side rear rubs a bit, but the driver side doesn't rub at all.
i have that on my wifes car, what did you figure out was the problem???
You should go back and recheck your work, possibly the pin that mounts the shoe to the backing plate has dislodged causing it to move around.
There should be two different tension springs for the mounting pins, the low tension one will go on the shoe that is to the front and has the self adjuster arm attached to it, the higher tension spring to the rear shoe. Also smaller shoe to front longer to the rear.
Both drums should rub slightly and be even as possible (reference how the front brakes rub when turning by hand)
Sounds to me brake shoes aren't aligned properly, Just depress the both shoes evenly. See if the drum fits on aligned.
I had the same problem with the rear drivers side. I just re aligned them no noise. Also u might want to use the anti seize compound on the brake plate where the brake shoes points come in contact.
good Luck.
I have had this issue on every J body I've ever owned, except for one. Never figured out the problem, and drives me insane.
So, now, my 03 is doing this too, also on the rear driver's side.
To fix it, put anti-seize on the backing plates where the shoes contact the drums? On previous J's, I've replaced the drums, the shoes and the hardware, but never got the noise to go away. So it must be related to the shoe alignment. How do you properly align the shoes? I must have never gotten them perfect.
Mine used to do it. It went away for the most part now.
Check over all your work, new drums are sometime warped a bit, the shoes might not have set in right. Its prolly a simple fix.
Fireboy153
Brady Fire Co. - Station 150
Long Live The Sunflower! (yea its not so "cool")
I concur with Sunfiretun3r that it is a very common problem with J body drum brakes. Every cav I ever had made some noise at one time or another to varying degrees. I have minimized the problem by buying new Acdelco drums and brakes instead of the crap Autozone sells. Not the cheapest solution but rear brakes last forever. If your getting 1 yr warrenty drums from autozone or pepboys thats probally part of the issue. Just my opinion from to many 'do-overs' with Jbody drum brakes. Good luck!
