Brakes Question

do you use your parking brake at all? if so how often?

 

I know the brakes tend to get a little rust on them since they aren't used much... could this be causing it? (not a brake expert, just wild speculation here)

 

ok, try using it a little less frequently. your brakes might be overtightened. every time you use the parking brake, it's adjusting the rear drums. most times it'll take care of itself, but with very frequent use it can overtighten them.

not sure if that's related to the rough regen to friction transition, but i can ask the hubby about that more in depth tonight and see if he has anything to say.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Oct 26 2006, 12:59 PM) [snapback]338819[/snapback]</div>

That's interesting, I was just coming in here to say that I have the same "problem" (I put it in quotes b/c it's more of a minor annoyance than a problem) but I rarely, if ever, use the parking brake. I only use it if I'm parked on an incline, which is almost never. It's annoying when you're trying to be super stealthy and back out of a parking space in silence, only to have the brakes squeak slightly...

 

hiya J-

sounds like you've got the opposite situation... a lack of adjustment! :lol: use the parking brake at least once a week, so you know your cable isn't seizing and that everything's staying in the proper adjustment.

to the OP-

just to be on the safe side, go ahead and take it to the dealer. MAKE SURE you trust them... they might try to blow you off. demonstrate it to them and if you are absolutely sure this isn't right and they say it's normal, ask them to show it to you on another vehicle. may or may not have anything to do with the brake adjustment. try not using the parking brake for a week or so for the squeak. the park lock mechanism is sufficiently strong to hold the car.

 

Or if you're willing to do a little mechanical messin' around, pull
the back wheels and see how easily the brake drums turn. If there's
friction, it's relatively easy to pull the drums completely off and
readjust the screw piece holding them apart [it's got a big sort of
sprocket on it, designed for the auto-adjuster to kick one tooth
at a time] until there's no more friction when the drum is back on
and you turn it. Don't go too far in with it, else the parking
brake might not work at all, but the shoes *should* sit just clear
of the drum with no contact when relaxed. That's what the springs
are in there for, and that's why the rear hydraulic lines are pre-
pressured *just* a little bit during regen so the shoes are right
there ready to contact the drums instantly when needed.
.
For other hints, search the forums for "brakes grabbing".
.
_H*

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Oct 26 2006, 05:07 PM) [snapback]338977[/snapback]</div>

Thanks, N! I'll give that a try. It only happens when I'm reversing reeeeeeally slowly, like from a parking spot where I can't see around either vehicle parked beside me and I go slow so I don't accidentally hit an unsuspecting pedestrian.

 

Late to the party, I get the same light squeaking when backing up out of my parking spot. I use the parking break all the time.

The rear tire starting squeaking like crazy when I started to drive today, so I have to take it into the dealer.