I have a 2006 HHR. My rear brakes have been repaired over and over again but always begin grabbing and squeaking. My repairs have been conducted by various private repair shops all with excellent reputations. All tell me the drums are overheating but I'm not going down any steep grades and there is no reason to overheat. The dealer tells me its because they are not using genuine GM parts which sounds like BS to me. The dealer wants about $700 to re-do the rear brakes from top to bottom. Its still under warrantee at an Automobile Club Shop so I can get it fixed under warrantee but I know the problem will re-occur. IDEAS anybody??

 

I find it difficult to believe that a Chevy dealership would demand $700 for a complete rear drum brake job, even if it included new brake cylinders. Perhaps the quote included new wheel bearings as well?? Dealership labor rates are fairly standardized and you are charged for the number of hours assigned to a particular job and not the amount of time that the job actually required. Say, for instance, the rate book allows 3 hours for the complete rear brake replacement procedure. A competent technician can do the job in less than 2 hours. You will be charged for 3 hours labor no matter how long it actually took.
Drum brake components are relatively inexpensive. Most franchised tire and auto maintenance shops can do the job for far, far less than $700. Go back to your Automobile Club shop and demand that they get things right.

The only complaint I have heard about the HHR's (excluding the SS, which has disc brakes all around) rear brakes is that the self-adjusters do not function properly, causing premature front brake rotor wear due to the rear brakes contributing very little actual braking force. My own 2007 HHR LS has 74,000 miles on the odometer and it is due for new rear brakes shoes and drums - for the first time.

 

Thanks for the input.

I got the following quote from Chevrolet of Irvine (California); Shoes $130; genuine GM drums $134 x 2; springs $5.34 x 2 = a total of $408.68 + $240 labor = $648.68 total.

I'm willing to pay it if it truly solves the warped drum problem but I'll be very unhappy if I return to the same old grabbing squeaking brakes that make everybody at the intersection cover their ears and stare.

 

Do you use the parking brake?? Could your parking brake cables be hanging up?? That's a common problem here in the rust belt, not sure if it is a problem in CA.

 

Good guess but no, I rarely use it. If it is on it is real obvious if I try to move the car. I did ask my local shop to check that last time and they said it was fine but re-adjusted it slightly. The dealer said their is a part that controls the brake shoe operation called something like a modulator or processor which rarely fails but they would check it if I come in with my $650 bucks.

 

My guess is: they are adjusted too tight.

However; you may also be describing bad rear hubs.

I just did my rear brakes. Shoes $15, cylinders $10, springs $10. Didn't need drums, but I would expect around $50. I did both sides in my garage in less than an hour. They are sticking labor up your .... My parts come from Ebay.

Don't pay GM dealer rates without understanding that they make much of their profit from the service dept.

 

Good point, Don ! I just did my rear hubs , did not need rear shoes or drums, my shake in the brake is gone ! The rear hubs were the culprit, 2007 LT Auto 158,000 miles

 

I have the Auto Club repair facility doing the work now, (under warrantee so no labor) but this time with me paying the difference between their typical "after market" parts and new GM shoes, drums, and parts. I have my fingers crossed that it is a long term fix.

 

Did you ask them to check the rear hubs?

 

I thought hubs were another word for drums?