Hey all....
Lately, my car has been squatting in the rear when the brakes are applied. More pronouned if stopping quickly or stepping on the brake hard. Sometimes it makes a sound.
Not really a big deal, don't notice too much.. .
However, when driving in the snow & the ABS kicks on, the car is making a knocking/clunking sound when the brakes grab and it squats and releases, squats & releases until I slide to a stop...
I know there is an issue w/ the back brakes, but I would like to know what specifically. It can get expensive to replaces shoes, drums, springs, wheel cylinder etc...
Ive taken them apart before & adjusted the pin on the bottom so the shoes arent so tight on the drums- but Dont think that really made a difference..
Just wanted to see if anyone has any insight before I go spending my paycheck on unneccesary parts. .. Thanks.
Drums that are adjusted to tightly can cause them to grab.
You should with wheel off the ground be able to spin it until it grabs slighty, when you go to spin it, it should spin about twice, than stop.
The knocking/clunking when the ABS kicks on, is that sound from the rear as well
- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new
The clunking noise is coming from the rear.
Its the sound of the rear drums grabbing & releasing. The car does it sometimes if I step on the brake harder than usual. it makes the noise when the pedal is released. Its just really noticable when the ABS is kicking on, because its pressing, releasing rapidly and I dont really have any control on it.
It kinda sounds like its the wheel bearings. Im going to probably change them this weekend.
Oops.. I mean rear brake cylinders, not wheel bearings...
How many miles do you have on the pads ?
If it's clunking,grinding and/or grabbing you may actually be all the way through the pad and onto the backing plate. You can get some idea about the pad wear by pulling up on the e-brake. If it pulls up a long way before you get any brake squeeze to hold the car then pads are worn or out of adjustment.
If you're through the pad, the coefficient of friction for steel on steel is particularly higher than pad/steel so it would cause it stick more readily and kick on the ABS.
If you still have good pads I would check the other hardware, return springs, amount of rust - anything that would restrict the pad movement.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Sunday, February 14, 2010 9:24 AM
