Strange creaking noise after new rear drums.

[Maim Menu]

Had my rear drums replaced last thursday due to pulsating brakes. I had the front breaks done last february. The pedal is still shaking so I wanted to take it back monday, but now yesterday night I backed out of the driveway and heard repeated creakings coming from the back wheel, driver side. Like something is rubbing or bending when the wheel reaches a certain point, so I pulled back in the driveway. It wasn't doing this until yesterday night.

I'm gonna tell you it doesn't sound too good, it's a very definite crack/creak whatever and I don't feel like really driving up to a garage either.

I jacked up the car and something rubs on about 40% of the full rotation when I turn the wheel with my hand, but when the car is back on the ground it's a creaking noise again. Any ideas before I have her towed up? Thanks in advance

[marc780]

Were the drums replaced with new ones, or just turned? Because it sounds like you still have the same problem. Drum brakes will almost always have some light shoe contact but the key word is "light" - the self adjuster may be adjusting the shoes too tightly.

Unfortunately, to me it seems the brakes will have to be gone through again - sounds like one or both of the drums are not completely round. Or perhaps tight brakes have heated and warped them already and this is contributing to the noise. If i did the work, i would take the brakes apart and check or replace the following:

1. self adjuster assembly should be clean, greased, and turned all the way in;
2. shoes should be in good condition and not cracked or broken;
3. wheel cylinder should not be leaking and (they might be seized and need replacement);
4. brake spring(s) not worn out and weak ( might need replacement).

As for the vibrating pedal, since you had this problem before and after the rear brakes were worked on, i think that maybe the problem was never fixed. So maybe you need front rotors too, i'd have them checked again.

[Mike Gerber]

One thing you can check yourself is to remove the rear wheels and with the e-brake off, try to turn the drums by hand. You might notice the drum rubbing on the lip of the backing plate. I have seem them get bent when doing a brake job by techs dropping the wheels on them as they are being put back on the car. If that's the case, just bend the drum up in that area with a slotted screwdriver.

If that's not it, take it back to whoever did the rears. You may want to call them first to see if they want the car towed to their shop, since it seems like all the expenses should be their's.

I also agree with Marc that the pulsating is probably coming from the front where 1 or both of the rotors are probably warped. It's rare, but not impossible, that the rear drums get warped. It's the fronts that do most of the stopping and therefore generate most of the heat.

Good luck.

Mike

[Maim Menu]

My front disk and plates were changed this winter so I dunno about the warping...that would suck though. And for Marc : They are brand new drums.

All the garages are closed on Sundays wich is also a major pain. I drove around a bit today and the noise kind of disapears when I drive around 50-60km/h, if I slow down it starts creaking again...It doesn't seem to be influenced by if the pedal is being pressed or not. This blows I have to be into town this afternoon. I guess I'll have my ass carried around by somebody.

[marc780]

Bottom line, someone needs to take them apart again, something is broken or installed wrong

[Maim Menu]

I was about to post back in this thread.

Everything is fine with new shoes, basically new everything in the drums. There's some pulse left in there I'll check that out later but it doesn't feel like the car's falling apart anymore at least.

[Mike Gerber]

Originally Posted by Maim Menu

I was about to post back in this thread.

Everything is fine with new shoes, basically new everything in the drums. There's some pulse left in there I'll check that out later but it doesn't feel like the car's falling apart anymore at least.

I would still call the shop that did the work and let them know what you have been experiencing. Tell them you will drive the car a few more days to see if the problem goes away, since it doesn't seem as bad as when you first noticed it. This way they are on notice that there was a problem with their original work.

Mike

[Maim Menu]

He didn't charge me much when I got back there, only for the parts. He knows the car still pulses and wants me to bring it back next monday to work on it for free again, gotta love it. He's a Toyota specialist, knows my car well and is the only person that touches it besides me.

Anyways there's definitely some vibrating left, I'm not sure if it's front or back though. I'd have to test braking with the handbrake to see if it does the same thing. It could be wheel bearings that got bad after so much stress...

[Kep]

I had a broken spring do pretty much the same thing. I figure it broke and then dropped between the drum and shoe. At first it was incredibly noisy. Then, apparently, it broke up and the noise diminished and almost went away. I pulled the wheel and drum off to find the problem and it was pretty obvious. No matter what have someone look at it or check yourself (and count the parts against a diagram or list).

Kep

[Maim Menu]

The rear brakes are alright now after having them redone for no fees. I'm still getting shakings in the front though. I tried tightening the strut mount bolts while the car was jacked and it didn't do much of a difference. The steering wheel shakes a bit too, and if I press the brakes real hard it doesn't shake, but I spill my coffee, so that's no good. I'm having a full front end suspension check next week.

[marc780]

Maim, i think perhaps either the rotors are still not straight after all, or you have a bent wheel, or a bumpy tire.