The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Sqeaking brakes

I need a little help here...... My '84 1/2 ton Suburban (2 wheel drive) is sqeaking ( both rear wheels) while moving at idle. I have replaced the shoes and had the drums turned.

I have rechecked myself. No, I don't have the shoes backward, the ebrake cable is free, hardware is on correctly.

It will stop sqeaking if I just lightly apply a little bit of pedal (still moving though). I can do not see any evidence of the edge of the shoe rubbing on the drum. What's up??????

I have had the drums turned before and was told this would be the last time. That they were getting thin. The shoes I bought are OEM type NOT semi metalic.

Thanks in advance for any ideas,
Stingray

There are 6 rub pads on the backing plate (3 for each shoe,top middle and bottom). The sides of the shoes rub on the pad area. A real light film of syl-glyde or antisieze will help if it is that making the sqeak noise.
The other thing it could be is dust from the new shoes seating in is floating around between the shoe and drum surface. It may need to be cleaned out and one more thing,,,
Have you adjusted your rear shoes recently?
Some are auto adjusted with the use of the park-brake

You might want to look at the u joints,if they are bad it might sound like its coming from the back brakes as the noise travels.

One more thing,,, How tight are your lug nuts???
That can cause a squeak noise as well as what Jeff mentioned.

Mechaniac......Are you implying I'm a loose nut!!?? :p

Actually, here's what I wound up doing....Scuffed the shoes with 80 grit. I haven't driven it much yet but, it seems to have taken care of the problem. I was looking at the shoes and noticed they were really shiney in a couple of places. As I said these are new shoes. about 100 miles or less. And yes, they've been sqeaking since new. I don't know what brand they were. Just whatever O'Reilly's had. Plan white box. No core charge. we'll see.......

We are all loose nuts who should join trucks Unanimous, not anonymous

Sounds like you have it under control. But I would like to suggest something just incase your squeak returns. Have you replaced all the return springs? Sometimes these springs get fatigued enough that they allow the shoes to "vibrate" when the brakes are not engaged. Once you apply just a little pedal the shoes no longer a free to vibrate or squeak. It is just a though and I would try all the other suggests first but as a last resort this might do the trick.
Good Luck