bad brakes on the 2.2...what can we do?
#1
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bad brakes on the 2.2...what can we do?
so for those of you who have a 2.2 i am assuming, as long as you still have stock brake hardware, you have some kind of braking problem.
i have talked to several 2.2 owners who all have a problem braking.
i have even taken it to the dealer and all they say is that there is nothing wrong with the hardware thats just what it does, and they refuse to fix anything since there is "nothing wrong" i HAVE had a second and third opinion. there is nothing wrong with the hardware.
unfortunately me being scared when i gotta stop isn't enough to get them to fix my ****.
the problem being:
-strong vibration in the brake pedal
-car does not slow down effectively.
-scares the living **** out of you if you really need to stop.
so my question to you is... What can we do about it.
if you have had this problem before and fixed it, tell us how.
if you have had the dealership fix it, tell us what they did, and maybe what you said to get it done.
i have talked to several 2.2 owners who all have a problem braking.
i have even taken it to the dealer and all they say is that there is nothing wrong with the hardware thats just what it does, and they refuse to fix anything since there is "nothing wrong" i HAVE had a second and third opinion. there is nothing wrong with the hardware.
unfortunately me being scared when i gotta stop isn't enough to get them to fix my ****.
the problem being:
-strong vibration in the brake pedal
-car does not slow down effectively.
-scares the living **** out of you if you really need to stop.
so my question to you is... What can we do about it.
if you have had this problem before and fixed it, tell us how.
if you have had the dealership fix it, tell us what they did, and maybe what you said to get it done.
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Fixed all the issues you described above. With new rotars and pads the problem never went away. A shaky brake was here to stay it seemed until it occurred to me to check the back drums. The shoes were not as tight as they should be. The ratchet gear was stuck and not tightening up the shoes it should have. I played with the ratchet gear until it wasn't as stiff and then ratchet up the shoes so they are snug on the back drums. I then put my wheels back on and I haven't has a braking issue since.
Incase you didn't know how back drums work I'll tell you. Every time you back up the ratchet should click a few times. This spring loaded mechanism is a simple design that is on many, many cars and most mechanics often look past them. If the ratchet is stuck momentarily the shoe will not tighten up against the drum so your back wheels will not be braking the way they should be.
The computer will detect this, I don't know if slippage is detected in the back wheels but maybe or the front has to compensate for the crappy braking in the back. The ABS kicks in and your car shutters and shakes like a bitch. It took me two weeks to solve this problem I had.
Incase you didn't know how back drums work I'll tell you. Every time you back up the ratchet should click a few times. This spring loaded mechanism is a simple design that is on many, many cars and most mechanics often look past them. If the ratchet is stuck momentarily the shoe will not tighten up against the drum so your back wheels will not be braking the way they should be.
The computer will detect this, I don't know if slippage is detected in the back wheels but maybe or the front has to compensate for the crappy braking in the back. The ABS kicks in and your car shutters and shakes like a bitch. It took me two weeks to solve this problem I had.
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The brake pedal started shaking then the whole car for me. It was really bad on the highway. Traveling around 100MPH and slamming on the brakes I could feel the bolts loosening up around me. Check your back drums and make the shoe really snug and see if it helps? What can it hurt?
#10
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i hate drums...
im gonna have to tighten up those back brakes too, even though u don't have those problems, they still may be looser then they should be. Dosent that help with pedal feel as well?
This car going to be getting:
SSBC 12 Inch Big Brake Rear Conversion Kit
SSBC 12 Inch Big Brake Front Conversion Kit
im gonna have to tighten up those back brakes too, even though u don't have those problems, they still may be looser then they should be. Dosent that help with pedal feel as well?
This car going to be getting:
SSBC 12 Inch Big Brake Rear Conversion Kit
SSBC 12 Inch Big Brake Front Conversion Kit
#11
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I don't mind the back drums that much. I had them on my Sunfire and they weren't as bad as everyone seemed to make them out to be. They are a bit of a pain no doubt though. All wheel disc brakes would be nice.
#12
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Fixed all the issues you described above. With new rotars and pads the problem never went away. A shaky brake was here to stay it seemed until it occurred to me to check the back drums. The shoes were not as tight as they should be. The ratchet gear was stuck and not tightening up the shoes it should have. I played with the ratchet gear until it wasn't as stiff and then ratchet up the shoes so they are snug on the back drums. I then put my wheels back on and I haven't has a braking issue since.
Incase you didn't know how back drums work I'll tell you. Every time you back up the ratchet should click a few times. This spring loaded mechanism is a simple design that is on many, many cars and most mechanics often look past them. If the ratchet is stuck momentarily the shoe will not tighten up against the drum so your back wheels will not be braking the way they should be.
The computer will detect this, I don't know if slippage is detected in the back wheels but maybe or the front has to compensate for the crappy braking in the back. The ABS kicks in and your car shutters and shakes like a bitch. It took me two weeks to solve this problem I had.
Incase you didn't know how back drums work I'll tell you. Every time you back up the ratchet should click a few times. This spring loaded mechanism is a simple design that is on many, many cars and most mechanics often look past them. If the ratchet is stuck momentarily the shoe will not tighten up against the drum so your back wheels will not be braking the way they should be.
The computer will detect this, I don't know if slippage is detected in the back wheels but maybe or the front has to compensate for the crappy braking in the back. The ABS kicks in and your car shutters and shakes like a bitch. It took me two weeks to solve this problem I had.
Lemme know... sounds like you could make a how-to from this. Do we need to remove the drum?
#13
I had this same problem but it happened two weeks after i got my brand new car so i was like no way in hell this could be warpped rotors so i took it to the dealership and they said **** you the rims you put on it are bent. They said they were bent then i asked to see the manager and i asked him when rims are bent dont they vibrate all the time ? he replied with a yes thats correct, then i said to him, the ******* behind the counter said my rims are bent cause the whole car starts to shake when i slow down, and apply the brakes. and they wouldnt even touch my car they blamed it on the rims bastards.
#14
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I had this same problem but it happened two weeks after i got my brand new car so i was like no way in hell this could be warpped rotors so i took it to the dealership and they said **** you the rims you put on it are bent. They said they were bent then i asked to see the manager and i asked him when rims are bent dont they vibrate all the time ? he replied with a yes thats correct, then i said to him, the ******* behind the counter said my rims are bent cause the whole car starts to shake when i slow down, and apply the brakes. and they wouldnt even touch my car they blamed it on the rims bastards.
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I had this same problem lately.. and its not my rotors cuz they are on the newer side. Vin... could you take pics of this ratchet? I've worked on drums before and they are a PITA but if this is an easy fix I would be down.
Lemme know... sounds like you could make a how-to from this. Do we need to remove the drum?
Lemme know... sounds like you could make a how-to from this. Do we need to remove the drum?
This really, really helped my braking problems.
I had this same problem but it happened two weeks after i got my brand new car so i was like no way in hell this could be warpped rotors so i took it to the dealership and they said **** you the rims you put on it are bent. They said they were bent then i asked to see the manager and i asked him when rims are bent dont they vibrate all the time ? he replied with a yes thats correct, then i said to him, the ******* behind the counter said my rims are bent cause the whole car starts to shake when i slow down, and apply the brakes. and they wouldnt even touch my car they blamed it on the rims bastards.
Last edited by Vin; 08-09-2007 at 02:06 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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take off the drum? you don't even have to take off the wheel. Just go throught the little rubber insert on the axle side. then spin the wheel. It should rotate about 2 full rotations before it stops. Then it's adjusted. Spray a bunch of brake clean in there too for good measure.
Personally I don't even worry about it. I stop when I hit the little old lady in front of me anyway.
Personally I don't even worry about it. I stop when I hit the little old lady in front of me anyway.
#17
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^^^^ ahhh you Krazy Kanadians.... Ratchet Gear = Star Wheel. I know exactly what you are talkign about now. You can normally access theses from behind the wheel as well. there is usually an opening big enough for a screw driver. Damn.. I am gonna have to take a look at this when I get home. Good tip man. + for you
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take off the drum? you don't even have to take off the wheel. Just go throught the little rubber insert on the axle side. then spin the wheel. It should rotate about 2 full rotations before it stops. Then it's adjusted. Spray a bunch of brake clean in there too for good measure.
Personally I don't even worry about it. I stop when I hit the little old lady in front of me anyway.
Personally I don't even worry about it. I stop when I hit the little old lady in front of me anyway.
^^^^ ahhh you Krazy Kanadians.... Ratchet Gear = Star Wheel. I know exactly what you are talkign about now. You can normally access theses from behind the wheel as well. there is usually an opening big enough for a screw driver. Damn.. I am gonna have to take a look at this when I get home. Good tip man. + for you
Last edited by Vin; 08-09-2007 at 02:36 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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woohoo... 10 years later.. auto tech class is all coming back to me... LOL
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If you are planning on doing this without a howto I have a few suggestions.
Don't use anything to pry against the brake plate if you can not get the drum off. You should look for the rear access hole (it might have a plug on it). Use a small screw driver and move the adjuster downwards until the drum pulls off easily. It will not take much effort if the adjuster is working properly. Then adjust the brakes back up by moving the adjuster upwards putting the drum back on every few clicks to see how tight it fits.
If you can not get the drum off after adjusting then maybe the adjust is broke or there is some corrosion on the plate. Use a small block and a hammer and tap the drum off all around the wheel. It should take little effort if you do it this way. I took the drums off of a 10 year old Cavalier a few weeks ago using the same procedure.
Don't use anything to pry against the brake plate if you can not get the drum off. You should look for the rear access hole (it might have a plug on it). Use a small screw driver and move the adjuster downwards until the drum pulls off easily. It will not take much effort if the adjuster is working properly. Then adjust the brakes back up by moving the adjuster upwards putting the drum back on every few clicks to see how tight it fits.
If you can not get the drum off after adjusting then maybe the adjust is broke or there is some corrosion on the plate. Use a small block and a hammer and tap the drum off all around the wheel. It should take little effort if you do it this way. I took the drums off of a 10 year old Cavalier a few weeks ago using the same procedure.
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True but guys are talking about brand new cars its likely not dirt. The drum should be plugged anyways otherwise those crappy china springs are going to rust and brake fast.