Squealing brakes

[buppy69]

My drum brakes are squealing excessively all the time, not just when braking.. I took them apart and checked and cleaned them. There seems to be plenty of pad left. The drum did not drag when I took them off. It's embarrasing driving up the road and all my neighbors run to the window to see what's going on. Does anyone have a possible solution?

Eugene

 

[normde2001]

Sounds like you may have a wheel bearing seizing up. When you checked your brakes did you jack up the rear wheels and check for free-wheeling in neutral? One side may be tight. Assuming you have determined the squeal to be coming from the rear.

 

[roger_scotty]

I've had a couple of sets of "squealers". It seems to be a common problem with all mechancial drum brakes - regardless of make. Every one of mine was fixed in the same way: I took the drums off, turned them to a clean surface and then sanded all of the glaze off of the shoes. Usually replaced the brake springs at the same time. This always fixed the squeal for a year or two......there may be easier ways, but I don't know them.

 

[buppy69]

I did check for freewheeling. With the brake drums off, no squeal. I did sand the glaze off the shoes but I didn't turn the drums. I'll try that next. Thanks.

Eugene

 

[Ozarker]

Brake squealing is generally caused by metal rubbing metal or some other hard object such as a rock. When you remove the drum, everything will be dirty/dusty except where the metal is rubbing against metal. That is where your squeal is coming from and all that is required is that you determine why those parts are rubbing and fix it.

If a drum brake is squealing all the time, not just when braking, the drum is rubbing against the brake backing plate, against one of the brake shoes or a small rock has gotten jammed between the moving parts.

Some of the causes could be a bent brake backing plate, a bent axle flange, a worn or broken brake shoe retainer spring. etc etc etc.

Find the shinny metal......... that is where the rubbing is.