Hi

I get a brief squeal if i release the break pedal on my scoda felicia 1.9 diesel. It might be coming from under the hood.

Change to breakpads made no difference.

Thanks

Going forwards, backwards or all the time?

If it's only when you're reversing then the pads are probably shifting slightly in the calipers.

If it was all the time and the back end, I'd suspect weak release springs (drum brakes only).

I believe this could be due to out of adjustment rear drum brakes due to the non adjustment by the 'automatic' brake adjuster mechanism not adjusting .

The lining shoes are scraping on the back plate on being withdrawn (too far due to non adjustment) by the brake springs.

Either way, part of the fix is to remove the drums, clean the rear brakes, and re-lubricate the pivots. Ian or I pretty well must be right about the other part, and figuring out who is requires inspecting the rear brake mechanism anyway.

Either way, part of the fix is to remove the drums, clean the rear brakes, and re-lubricate the pivots. Ian or I pretty well must be right about the other part, and figuring out who is requires inspecting the rear brake mechanism anyway.

Hi

Thanks for that advice. I will look into the rear drums on the weekend. I already got a new set of rear brake shoes and a new set of rear wheel bearings but haven't decided to exchange the wheel bearings myself as i am concerned that it might be hard to get the old wheel bearings out. And I dont have a press either.( just a hammer and a set of sockets)

mmh maybe i will pull all my courage together and give it a try. Having a look is definitely an option.

Ben

I think the noise happens always when i depress the pedal. I tested it when i was not moving at all and it did still make the noise when i was releasing the break pedal.

haven't decided to exchange the wheel bearings myself as i am concerned that it might be hard to get the old wheel bearings out. And I dont have a press either.( just a hammer and a set of sockets)

mmh maybe i will pull all my courage together and give it a try. Having a look is definitely an option.

Ben

I didn't use a press either, just a hammer and socket. It might take a bit of effort but it will release eventually. I'm a novice at doing it so just gave it a try and managed to do it eventually. Garages will probably charge a lot to do it so its worth having a go yourself. It's the front ones that are the biggest problem.

I'm certain now; if the noise happens even when the car's at rest, it has got to be the back brakes, and I'd say Ian's more probably right about the siezed rear adjusters than I am about the return springs. If it had only happened when the car was moving, I'd have put money on the springs though. The devil is in the very details.

I believe this could be due to out of adjustment rear drum brakes due to the non adjustment by the 'automatic' brake adjuster mechanism not adjusting   .

The lining shoes are scraping   on the back plate on being withdrawn (too far due to non adjustment) by the brake springs.

but how iti is supposed to work that  'automatic' brake adjuster mechanism ? I couldn't find anywhere a decent explanation...

I attached an image ready to be drawn on (arrows for movement directions, etc) for a better understanding.

Part 3 is serrated, and as the shoes wear, it moves down into the gap between part 2 and one of the shoes, pushing them out towards the drum.

The size of the parts is different, but if you take the cover off the pivot end of the handbrake lever and watch the ratchet and pawl as you pull the handbrake on, you'll see how the pawl moves as it goes up in the ratchet. Self-adjusting brakes (and cable clutches [hydraulic clutches are different, and their self-adjustment is intrinsic to the hydraulics]) work on the same principle.