Update on rear brake/axle sound .. whine sound ...

[rangerross]

I bought my H3 middle of June last year. The first time I noticed the noise was the 2nd month of ownership. The noise may have been there earlier and I didn't notice as I was enjoying the monsoon system. The noise reminded me of a sound from brake pads which have been overheated and developed a glaze on the surface. I live in an area with heavy traffic and bad drivers. I had to get on the brakes hard a few times - don't know if this is the cause of the problem or not. I have seen mechnics sand the surface of the pads and rotors to eliminate a glazing problem. You may ask your dealer to check for glazing and try this fix if they don't have any other suggestions. Good luck and let me know what you find out.

[Hmmm2]

rangerross, could you, as the driver, feel the problem when braking? I not only hear it, I can feel it in the pedal when it happens. I'll post what happens on Monday. Thanks again. Thanks, Steve-San Jose, too, for your input.

[HummerNewbie]

Originally Posted by rangerross

I live in an area with heavy traffic and bad drivers.

I think there is some unwritten law stating that they have to move to FL

[deserth3]

I've engaged the antilocks under hard braking. That has a grinding feeling and you can feel it in the brake pedal.

I just mention this because I don't see where's been brought up before.

[Idaho-Hummer]

Originally Posted by HummerNewbie

I think there is some unwritten law stating that they have to move to FL

You guy's need to move out of the city's and get away form the 'Can speed bumps and bad drivers. Come out here and play with deer, badgers, fox's, cow's and the big a$$ tractors that are heavier then most semi-trucks. Nice open county. Best of all, low population. ummm, nevermind stay in the big city's. I don't want to share.

[rangerross]

I would hear the sound under hard braking just before coming to a complete stop - just before the suspension settled. I did not feel anything thru the brake pedal. Also, I was braking hard but not hard enough to trip the anti-locks. If memory serves, I think that when the anti-lock feature is engaged on most vehicles the brake pedal will pulsate. The groan sound was loud enough that people standing away from the truck (on sidewalk) could hear it.

I should add that the noise is not why I got rid of th H3. I loved the H3 and would have continued to drive it for many years - noise and all. After owing it for a year, I had the opportunity to purchase a new H2 SUT at a very good price. I have found the H3 and H2 to be two very capable but very different vehicles.

[marin8703]

hey rangerross, sorry to go off topic but what do you mean by two different vehicles? bad dofferent or good different? in what way? im just curious cauze i dont really know how the h2 is. Thanks

[ChevyHighPerformance]

Not sure if this is it. But, the H3 has dynamic proportioning for the rear brakes. The pressure is modulated to the rear brakes to provide more even braking between the front and rear brakes. Could you be hearing/feeling the pulsations from the rear brake pressure being modulated?

[Hmmm2]

It's not a 'pulsating' feeling at all. Here's the scenario ... you're driving along, maybe about 40mph. You see the light change a block up. You start slowing, then have to come to a harder stop ..not an immediate 'slam on the brake', but a quick hard stop. Jusssssst seconds before you immediately stop, there is this grind you can feel for 5 seconds before you are stopped. It sounds like it's coming from the rear right. I THINK I can feel it in the brake pedal, too, but that could be only because I hear it, too. The driver definitely 'hears' and senses it more than the passengers ... but the passengers can hear it, too. It's quick ... just before the H stops moving. What bothers me, too, is that I don't offroad MINE. It's strictly a street driver. Yet, while in Las Vegas at "The Drive" ... the 2's and 3's, which go through the rigors of their offroad obstacle course time after time, day after day .. do NOT have this sound. AGH! I hate when someone at a dealer (Service Dept!!!!) tries to tell me with a straight face, "Oh, that noise? It's just a noise all H3's make." Same person who tired to tell me all H3's have drum brakes. "Nuff said. Thanks to all who scratching their heads here and trying to figure this out for me.