Ran into another H3 with my problem yesterday ...

[Hmmm2]

I pulled into the drycleaner yesterday and up alongside parked another H3. We gave each other a 'thumbs up' on our choice of vehicles. I asked her how she liked hers .. she said she bought hers last Oct with 2500 miles on it and loved it, but had her first problem last Wednesday. Curious, I asked her what happened. She said when she'd come to a stop, or an abrupt stop, her rear tires/brakes would GRIND! OMG!!! She probably thought I was crazy when I kept saying, "WHAT?!?!" She goes, "Yeah, I took it to the dealer, described the problem and they fixed it in a day". I asked her if the dealer was ------, (the dealer service dept who had been trying to figure out MY problem for 6weeks and who never did figure it out) she said, "Why, yes!". ARGHHHHH!!! I told her what I went through and she thanked me for paving the way. I'm thinking that the 2nd dealer (service dept) who had fixed my problem in a DAY must have called the original (6.5 week dealer) and told them what my problem finally turned out to be .. a warped rotor. I'm venting here, I know. I won't mention the dealer by name because they learned something through my problem (I hope). But, it sort of infuriates me that all that time, I was being told that the grind was 'common to all H3's" and that was that.. nothing more could be done. GM/Hummer Corp took good care of me, so that's all that matters now. I had a great Customer Service Rep through GM.

[fourfourto]

Its Back
Getting the grinding noise again.
They turned down rotors replaced pads ay 12,000 miles all was fine till now at 19,000 miles its doing it again.
I will bring it to the dealer sometime this week and insist on NEW rotors and new pads .It has to be a problem with some rotors being defective. ?

Unless its the front this time (I looked at front pads they still look
meaty)


Hmmm3 did they replace or resurface your rotors ,I forgot ?.

[RubHer Yellow Ducky]

So thats the cause. I have 8000 mileson my Yellow one and will call tomorrow to make an appointment.

RYD

[RubHer Yellow Ducky]

F5, Do you know anything about this ?????

RYD

Originally Posted by Hmmm3

I pulled into the drycleaner yesterday and up alongside parked another H3. We gave each other a 'thumbs up' on our choice of vehicles. I asked her how she liked hers .. she said she bought hers last Oct with 2500 miles on it and loved it, but had her first problem last Wednesday. Curious, I asked her what happened. She said when she'd come to a stop, or an abrupt stop, her rear tires/brakes would GRIND! OMG!!! She probably thought I was crazy when I kept saying, "WHAT?!?!" She goes, "Yeah, I took it to the dealer, described the problem and they fixed it in a day". I asked her if the dealer was ------, (the dealer service dept who had been trying to figure out MY problem for 6weeks and who never did figure it out) she said, "Why, yes!". ARGHHHHH!!! I told her what I went through and she thanked me for paving the way. I'm thinking that the 2nd dealer (service dept) who had fixed my problem in a DAY must have called the original (6.5 week dealer) and told them what my problem finally turned out to be .. a warped rotor. I'm venting here, I know. I won't mention the dealer by name because they learned something through my problem (I hope). But, it sort of infuriates me that all that time, I was being told that the grind was 'common to all H3's" and that was that.. nothing more could be done. GM/Hummer Corp took good care of me, so that's all that matters now. I had a great Customer Service Rep through GM.

[Hmmm2]

Originally Posted by fourfourto

Its Back
Getting the grinding noise again.
They turned down rotors replaced pads ay 12,000 miles all was fine till now at 19,000 miles its doing it again.
I will bring it to the dealer sometime this week and insist on NEW rotors and new pads .It has to be a problem with some rotors being defective. ?

Unless its the front this time (I looked at front pads they still look
meaty)


Hmmm3 did they replace or resurface your rotors ,I forgot ?.

The first dealer resurfaced one rotor and put on new pads. Of course, I still had the sound. The 2nd dealer told me one rotor was clearily warped, so they turned it (again) and the other 3 as well. Replaced all brakes and pads. They said they also cut the pads slightly (?) into a wedge shape which they said will make them more operative for my driving purposes. (I live on a hill, so a lot of my driving goes up and down that hill). All I know is that SO FAR I haven't had that sound come back. It has been about 3 weeks and I've been to Las Vegas and back in it. keeping my fingers crossed. If the sound comes back anytime soon, I'll also insist on new rotors. I'm not going to have them re-surface them again. Good luck! Keep us updated!

[ChevyHighPerformance]

Originally Posted by fourfourto

Its Back
Getting the grinding noise again.
They turned down rotors replaced pads ay 12,000 miles all was fine till now at 19,000 miles its doing it again.
I will bring it to the dealer sometime this week and insist on NEW rotors and new pads .It has to be a problem with some rotors being defective. ?

Unless its the front this time (I looked at front pads they still look
meaty)


Hmmm3 did they replace or resurface your rotors ,I forgot ?.

Try this. Make sure your parking brake is fully released. Underneath the driver's door is the parking brake cable. There is one cable that starts at the front, goes to a metal piece that connects to two cables that go to the rear (these go to the individual rear parking brakes). Pull hard on the metal piece (toward you or down toward the ground) a few times and release. If your parking brake cable is binding/rubbing this will free up some slack in the cable and make sure the parking brakes are not rubbing. See if you still hear the squeal.

The 2006 parking brake cable is run over metal edge that gouges into the cable assembly. The 2007 parking brake cable is new and routed a little differently.

[f5fstop]

Only thing I know is 90 percent of what people call warped rotors is really pad residue on the rotor. Turning does fix the problem. Pretty darn hard to warp a large rotor like the ones on the front, and the back brakes do so little on normal stopping that can't understand how they get overheated enough to warp.
Have not heard anything, and I have 17K and no brake problems or noises. In fact, the only noise I have is behind the new NAV system, and I would bet it is the adapter vibrating.
If we are having problems with rears heating up and warping, I would have the dealer make sure the park brake is adjusted correctly after the brakes are repaired. If out of adjustment, the brakes will be too tight, apply too much pressure to the rotor and overheat the rotor (and the pads).
I will add that I will not use factory pads when I change the brakes (if I keep it that long ). Factory pads SUCK, since they cannot use asbestos.
So, the pads are made with other organic materials that tend to cause them to wear too fast, and tend to leave residue on the rotors when heated up (mountain driving is good for this).
I'm hoping someone comes out with a low dust, kevlar pad for the H3 before I have to change; if I have to change.

[fourfourto]

F5 Doesnt the e brake have a seperate pad (scrub brake).
My brother and I noticed it on my prevous brake inspection.

The e brake seems good,I beleve it should be tighter it goes down far to grab.
Im going to bring it in on tuesday.

[f5fstop]

got me; I forgot, still thinking old days. I'll do some checking tomorrow on brakes.

[fourfourto]

F5 we didnt remove the wheel but my brother said the placement of the cable on the backing plate it seams theres a scrub brake.
If you could confirm this that would be great.

I made an appointment for tuesday 9am,sevice manager said no problem replacing brakes and rotors in the back if its the same problem,He also said they wouldnt turn down the rotors a second time.
SM said if I will get a loaner if needed.
They treat me good over at ramp hummer they always give me a loaner

[Hmmm2]

Originally Posted by fourfourto

I made an appointment for tuesday 9am,sevice manager said no problem replacing brakes and rotors in the back if its the same problem,He also said they wouldnt turn down the rotors a second time.
SM said if I will get a loaner if needed.
They treat me good over at ramp hummer they always give me a loaner

You HAVE been lucky in that regard, fourfourto. Your dealer seems to step up to the plate and always tells you they'll replace parts. I have to wonder if dealers here get 'points' for not replacing warranty parts.() It would be awesome to hear a Serv. Mgr. just come and say, "Yeah, we're gonna replace your rotors instead of turning them .. new pads and all, ESPECIALLY since you've been having nothing but problems with them." Uh-huh.

[ChevyHighPerformance]

Originally Posted by fourfourto

F5 Doesnt the e brake have a seperate pad (scrub brake).
My brother and I noticed it on my prevous brake inspection.

The e brake seems good,I beleve it should be tighter it goes down far to grab.
Im going to bring it in on tuesday.

There is a separate brake shoe assembly that grabs for parking. The rear rotors are like a hat and the inside of the hat is a mini-drum brake. When you press down on the parking brake the shoes are cammed out and make contact with the drum.

I was wondering if the parking brake is releasing fully. That's why I suggested to pull on the parking brake cable to make sure the cable isn't sticking in its conduit. The foot petal may come back up fully but the cable may not be completely releasing. I know for fact that there have been H3's in to get the parking brake cable replaced and that the 2007's have a new design. You never mentioned that the brakes are grabbing or pulsing when stopping nor did you mention any smell or unusually high rear temperatures. My interpretation (which I could be wrong) is that the sound is a nuisance sound.

[fourfourto]

is that the sound is a nuisance sound.

No its a grinding sound definatly not normal.
Parking brake seems fine not to tight(If it was it would have worn down by now)Also it grabs low,probobly needs tightened .
Last time I checked the temp of rotor at my brothers shop and they were normal.

[ChevyHighPerformance]

Originally Posted by fourfourto

is that the sound is a nuisance sound.

No its a grinding sound definatly not normal.
Parking brake seems fine not to tight(If it was it would have worn down by now)Also it grabs low,probobly needs tightened .
Last time I checked the temp of rotor at my brothers shop and they were normal.

I don't think the sound is normal either - I was trying to get at if there are other issues you can feel versus just hear. The fact that you mentioned that the parking brake grabs low is a sign to me that the parking brake cable is not moving freely in its guide (not releasing properly), the parking brake is not adjusted properly, or the parking brake shoes are worn. Did you try what I suggested - tugging hard on the parking brake cable underneath the driver's side. It will feel tight to start with. If you tug on it and it frees up, you have a parking brake cable problem.

[LAREDO TEXAS]

I had the same problem, I was about to order new brakes, I took it to a local shop and they just apply a cleaner to the rotors and rotate the tires.. done deal this was done on Sunday and no noice until today.

[Hmmm2]

Originally Posted by ChevyHighPerformance

I don't think the sound is normal either - I was trying to get at if there are other issues you can feel versus just hear.

Fourfourto, do you feel a slight sensation in the brake pedal JUST as you come to a complete stop and JUST as you are hearing that grind sound? When I would hear the grind in the rear right, I'd also feel 'something' in the brake pedal. Almost as if I could feel the 'grind' in the rear brake. Chevy High Performance thoughts sound right on, too. But, you and I had the same grind problem months back .. so I'm tending to think warped rotor. I'm anxious to hear what they find out for you.

[fourfourto]

I'd also feel 'something' in the brake pedal. Almost as if I could feel the 'grind' in the rear brake.

X2 thats they way it is now and was then.

Hopefully fixed by tommorow afternoon.

[fourfourto]

Dam what a freekin day droped off 3 they didnt have anyone to come with me for a ride so I got a loaner(another story see below)
They call me at 3pm say it ready and nothing checked out bad after they pulled all 4 wheels. Said Normal for hard stops on the H3 ?,I flipped out a little on the phone said I will come down and bring you for a ride.
Anyway Im driving back there a little pissed and a lady making a left stoped short and a young girl stoped short behind her in a mdx suv,I didnt see the first car.
I slammed the brakes and the 2007 silverado loaner rent a car slams her in the back f*cked up the front of the truck and the back of her mdx.had to get police report ect.
Anyway I called hummer to see if I could pick it up late after 5 and head sevice guy said they cleaned rotor (= brake cleaner)and seem better.He said he leaves at 5pm.

By the time I got there everyone in service was gone .
On the way home it wasnt doing it but I didnt come to many hard/downhill stops.
I will see what happens over the next couple hundred/thousand miles.

Bad day

If the brakes start grinding again im going to open a can of whip ass and go off on them like a crazy man.


First accedent in 20 years at least it wasn't my H3

Going to have a couple beers and calm down

[Hmmm2]

Originally Posted by fourfourto

Said Normal for hard stops on the H3 ?,I flipped out a little on the phone said I will come down and bring you for a ride.

Anyway I called hummer to see if I could pick it up late after 5 and head sevice guy said they cleaned rotor (= brake cleaner)and seem better.He said he leaves at 5pm.

I will see what happens over the next couple hundred/thousand miles.

Bad day

If the brakes start grinding again im going to open a can of whip ass and go off on them like a crazy man.


First accedent in 20 years at least it wasn't my H3

Going to have a couple beers and calm down

OMG! What an awful day! Well, at least you weren't injured in the accident! (BTW, did you buy that extra loaner insurance they offer? ) Secondly, they sprayed my rotors with something the first day of the ongoing 6 weeks (before my problem was resolved), and it didn't work .. so you better pull out that 'can of whip ass' you mentioned just to have it handy. They told me SO many times during the 6 week period that the grind sound was normal for all H3's. EVEN after going for test drives with me and HEARING it!!!! You know it's not .. just like I knew it wasn't .. so stand your ground. I did. I've sent you a PM, too .. look for it. Let us know what happens, ok? Hope you're okay after the accident .. no sore back, neck, etc.

[fourfourto]

Im ok so was the 2 young girls( I felt bad she just took her road test today )
I didnt get the extra insurance,so I will have my insurance co take care of it.
As for the tire dressing the dealer only put it on when picked up new last august.
I made a rim guard protector out of cardbord with a hold handle ,so no overspray get on or behind the rim.
I only detail the tires every month or so.