Rear Brake/Axle Groan...

[fourfourto]

I dont know where to start

Short version ... Dam Fvckin Bullshlt


The GM field rep went for a ride with me along with the service manager.
It was making the noise but not as bad as it usually does(it was raining also)He said something about antilock brakes ,I said the pumps in the front and noise is from rear also Im not braking hard enough to kick in antilocks.I then did a panic stop at 30mph to kick in the anti locks and I said THATS THE ANTILOCKS and he didnt mention that again.
He drove back and He heared the noise but mostly was trying to feather off the brake short of the full stop or trying it at a 10 mph stop.I told him you have to stop from over 30mph for it to be noticable.I also said its worse stoping at the bottom of a long hill.
I also showed him the video on my camera explaining its a lot louder on the outside and said its embarrassing.
Anyway we get back to the dealer and he says he feels its not dangerous it is a Normal charactoristic of the H3 there is no fix he will look into it and bring it up with the enginers at the next meeting in a few weeks.
I said If we went for a ride with any H3 on the lot it wouldnt make the noise,he didnt say anything.
during the ride he did say it was the first time he was in and drove a H3 How can he tell me normal if he never drove one

He did compliment my eclipse system and liked the rear camera.he also liked the clinometer.he was very nice during the ride.

When I asked him what could be done he said wait and see if it get worse also theres a file on it if I had a problem after the warrany ends,I said I cant live with it that long I have 23k on it it its warranty expires at 50K
He said if your not satisfied call the BBB .I said I didnt want to go that route at this point I just want it fixed,He said he will look into it and get back to me.
I asked him was he a service tech in the past he said he was a body tech,I think I know more then he did about mechanics.

More was said but end result was nothing.
I think I will give him a little time to "look into it" I dont have much choice

Im doing a tire rotation in about 1,000 miles at my brothers shop We will inspect the brakes ourselfs at that time ,maybe we can figure it out.


F5
I did get the field reps buisiness card with his name and info I will PM to you,Not sure if you can give any help considering we dont know what the cause of the problem is but your opinion his highly valued.

Hmmm3 I guess its your turn at bat

Im Done for now
GRRR Grrr grrr I feel

[Hmmm2]

OMG, fourfourto!!!!! You are stuck between a rock and a hard place. I REALLY thought that this guy would have suggested a 'fix' for you .. or at least, re-do the pads again. I have to admit that I don't know anything about brake pads, but, the last dealership who looked at mine said they cut the pads in a diamond shape? Does that make sense? He said it would help considerably since I live on a (slight) hill. I have only had the groan come back once, and that was when I was the passenger in my H3 when it happened. I still can't believe that the field rep couldn't offer you anything more than "I'll look into it". Geeez, how long have you already been waiting?? Sounds like I'm venting, sorry. I went through a lot of that same nonsense, but I stayed a 'squeeky wheel' through it all. I couldn't stand the noise and the feel in the brake pedal when the groan happened. I really felt it was a disaster waiting to happen as I was going downhill. Fourfourto, check your pm's.

[fourfourto]

Hmmm3 I dont see any Pm's,I check later

I added your next up at bat but then realized yours stoped making noise,
Funny thing after I did the panic stop the noise was less noticable?
It was raining but the rep heard the noise.

I think im going to inhale a few beers

[Wisha Haddan H3]

That sure sucks 442. I feel for you.

What I don't get is how anybody can say that noise is "normal". Since when has brake noise EVER been normal on a vehicle? Brake noise has always meant bad things.

Good luck with this

[f5fstop]

Originally Posted by fourfourto

I dont know where to start

Short version ... Dam Fvckin Bullshlt


The GM field rep went for a ride with me along with the service manager.
It was making the noise but not as bad as it usually does(it was raining also)He said something about antilock brakes ,I said the pumps in the front and noise is from rear also Im not braking hard enough to kick in antilocks.I then did a panic stop at 30mph to kick in the anti locks and I said THATS THE ANTILOCKS and he didnt mention that again.
He drove back and He heared the noise but mostly was trying to feather off the brake short of the full stop or trying it at a 10 mph stop.I told him you have to stop from over 30mph for it to be noticable.I also said its worse stoping at the bottom of a long hill.
I also showed him the video on my camera explaining its a lot louder on the outside and said its embarrassing.
Anyway we get back to the dealer and he says he feels its not dangerous it is a Normal charactoristic of the H3 there is no fix he will look into it and bring it up with the enginers at the next meeting in a few weeks.
I said If we went for a ride with any H3 on the lot it wouldnt make the noise,he didnt say anything.
during the ride he did say it was the first time he was in and drove a H3 How can he tell me normal if he never drove one

He did compliment my eclipse system and liked the rear camera.he also liked the clinometer.he was very nice during the ride.

When I asked him what could be done he said wait and see if it get worse also theres a file on it if I had a problem after the warrany ends,I said I cant live with it that long I have 23k on it it its warranty expires at 50K
He said if your not satisfied call the BBB .I said I didnt want to go that route at this point I just want it fixed,He said he will look into it and get back to me.
I asked him was he a service tech in the past he said he was a body tech,I think I know more then he did about mechanics.

More was said but end result was nothing.
I think I will give him a little time to "look into it" I dont have much choice

Im doing a tire rotation in about 1,000 miles at my brothers shop We will inspect the brakes ourselfs at that time ,maybe we can figure it out.


F5
I did get the field reps buisiness card with his name and info I will PM to you,Not sure if you can give any help considering we dont know what the cause of the problem is but your opinion his highly valued.

Hmmm3 I guess its your turn at bat

Im Done for now
GRRR Grrr grrr I feel

I replied, and for everyone else a regional or marketing area service manager is not usually technical. Always try and get a regional service engineer, as the name implies, they are familiar with the vehicle's working.

Ok, let me get off the t/case kick. If it is something in the rear brakes, then the only thing I can think of is a modulating frequency that happens when you harsly apply the brakes, which would make the vehicle sway forward and downward. When the piston inside the caliper is applied it generates a frequency since it is vibrating against the pad. Shims are installed between the back of the pads and the piston(s) to absorb this frequency. Usually, the shim will have some type of lubricant or be made of Teflon.
I'm only guessing here....
but could the lubricant on the shim be wearing off....
could the shim be bad altogether
could there be no shim installed?

On a different angle....
Pads, are also used to absorb the frequency between the pad and the rotor as well as generate the heat to stop the vehicle. A change in pads might solve the problem.

Just some thoughts, and that is all they are.

I guess on a hard stop, a bearing race could even be spinning slightly in the hub. Not sure what they might sound like....

[fourfourto]

Do the brakes normaly have shims or only when needed?
I can pop the pads off myself and look,also I can add teflon lub if needed.
Im going to inspect next month when I do a tire rotation.

For now im living with it till its figured out.

You would think they would have sent a engineer .He never took it into the shop.

[f5fstop]

Not all come with shims, but most I have ever seen do. You can purchase shims from an auto parts store and install one between the piston and the pad; might be worth a try; might not do a thing.

If you add lube, do it very sparingly.

[whaaaaT]

waaahooooo fourfourto! Im having the same problem just came on here to check and see if anyone else has it. Mines really loud and last a lot longer than yours but its when i break. I noticed your on long island. Are you taking your truck to ramp hummer? Cause thats where im going Monday to complain.

[fourfourto]

Originally Posted by whaaaaT

waaahooooo fourfourto! Im having the same problem just came on here to check and see if anyone else has it. Mines really loud and last a lot longer than yours but its when i break. I noticed your on long island. Are you taking your truck to ramp hummer? Cause thats where im going Monday to complain.

Yes I went to ramp hummer,lucas the service manager is a very nice guy,but still says noise is normal no fix? The field rep backed him up with normal also
Let me know what happens .
Does your noise come at the end of the stop?

Where are you on long island ,do you ever go to smiths point beach?

[RubHer Yellow Ducky]

I read through the entire manual again. I can't find ANYWEAR where it says

"The H-3 HUMMER has an exclusive GROANING noise in its brakes so as to make this vehicle stand out from all others"

RYD