2000 Chevy Malibu brakes versus bearings

Tiny
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  • MEMBER
  • 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 70,890 MILES
How can I differentiate the difference between a bearing problem and a brake problem? I just replaced the rear brake pads and drums. However, my brother questions whether it could be the bearings instead.
How do I repair the bearings if it is the bearings?
Any help with this situation appreciated.
Thank you,
Carol
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Saturday, October 23rd, 2010 AT 7:33 PM

14 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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  • 30,870 POSTS
So you replaced the brake pad's?So do you mean you replaced the rear rotor's not drum's?SO did you replace these part's because of noise?Or because you needed brake's?Also is the noise coming from the front or the back?Also do you have a jack and jack stand's?Let me know so I can help you.
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Saturday, October 23rd, 2010 AT 9:58 PM
Tiny
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I replaced the rear drums and pads. I am still getting the same grinding noise. After looking at the repair manual again, it looks like the parking brake cable should go through the back plate and what should it attach to? It wasn't through the back plate when we took it off. Any help appreciated.
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Monday, October 25th, 2010 AT 7:34 AM
Tiny
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There should be a arm on one of the shoe's the cable goes to.
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Monday, October 25th, 2010 AT 11:38 AM
Tiny
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So after you replaced the brake's and hooked up the ebrake cable do you still have your noise?
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Monday, October 25th, 2010 AT 5:44 PM
Tiny
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I still have the noise. I am going to check the front brakes to see if I possibly have a frozen caliper. I just replaced the rear brake pads and drums because the pads and discs were replaced on the car about 13,000 miles ago but it is possible they could be worn. I won't know now until I check them.
Thank you so much for your responses. I am a do it yourself female want to be mechanic and am trying to figure out the problem.
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Monday, October 25th, 2010 AT 9:49 PM
Tiny
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So is the noise coming from the front or the rear?
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Monday, October 25th, 2010 AT 10:36 PM
Tiny
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It seems to be coming more from the front.
Thank you once again.
Carol
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Monday, October 25th, 2010 AT 10:38 PM
Tiny
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If the front brakes are good give this a try with both front wheels off the ground and the car on Jack stands. Put the car in neautral then put one hand on the front coil spring while spining the wheel as fast as you can with your other hand check both sides to compare with each other. If you have a bad bearing you should be able to feel it in the coil spring.
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Tuesday, October 26th, 2010 AT 12:34 AM
Tiny
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I will definitely give that a try.
Thank you,
Carol
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Tuesday, October 26th, 2010 AT 12:50 AM
Tiny
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http://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/416332_2000_chevy_malibu_coil_spring_1.jpg


Call out number 4 is the coil spring.
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Tuesday, October 26th, 2010 AT 4:58 PM
Tiny
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DoI have this correct the coil spring is part of the strut assembly in the front? I hung the caliper on this with a bungy cord to keep it out of the way and not damage the brake line.
Just to let you know, I had to replace the front rotors and pads because apparently one of the brake pads was put on wrong and really scored the rotor badly. The clip that was supposed to be sticking out was going the wrong way on the front right wheel and the piston on the left caliper was frozen which I was able to clear with the C-Clip.
I watched the video on how to change the front brake pads and rotors which was great. The only problem was that they were able to turn the rotor and caliper toward the master cylinder. I couldn't get it to budge.
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Tuesday, October 26th, 2010 AT 7:02 PM
Tiny
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Yes the coil spring a part of the strut but it's replaceable. It's hard to turn the caliper and rotor from side to side by hand and you have to remember to leave the steering unlocked. So is your noise gone now since you replace the rotor's and brake's?Glad to hear your learning to fix your car that's a good thing to learn you can save a lot of money that way.
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Tuesday, October 26th, 2010 AT 8:18 PM
Tiny
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The noise is now gone. Thank goodness.
What I did notice while looking at the coil spring, is that the boot was not secured. There are holes in the boot. Should there be screws in there to hold it down or onto the strut?
Thank you again for your help and support, it has been great. It gave me the boost I needed to keep going with the job.
Sincerely,
Carol
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Wednesday, October 27th, 2010 AT 6:53 AM
Tiny
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Your welcome that's what were here for to help people with there car's. The bottom of the boot just hang's out it's not secure glad to hear you got it all fixed.
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Wednesday, October 27th, 2010 AT 11:08 AM

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