Adjusting 2007 aveo rear brakes

Rear brakes on Dakotas are notorious for having adjustment issues. What happens is when the rear brakes are replaced, most DIYers and repair shops do not bother to replace the hardware kit, self adjuster and adjuster lever. What happens is the star wheel on the self-adjuster wears out the ridge on the adjuster lever that is supposed to keep the rear brakes adjusted. Unless you replace these components, you will face a constant battle to keep the rear brakes adjusted and will invariably be wearing out front brakes and rotors much faster than the norm.

Unless you have replaced the cable, it should never need to be adjusted. If you can reach under the vehicle, and when wiggling the parking brake cable, if it is taut (not sagging), then it is probably adjusted properly. What usually causes the parking brake cable to appear mis-adjusted (the parking brake won't hold the vehicle), is that the self-adjusters in the rear drum brakes are not working properly. This is bad because it means that you are not getting proper braking from the rear brakes as well as having the parking brake issue. This can cause premature wear to the front disc brake pads/rotors and affect braking power and control under certain stopping conditions. Front disc brakes work so well that many people never realize that their rear brakes aren't doing their fair share. The purpose of the self-adjusters in the drum brakes is to keep the rear brake shoes at a consistent distance from the drum's inner surface as the shoe lining wears down. If the adjuster works correctly, the parking brake will always stay in adjustment. You CAN adjust the parking brake cable, but if the problem is actually with the self-adjuster, you are masking the real problem, and later on when you need to replace the rear brake shoes, you will find it impossible to put the drum back on over the shoes as the parking brake will have the shoes pushed out too far. Have a mechanic check out the self-adjuster mechanism. It is always a good idea whenever you replace the rear brake shoes to replace all the rear brake hardware as well. You don't replace rear brakes nearly as often as the front ones, and the cost of the hardware is minimal in relation to the satisfaction of knowing that non-corroded parts will work better and provide longer service than the older, gummed-up and rusted hardware that is currently installed.

Generally speaking, the front brakes do most of the work of stopping--typically between 70-90%. The potential reasons for your truck's rear brakes wearing abnormally quickly include:

--the adjuster(s) on your rear drum brakes were adjusted too tight. (I'm pretty sure you have drum brakes in the rear.)

--You are doing a lot of heavy towing or hauling which is transferring more of the weight to the rear brakes. You'd have to be doing this often, though, and frequently meeting or exceeding the capacity of your vehicle to tow or haul.

--The proportioning valve, the master cylinder or a brake line somewhere is damaged, causing more hydraulic pressure than is correct to be applied to the rear brakes.

-- Your parking brake cable is kinked or damaged, causing the rear brakes to constantly rub. You'd likely smell burning brakes and notice heat from the wheels.

-- Your rear drum brakes are clogged up with brake dust and the springs cannot properly retract the brake shoes, resulting in constant rubbing.

Most likely one of these issues is your problem if you have premature rear brake wear.

The dual brake system is split front and rear, with the front wheel brakes comprising one circuit and the rear wheel brakes, the other circuit.

I suspect it's a bad mastercylinder

Dodge, Plymouth, and Chrysler minivans are notorious for poor longevity of the front brake pads. Also, the low friction material "squeel" tabs are none to brake off or just not do the job they are meant to do. That is why people end up haveing to replace their rotors. I am an ASE certified mechanic with just under 15 years of experience. I tell all my customers with Chrysler minivan products to have their brakes at least once a year to avoid costly repair bills. If you can catch your brake pads before they start grinding into the rotors that's an expense everyone can afford to not have.

Most of the stopping power goes to the front of the car. You usually go thru two sets or sometimes three sets of front pads before you need to change the rear brakes. It sounds odd the rear brakes need to be replaced at 22,000. havee the front brakes been replaced before?

normally grinding and a hard pedal mean excessive wear on the brake pads, you wont feel it as much at higher speeds, at low speads its more previlant due to the pressure......check front pads first, the rear ones usually wear a lot slower

This is a good case for warranty repair. Often a noncovered part takes out a covered one and at least something is fixed free. Contact your salesperson first. Your car has been made for years and they know what is normal and not normal for it. It has been least than 11 months despite being over 12000 miles.

everything the mechanic suggested is right on target. Over time you do not realize that the ride of your car has deteriorated until you put on the new struts and the alignment is a must after the replacement of those struts. As far as the back brakes being good versus the front being worn out, the front brakes take a lot more abuse than the rears do to eight transfer upon braking.