Brake noise??

[SEHunter]

I’ve got a 99 CC DS with factory drum brakes that’s making a loud noise that I’m having a hard time diagnosing. The cart stops fine and doesn’t lock up when i hit the brakes but they make a noise like a rusty barn door. It’s not constant, it’s doing it at a rhythm thats in time with one full revolution of the wheel. The pads and drums are in good condition and I’ve replaced them not long ago with new adjusters and springs. Its as if something in there is out of round as the wheels rotate. Its not a squeal, it’s more of a loud squeak with the rotation of the wheel.

At work in the maintenance department we have golf carts and Pack Mule and Taylor Dunn transporters that I’ve heard make the same noise. The cart is quiet when not pressing the brakes but when the brakes are applied, it makes the noise. I’m wondering if the drum is off center and rocking the pads around. Anyone else experienced this?

[WalterM6]

The first thing I'd check would be to see if the shoes are on correctly. Each wheel has a leading brake shoe and a trailing brake shoe. This would produce the out-of-round you mentioned if they were on wrong.

[rowlands57]

There are also areas on the backing plates that take a little dab of brake grease. Usually they are raised areas with corresponding tabs on the shoes, not the friction material, but the metal part of the shoes. A dab of grease on these spots will reduce squeal where the two metal surfaces make contact.

[SEHunter]

Thanks for the tips. I’ll verify correct orientation of the pads. Lubrication on the back plate might be the issue. I’ve seen new brake assemblies that have a plastic rubbing sheet behind the adjusters for a lack of better description. Mine don’t have that, maybe it wore off or never had it, idk. Ill try a dab of grease in these spots. If that doesn’t last maybe ill look at replacing the whole assembly with a new back plate

[Fairtax4me]

If the shoes were on the wrong sides the drum would not fit back on. They only fit one way.

Could just be lack of lubrication if you didn't put a dab of grease or antiseize on the slide bumps on the backing plate. Just a thin smear is all that's needed. If you use too much it can get on the friction surface and cause problems.

The slider for the brake lever also needs to be greased and those can cause a similar squeak if they're dry/rusty. I usually spray white lithium grease on those and work them back and forth about 10 times and then wipe off the excess.