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I have a new/used 2003 Civic 4 door, and when I come to a stop, the brakes are fine, but when I release the brake, there is a squeak that isn't from inside, it's outside some place.

Any ideas of where I should look? My first thought is that it's the rear brakes, but I'm not sure. Does this car have drum brakes in the rear?

--Tom

 
Rep Power: 308

Check the front pads quickly !!

The "wear indicators" work just as you described. (scrape noise when brakes off, noise goes away when brakes applied.

 
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Your car has rear brake drums. The noise you describe could be worn shoes.

 
Rep Power: 258

have the same prob. everytime i release the brake pedal or hand brake, there is a squeak from the rear. i adjusted my rear shoes, and for the 2 days it was adjusted, the sound wasnt there, but now for some reason, it un-adjusted (well, the pedal goes back to the floor now....????) and the squeak is back

 
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Your rear drums are self-adjusting so you shouldn't have to adjust them. The brake pedal going to the floor sounds like another problem. Maybe fluid issues?

 
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i signed on today for this exact problem. i just did a sound check at all four wheels, while someone pumped the brakes.

the noise only occurs upon relaseing the brakes, and never if the hand brake is engaged (even just a little)

is this the wear indicator as posted b4?

 
Rep Power: 308

^^^ Does not sound like worn pads IMO.

When the wear indicators are working correct, they make an almost constant scrape noise (front only) when the car is moving and will stop making the noise when brakes are applied.

If you can get your rear hubs off you could try a bit of brake cleaner.

 
Rep Power: 328

99% sure its the rear brake shoe contact points that are dry/dirty. Only sure cure is to remove brake shoes , clean backing plates and lube the contact points on each shoe. Then reassemble it all. Sometimes you can clean with brake clean and pull the shoe out enough to get some lube behind the shoe at those points, but please dont get any on the shoe material surface!

 
Rep Power: 247

i had this problem and it was the shoes were scraping the back of the drum plate. i lubed it and cleaned it b4 but it always came back. then i took it in and it was adjusted. the adjuster is part #17. it has to be clicked towards u i believe about 5-6 clicks at a time. then turn the drum (w/ the parking brake down and drum cover on) and kep adjusting until u get a lil resistance.