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Chevrolet Cobalt Brake Problems

24 messages,  Last post on Nov 18, 2009 at 1:44 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Cobalt, Brakes, Coupe, Sedan

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#17 of 24 Re: Brake fluid question? [harrisblack] by poncho167 Feb 13, 2009 (3:22 pm)
Replying to: harrisblack (Feb 12, 2009 12:20 pm) Go with what it says in your manual or consult a dealer for their opinion. I am sure you know that if you switch you will need to flush the whole system. Replies to this message: harrisblack (Feb 21, 2009 12:07 pm)
#18 of 24 Re: Brake fluid question? [poncho167] by harrisblack Feb 21, 2009 (12:07 pm)
Replying to: poncho167 (Feb 13, 2009 3:22 pm) I called Prestone. The stores around us only carry synthetic and not the regular brake fluid. Prestone said that we could mix both the regular and synthetic. The original fluid is synthetic and that they started putting synthetic on the bottles.   The number I called was 1-800-890-2075. The guy I talked to was named Roger.
#19 of 24 Brake problem solved! by ranjean2003 Mar 16, 2009 (5:50 am)
Problem: 2005 Cobalt, no ABS, manual transmission - car would always spin around in event of medium to hard braking. Solution: Finally found a good GM mechanic who didn't assume I was a wacko. He says before rear automatic brake adjusters can do their job, emergency (parking brake) MUST be set when parked. Apparently, when the parking brake is set, the cable activates a small pin which allows the self-adjusters to work. Owner's manual does not say anything about this - it just says use parking brake each time - not why. Until now, we religiously DID NOT use the parking brake, because the salt from our winter roads can cause them to freeze up if applied.   For those who don't know, rear brakes on cars with rear drums are usually designed to self-adjust as the driver backs up and applies brakes lightly. That is such a common scenario that no one has to be instructed about it. The e-brake thing, not so common. My car was braking like a bicycle when you only use the front brake. The back end would whip around causing a spin. Now I can stop straight with all 4 wheels braking evenly. This is a very important issue! I will re-post this under a new heading so people don't miss it. Wish I knew a better way to get the word out.
#20 of 24 Solved my dangerous braking problem! by ranjean2003 Mar 16, 2009 (5:52 am)
Problem: 2005 Cobalt, no ABS, manual transmission - car would always spin around in event of medium to hard braking. Solution: Finally found a good GM mechanic who didn't assume I was a wacko. He says before rear automatic brake adjusters can do their job, emergency (parking brake) MUST be set when parked. Apparently, when the parking brake is set, the cable activates a small pin which allows the self-adjusters to work. Owner's manual does not say anything about this - it just says use parking brake each time - not why. Until now, we religiously DID NOT use the parking brake, because the salt from our winter roads can cause them to freeze up if applied.   For those who don't know, rear brakes on cars with rear drums usually designed to self-adjust as the driver backs up and applies brakes lightly. That is such a common scenario that no one has to be instructed about it. The e-brake thing, not so common. My car was braking like a bicycle when you only use the front brake. The back end would whip around causing a spin. Now I can skid straight. This is a very important issue! I will re-post this under a new heading so people don't miss it. Wish I knew a better way to get the word out. Replies to this message: poncho167 (Mar 20, 2009 2:33 pm) tcalof (Mar 16, 2009 4:55 pm) bobandgidget (Nov 18, 2009 1:44 pm)
#21 of 24 Re: Solved my dangerous braking problem! [ranjean2003] by poncho167 Mar 20, 2009 (2:33 pm)
Replying to: ranjean2003 (Mar 16, 2009 5:52 am) I have always used the emergency brake when parking my manual transmission vehicles. Being a big car buff I knew that it was good for the brake adjustments and cables.
#22 of 24 Re: My Cobalt brake problem solution! [ranjean2003] by tcalof Mar 16, 2009 (4:55 pm)
Replying to: ranjean2003 (Mar 16, 2009 5:52 am) The parking brake SHOULD be applied regularly so that salt from the winter roads does NOT cause the emergency brake cable to freeze up.
#23 of 24 Re: 07 Cobalt Brake Problem [bsmith7] by ngillum Nov 02, 2009 (11:36 am)
Replying to: bsmith7 (Nov 26, 2006 3:19 pm) My car is doing the same thing. I have taken it to the dealership over a dozen times and they think I am crazy. The car brakes by itself!!!!!!!! Something has got to be done about all of this. It's sad but even worse, now I am stuck with a car payment on a car that I can't drive.
#24 of 24 Re: Solved my dangerous braking problem! [ranjean2003] by bobandgidget Nov 18, 2009 (1:44 pm)
Replying to: ranjean2003 (Mar 16, 2009 5:52 am) Thanks so much for posting this. I had to brake this morning at 65 MPH and spun out, ended up facing the wrong way on the freeway and covered 3 lanes. I'm so lucky no one hit me.

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