2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS: rotors or pads wearing out early

Filed Jun 8, 2017 · Brakes · 99,990 miles · IN

While parked the parking brake lever release button jammed and I could not release the parking brakes. There is abnormal noise heard in the rear breaking system when reversing. Abnormal premature wear to inside rear brake pads and rotor discs

Filed Apr 26, 2011 · Brakes · 2,849 miles · WI

1. Begin squeaking and e brake begins to no longer hold the car 2. Rear breaks pads wear out very quickly about every 10,000 to 15,000 miles 3. Put new pads on.

Filed May 3, 2010 · Brakes · 21,000 miles · AL

Rear brake pads worn out after 20k mile and rotor are groved and you can hear the brake pads rubbing metal on metal. Also the rear calipers aren't releasing the rear rotors correctly due to caliper slide pins not being lubricated from the factory. Front brake pads and rotor are wearing normally. I dropped my car off at my local chevrolet dealership for the brakes to be fixed under warranty. I was told if it was a caliper issue then it would be covered underwarranty.

Filed Apr 22, 2010 · Brakes · 20,000 miles · AL

The problem I am experiencing with my 2008 chevrolet cobalt ss is the rear brake pads wearing out quickly under normal driving conditions. Because the brake bias is set to the front brakes, they should wear out long before the rear brakes. I believe the problem lies in the hardware of the braking package. Either the caliper is causing the pad to constantly rub the rotor or some other issue is present. I first noticed that the rotors were scored at about 3,000 miles, was told it was normal. At 20,000 miles the rear pads were down to the metal on the inside pad. Also, its not just a problem with the rear pads, every rotor on the car is scored beyond normal wear. This is a known problem with a lot of the 2008+ ss cobalts, not with the way they are being driven. General motors is aware of the problem, as many people have complained. When I took my car to the dealer, they too said that it was uneven wear that should not have happened. But, instead of looking into the cause of the problem, they simply replaced the rear pads. This was a temporary "patch" not a fix. In 5,000 miles, they'll start to wear again unevenly. I think general motors needs to evaluate the rotors and pads on these cars. Under no circumstances, is there an excuse for the brakes and rotors to be worn out on these cars at 20,000 miles under daily driving conditions. If the problem only effected a couple of cars, it could be blamed on the driving patterns of the operator. However, this is a common problem for all the owners as passed along through enthusiast car forums.

Filed Apr 8, 2010 · Brakes · 23,500 miles · AZ

Rear brake calipers not applying even force on both inner and outer pads, causing premature wear and tear on the pads and rotors, and additional stress on the braking system.

Filed Apr 1, 2010 · Brakes · 16,000 miles · OH

1. Normal driving conditions since purchase of vehicle in july 2008. 2. Failure includes extreme premature wear and scoring on rear rotors and uneven wear on rear brake pads. 3. Original dealership turned and milled rear rotors at 7800 miles. Vehicle is now back at same dealer at 16000 miles for same issue.

Filed Sep 19, 2009 · Brakes · 31,000 miles · MO

2008 chevrolet cobalt ss. Rear brake rotors badly grooved. Inner brake pad worn completely out. Outer pad worn to less than 50%. Front rotors have small grooves and have just under 40% of pad life left. Gm dealer would not fix under warranty but acknowledged that they didn't know why rear brakes are wearing before fronts. I have owned car since it was new. No racing just daily commuting to and from work (40miles one-way). Installed oem pads at 15000. Have seen problem progressively get worse since about 7000 miles. Current mileage approx. 32000,pads worn out in same manner as stated above and rotors are severely grooved, worn past safe refinish limits. Front pads are in ok shape and small grooves in rotors. 95% of driving is done on highway.

Filed Sep 9, 2009 · Brakes · 18,000 miles · CA

At approximately 18,000 miles, my 2008 chevrolet cobalt ss had a grinding noise coming from the rear brakes. This noise was worse when I used the brakes. I drove the vehicle another 30 miles to my destination. Upon arrival, I noticed that I had lost about 50% of my braking power and that the grinding noise was much worse than when I first noticed it, 30 miles earlier. Of course, I replaced the brake pads, knowing that the noise they were making was caused by the pads wearing out and the metal grinding against the rotor. To my surprise, only the inside brake pads were worn to the metal, and the outer brake pads had just over 1/4 of an inch of pad left. I immediately called my local gm dealer and I was informed that there is a tsb (technical service bulletin) posted in their computer systems that says the problem is caused by the driver and that gm dealers are not to cover the rear brake problem. I know that this problem will occur in another 20,000 miles because there is something wrong with the calipers or entire brake system. The inside pads should not wear out faster than the front. They should also wear evenly. Another concern I have is the loss of braking power in only 30 miles from the earliest sign of a brake problem. I don't like the fact that the rear brakes, specifically the inside brake pads, are doing approximately 50% of the braking. Most of the braking should be done by the front brakes, which have well of 1/4 of an inch of brake pad left on the inside and outside pads.

Filed Aug 15, 2009 · Brakes · 16,500 miles · GA

2008 chevrolet cobalt ss. Rear brake rotors badly grooved. Inner brake pad worn completely out. Outer pad worn to 50%. Front rotors are smooth and 80% of pad life left.gm dealer would not fix under warranty but acknowledged that they didn't know why rear brakes are wearing before fronts. I have owned car since it was new. No racing just daily commuting. Had rotors turned and installed oem pads at 16500. Have seen problem progressively get worse since about 4000 miles. Current mileage 35000,pads worn out in same manner as stated above and rotors are severely grooved again,worn past safe refinish limits. Front pads are still in very good shape and no grooves in rotors. Car is driven mostly on interstate.

Filed Jul 31, 2009 · Brakes · 6,100 miles · MD

Rear brake noise and grinding and rotors scored and grooved after 6k miles. The rear brake noise was present even when I was driving and worse when braking. The car went to two dealerships and was told this advanced and premature wear was normal.

Filed Apr 2, 2009 · Brakes · 20,700 miles · MI

Terrible premature wear of rear brake pads and rotors on 2008 chevrolet cobalt ss turbocharged with roughly 20,000 miles... Inside pad and inward facing side of rotors show great damage. Very deep gauges to inward side of both rear rotors. Very common problem on all 2008-2009 cobalt ss turbocharged vehicles.