Pampusik

friend of mine recommend me to get rid of " smooshing " of mine rear brakes ( I hear "shhhh"" sound when stopping quite intensively ) by pulling emergency brakes from time to time for couple of minutes in Parking. According to him, shoes are little bit lifted and brakes are co called readjusted.
Is it valid for Protege 99, rear drum brakes?

carguycw

Your rear brakes self-adjust every time you pull the e-brake. You should NEVER have to adjust them unless you have just replaced your shoes. The only reason they would ever go out of adjustment is (a) if you never use your e-brake, or (b) if an adjuster wheel gets stuck. However, if they WERE out of adjustment, you would have excessive pedal freeplay- in other words, the pedal would go down 1-2 inches before anything happens, then the brakes would work normally. (Excess air or water in the fluid also causes a low brake pedal, but the brakes will be mushy when they engage. Mis-adjusted drums don't feel mushy.)

Rear brake adjustment has *nothing* to do with the sound you're hearing. Either your rear brake shoes are worn out, or something has come loose (most likely a spring) and is rubbing against the drums.

Pampusik

thank you so much, so I will take down drums and will see ( if something loosen)- will clean the brakes same time. Dealer said that shoes are new, and that stupido mechanic that sound is quite normal ( it took him for ages to recognize it- first 10 sttopages he even had his earplugs- what a moron).