Well here we go again with infamous GM calipers. My rear left caliper is dragging again. This one was replaced in December and the rubber line was replaced less than 2 years ago. Pads/rotors are less than a year old. I hear the characteristic "groan" noise again that happens a few weeks before the caliper fails completely and heats up like the last two. Normally it is audible starting out after being parked overnight. This will be the third replacement in 3 years. Pads are equal and no mechanic has ever found anything wrong when I report the noise. I even had the rear pins greased because those were suspect after the snowstorms where I drove through snow up to the doors, but they were in good condition.

I am having the caliper and brake hose done (hopefully keeping the pads) next week along with the parking brake shoes since I plan on taking a road trip in the spring somewhere nice and remote. Any specific brands I should look for on RockAuto? Metal piston the best one? The parking brake shoes are worn away and the backing plates are rusted (with the right rear part cut off at the bottom), but to my knowledge the parking brake shoe part is intact. I was told to replace those, but is that really needed? That is complicated and expensive to do.