Nick, anti seize works great on fasteners and non critically finished moving parts. WRT brakes, one place that anti seize should never be used is on disc brake caliper pins; it has suspended metal particles that will cause abrasive wear on the finish of both the bore and pins, destroying the sliding fit. I found this out the hard way!
Could have been more specific, for the guide pins only silicone grease is used. Should be water proof, but the boots don't last very long. But this is the only spot, anti-seize for all the exposed parts.
NEVER WORKED ON CRUZE DRUM BRAKES!
With this aside, for that last 64 some years also have been able to back off the adjuster and here is the reason why. A ridge forms on the outer edge due to drum wear, and you cannot remove the drums until you back off that adjuster!
If you can't back off the adjuster, how are you going to remove the drums? Sure can't file that off because the backing plate is in the way, and can't remove that until you remove the drum! If this is the way the Cruze drums are made, Chevy should replace all these rear brakes so you can.
On vehicles that were so badly rusted, had to split the drum to get the darn this off.
Had two problems with my Chevy P-30 this spring, first when I hit the brakes, the pedal would not return. Uses a Hydroboost power braking system the spool was sticking that activates the master cylinder and darn near have to remove the body to get at that hydroboost.
So used a syringe to remove all of the PS fluid and poured in Lucas PS conditional, freed that spool up almost instantly.
Second problem that relates to the Cruze, brake pedal was going practically clear down to the floor. So I started the engine and backed it up at about 2 mph and kept on tapping on the brake pedal while doing so. After a short reverse trip, had a full pedal again.
Cruze should operate the same way, if the pedal does not come up while tapping on the brake pedal something is wrong. Ha, was glad this pedal came back up, takes a very strong guy with a boy to remove those rear brake drums. I did redo the brakes on this thing when I first got it, not strong enough to hold these super heavy drums at arms length so I can see what I was doing. But could lay on my back and lift them up, but needed help to guide them back one. Had to be perfectly straight, and laying on my back, couldn't see what I was doing.
Not a problem with the Cruze, two fingers can install that drum. Or other vehicles like it.
Oh, I do use anti-sieze on the threads of the adjusters, plus on the end cap, these have to be spun on effortlessly. Do have a tap for the right hand thread for cleaning, but not for the left hand thread. Cheaper to buy new adjusters than buying a left hand tap. Lower anchors are always a problem with binding.
Racking my brain for those stupid clips on the front calipers on the pad brackets for a long term cure. A blind spot where salt gets in and jams the pads so they can't return.
One solution I came up with is to trade my Cruze in for an older vehicle that didn't use them. Really a stupid idea. With rear discs, using that same bracket. Least you don't have this problem with drums, but apparently different problems.
