Brake Drum Springs or dust in Grease?

Hi,



I've got a Rover 45, 2005, 1.4 with drums/shoes in the rear.

Even After 70,000 miles I've never bothered to open the drums, so all the dust is still in there. Handbrake is on 6 notches so not much wear. Thats because I generally use early engine braking / motorway ramps to slowdown, only brake lightly to bring to a stop from sub-20 mph. Sterotypical Rover driver. The brakes really only get used hard during the annual tests - which pass.



Anyway, the brakes make a noise now when you release the pedal or handbrake (no noise when applying, only releasing). I've also heard this noise from mid-90s Bubble Honda Civics.



My question is - what generally causes this?

Do the shoe return springs generally become noisey/creaky with age?

Is it that brake dust has worked its way into the grease that lubes between the shoe and the backplate?

A worn/dusty handbrake ratchet?



Or something else?



Can I ignore it?



Thanks

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