Squeak/Noise at complete stop.....
 

Heres another vague symptom that I need diagnosed (cobalt 2008 LS - 41,000 miles)....

I notice a periodic squeak/rubbing noise from the rear passenger side when the vehicle comes to a complete stop. This noise only appears 3 out of 10 time when the vehicle comes to a complete stop and only right before it stops completely and not during the entire duration of time the brakes are applied.

About a month ago I had a new rim installed in that location. The vehicle also had an alignment at that time as well as 4 new tires. I have not noticed this noise until now (month on new rim). The only thing I have tried to remedy it is to make sure the lugs were torqued to 100 lb as per the manual. I dont think its break related since I dont hear the normal warning squeak when the tires are in rotation. Also there is no noise when the brakes are generally applied.

What would you do to troubleshoot this? Any ideas?

Do you have drum brakes?
If so the pads are probably slightly glazed or the brake pads aren't adjusting on that side and are not actually doing much braking.
Pull off drums and sand pads and drum with 80 or 60 emery and try them again.

A test to see if it's the rears I like to do is as I'm driving along pull up slowly on the hand brake and listen for the squealing.
Or pull up hard on it with no cars around(country road or side street) and see if both tires lock up.

At 41,000 miles I am still on the original brakes. I havent had to get a brake job on a vehicle in a very long time.... if it comes to that, should I be shopping just new pads front and rear or rotors etc... a complete brake job? I am not sure how much generally this repair cost these days.

Thanks, Im open to all suggestions/tips....

sounds like brakes to me,

I had recently gotten new tires balanced and an alignment. If I need new pad or brake job, does that cancel out my alignment?