[Gladis]

replaced tired drum assembly with raybestos parts, new springs, new shoes, new cylinders, and new drums. However, not getting proper pressure, needs six to ten pumps for the shoes to engage, bled brakes many many times. Do not see any visible leaks, however air continues to get into the system, bubbles appear in rear master cylinder reservoir. Fronts work just fine, will hold the car while I do easy burnouts in the parking lot. However cool this is, the car is not safe to drive. Any ideas as to what two novice brake engineers might have screwed up?

[carsavvycook]

The rear brakes need to be bled again until no air comes out. Then adjust the rear shoes again. It sounds like the rear shoes are way out of adjustment. That can happen after the first time you brake to a stop. That action will center the brake shoe's to the drums.

NOTE; I have found (cheap, imported, made in China) brake drums, and rotors, to have too large of a center hole, where it fits onto the axle or hub, to be too large in diameter. This causes the adjustment to feel good, until you bolt on the tire and drive it.

By American Made

[Gladis]

raybestos, proud to say, made in the usa.

We've spent about 2 hours bleeding and adjusting.

[carsavvycook]

Try this. Back off the "emergency brake" cable then re-adjust the rear brakes.
It sounds like the E-Brake has been adjusted.

HOW does the E-Brake feel? Does it hold?

[tbill]

replaced tired drum assembly....

what did it do before? maybe the new parts aren't the root of the problem?


maybe another issue led you to replace what you replaced?

[Gladis]

no the shoes were cracking, and it was just massive amounts of air in the line, then I also replaced the master cylinder to just make darn sure, it's almost ok now, and I'm driving anyway because I am crazy.