Brakes

[MrBen]

Pedal is spongy. I haven't tried pumping it while the car is on, I guess I'll have to try that. Both sides were worn equally, but I know the left caliper had the gasket ripped up and crap but it was put it back on there anyway. It had dirt in there. The ebrake works like a charm. It was never lubricated or anything because everything looked ok.

I'm thinking I should take it somewhere other than my guy down at the shop that I've been loyal to.

[anchovies]

You said you put in new shoes, did you adjust it correctly. You might want to try that again. The shoes as close to the drum as possible but still letting the drums spin freely.
And try gravity bleeding it.

[Dutchboy]

I would lubricate the sliders using brake lube...and check the rear brake shoes to see if there adjusted right..

When i bought my car the brakes were shitty just like you describe and my sliders were binding and the back adjusters werent working correctly ....so this created a really hard braking situation for me...but i put new calipers on and adjusted the back brakes and now they work just right.

BEn

[AZmike]

Originally posted by anchovies
You said you put in new shoes, did you adjust it correctly. You might want to try that again. The shoes as close to the drum as possible but still letting the drums spin freely.
And try gravity bleeding it.

Our drum brakes are self-adjusting. After disassembling the rear brakes, no matter how you reassemble them, pumping the brake pedal for a while will set the shoes to the correct position automatically.

[MrBen]

It's pouring down rain and I dont know how to adjust or replace everything... I think I'll take it down to Midas and tell them whats going on. They've been good to people I know (Lifetime replacement of mufflers) and brakes, so I'll just swing by there. Thanks a lot for your help dutchboy... now I know it's not just me. Thanks again

[anchovies]

Originally posted by 89LXi4dr
Our drum brakes are self-adjusting. After disassembling the rear brakes, no matter how you reassemble them, pumping the brake pedal for a while will set the shoes to the correct position automatically.

If the springs are still good...then yes.
If it's really that much self-adjusting, then you won't need an adjusting bolt back there

[AZmike]

Mike, doesn't the self-adjusting spring spin the same adjusting bolt that you're talking about?

I'd never seen those springs fail, but I'm sure its possible.

I suppose a good way to test the while system would be to put the car up on 4 jackstands and have someone verfiy that all four corners are grabbing.

[Dutchboy]

its very unlikely that the spring itself has failed but the little arm that is supposed to turn the adjusting bolt may not be doing its job...mine wasnt able to turn the adjuster becasuse it had been bent out away from the adjuster to much and couldnt hold it back from unajusting itself after a bit of driving......

My back brakes needed to be adjusted every week until i tore the whole system apart and bent the arm were its supposed to go....now i havent had a problem at all.....except that i need new shoes very soon.

Ben

[MrBen]

I just got back from Walts. Both rear cyclinders were out! He said it's common for them to go out an guaranteed the work for a year. Now I can stop! YEA!