Rear brakes

[kenneth]

Hi on old cars when bleeding brakes you should always use a vacuum bleeder or you will ruin the master cylinder seals, you see with normal braking over the years there is a buildup with dirt behind the seals then when you start pumping the pedal when bleeding the seals will travel over the dirt and it will ruin them.

[retired wrench]

   Brakes can feel spongy if the shoes dont contact the drums perfectly. If they pump up they arent adjusted correctly. This is assuming you have all the air removed. Also be sure you have a small amount of free travel at the top of the brake pedal to assure the M cyl is completely released.

[checker]

The rear brakes are not perfect but not bad now. When bleeding all 4 brakes with a vacuum pump, I noticed that I can't get a real clean and free stream of oil on the front brakes. I'm betting on the hoses theory now... we'll see !

I got new hoses on order, will let you know once replaced.

(The master cylinder was replaced last year with a rebuilded unit)

[brian.b]

If it's you lines causing the brakes to stick you can Jack it up pump up the brakes then try and spin the wheel ,if it's sticking then crack the blender plug to let the built up fluid out ,,then the wheel should turn free infill you pump them again.......rock auto has the hoses ...and a good deal most of the times....

[alohagreen]

side note... i drilled out the rivets holding the drum on the REAR hub...
and taped the holes and bolted them back ....
ya ya i know HOW they come off normally and do and have done it the NORMAL way...
 but  i have had NO problems
i have ALL new cylinders shoes and MC ... on all fours .... 

[kaiserkid]

Either the master cylinder needs a rebuild or you still have air in the lines. Do the 2 man bleeding system to get the air out. And make sure the bleeder is shut before the other guy or girl lifts the foot from the brake pedal. I've seen it too often that the foot lifts before the bleeder is tight and air goes right back in.