Rear brake adjustment

[saviogimmi]

What am I doing wrong! Changed shoes yesterday, wound adjuster to lock the drums then backed it off a little so drum rotates with a slight rubbing noise, did the same both sides. Then pulled the handbrake several times to centre the shoes. Went for a slow drive! Hardly any brake, I had to pump the pedal 3 times to get the brakes to work. But each time I brake I have to do this. Do i need to adjust it to more than I think?

[ermie571]

Did you lose any break fluid? Do they need bleeding?

[jimpainter]

Sounds like you have got a leak/air in the system. If the shoes are lightly rubbing you should be about right with adjustment. You could try putting the handbrake on a couple of clicks, but not enough that it works, this can sometimes show if the brakes require adjusting a little more.

Jim

[California Dreamin]

I assume by the tone of your explanation that the brake pedal was relatively fine before changing the shoes? and that you haven't disturbed the hydraulics (piston hasn't popped out of the wheel cylinder?)
So if you had a fairly good pedal before the work, then it can really only be adjustment and the softness of unbedded in shoes (new shoes on worn drums).
Did you get the return springs the correct way around? handbrake lever on the outside of the shoes (most are the other way around)

Try re-adjusting....make sure the handbrake is off and the handbrake levers are fully against their stops (the hand brake may need slackening off if someone has adjusted them the wrong way in the past).
Does it make a vast difference to the initial pedal travel if the hand brake is pulled on a couple of notches before braking?

Martin

[saviogimmi]

Thanks for the replies, bit late home from work today so I thought I won't have time to get all the wheels off and re adjust, I'll try bleeding a little did one side fine then snap nipple snaps!!! Lucky it is not leaking at all. I'll try again tomorrow!! Ps yes it was fine before I changed the shoes!!!!