I installed a new ring and pinion set on my 87 TA and in the process pulled the rear end out of the car. Had to completely remove the brakes in the process and upon reinstalling the brakes with new pads, they don't seem to be grabbing very well. If I have the rear of the vehicle raised and put the car in drive and then hit the brakes, the rears will initially grab and then the rear wheels will start to turn. I installed a new master cylinder thinking that was the problem, which it was not. And I also bled the brakes about a million times. Still having the same problem. Any ideas on what could be wrong? I don't know how well these calipers are supposed to perform in the first place

The 82-88 rear calipers just aren't all that great. I had the same problem, and my e-brake wouldn't hold the car at all. I wound up replacing the calipers with reman ones from autozone, it was around $60 per caliper if I remember correctly. It could just be that they need to seat all the way since they've been removed, but they could just as likely just be old and sticking.

Did replacing the calipers help at all?

I keep hearing these stories about bad iron rear calipers, but I locked up all 4 tires at 70mph, avoiding a deer.

Maybe I have the ONLY set in the world that work?

True.....Locking tires isn't the most effective way of slowing a car down effectively, but it does mean my 87 iron calipers work.

The iron calipers require frequent use of the ebrake to stay adjusted. There was a recall for manual cars that changed the piston. I guess they figured auto cars don't need a working ebrake.

Good theory, but my GTA is an automatic. So I never use my e-brake & it works just fine.

Mine are working fine now, after replacing them. I think the reman calipers have the recall fix already in them. Also, locking the rear tires at speed isn't actually that hard to do, since weight shifts to the front wheels.

Manual only. Here're the facts:

http://members.shaw.ca/crussel/recalls/86c28/86c28.html

JamesC

After sitting for about a year and a half my rear brakes were doing the same as you described, just barely stopping the wheels. I needed to pass inspection so I just replaced mine with a set of A1 Cardone remans and they're working fine now (parking brake works too).