Couple years ago I bought a 87 camaro. I noticed after a bit that the rear brakes werent working at all. So last year I finally got off my behind and replaced both wheel cylinders on the rear and all the pads all around. Bled the system and still no luck.

Today I finally replaced the master cylinder. Bled everything (the fluid arcs out of the rear bleeders when I bled them) and took it for a test run.

STILL acts the same. I know I dont have any rears cause I stopped hard when doing about 5-10 mph and left gouges in the gravel ONLY from the front wheels. Its like the rears dont do ANYTHING. The pedal even travels about halfway before the front start grabbing.

So im stuck. I do air brake inspections on School Buses so im no slouch to a braking system and Ive done NUMEROUS Hydralics on both personal vehicles and company vehicles. Anyone have any ideas? Im pretty much stuck

 

did U properly adjust up the rear brakes like you are suppose to? Are the star adjuster on the right sides?

 

Yea they setup properly. Only thing left I havent changed is the Proportioning Valve but my understanding is u wont "arc" fluid while bleeding if something wrong with it.

 

how many times can you turn the rear tires before it stops the drum? Proportioning valve was a thought but highly unlikely. 99 times out of a hundred it is improperly adjusted rear brakes. Does it build any pedal when you pump it up?

 

No it doesnt. IM getting concerned cause last year I got stuck in an ice storm on my way home and I had to put the automatic in neutral anytime I wanted to stop cause as I got almost stopped, the rear wheels would start spinning cause there wasnt anything to "stop" them. My parking brake is on the money. I go about 5-6 clicks and its tight.

Ill try re-adjusting them again tomorrow and rebleed them. It's just not making sense.

 

well? I'm interested in what happened.

 

Sorry for delay had a late night...

We started by making sure the brakes were adjusted (slight drag). Didnt take much. Then we re-bled the system. No air in lines and LOTS of pressure out of each bleeder.

We then applied once on the brake and tried turning by hand. On the Right side we couldnt budge it. Also, I could hear the pads moving when the pedal was applied. On the Left Side we could somewhat easily turn it by hand. We then waited 5 min and did 2 quick strokes on the pedal. Right side again was hard as a rock. Left side was still turnable but not as easy. Waited 5 min and did three strokes on the pedal. Right side spot on, left side unturnable.

So then we took the drum off the left side to observe it in operation. On first application the pads barely moved. On Second, the pad were more noticably moving but not much. On Third the pads really moved. So much so I had to partially disassemble to remount that stinking bar in between the pads lol. Sounded like a classic case of air in lines. Re-bled the left side and after filling the resevoir twice (at halfway point) not a single pop of air in the left side. I even put my finger over the bleeder during 3 applications of the pedal and the fluid proceeded to blow my finger off the hole.

I originally replaced both wheel cylinders cause they showed slight leaking. At this point im begining to supsect I might have a bad new wheel cylinder on the left.

 

thats my guess. It also helps to put a little CRC lube on the contact points of the bar and wear the shoes contact the wheel cylinder. I use it on the adjuster and antiseize the threads. Also check to make sure the line isn't kinked from when you did the wheel cylinders the first time. Sometimes they twist before they break free. Good luck man I want to find out what this puppy is.

 

Ill check it this weekend, dont have a lot of time during the week. BTW thanx for keeping this topic alive lol

 

my job everyday is to diagnose and fix cars that other shops miss. When I diagnose some problems I like the customers to let me to know if I was right. So when you're happy I'm happy

 

Man today I went to go help my old lady's dad bleed his brakes. New rear lines, wheel cylinders and master cylinder and he was still having trouble not getting fluid out. I hooked up the vaccuum bleeder and nothing. The T hose in the back was collapsed and the rear brakes didn't work at all.