Brakes issue (1 Viewer)

[TexYoung]

73 FJ40 Drum Brakes all the way around. Replaced Master Cylinder and all rubber brakes lines 3-4 months ago, along with new shoes. Rear brakes have never been a problem. Front brakes worked fine but had some drag on passenger side, but overall worked very well.

This weekend I replaced the 4 FRONT wheel cylinders and the one on the right side was rusted. Adjusted the wheel cylinders to where there was a very slight drag on the drums and then bled the brakes. Went through nearly a quart of brake fluid to bleed out all the air. After bleeding, the brake pedal was still nearly going to the floor and it took 3-4 pumps to get good brakes. Then I over-adjusted the wheel cylinders just to see if that was a problem, no help. I then bled the master cylinder while still on the truck, seemed to help but not good enough. Then I re-bled the brakes including the rear brakes. No air at all when done and the pedal was still going to the floor and taking 2-3 pumps to get brakes.

What else can I do? Did I miss something? Very frustrated. I am ready to load this on the trailer and head to Katemcy. Not safe to be wheeling the way it is.

 

[JasonH]

I assume they are all adjusted evenly? Meaning, you adjusted each cylinder about the same amount so that they are centered? If one is cranked all the way out, you'll hear drag, but it'll still take a couple of pumps to get the other cylinder to contact.
Keep in mind that I always have a hell of a time getting drums to work right so my advice is questionable.

 

[TexYoung]

I assume they are all adjusted evenly? Meaning, you adjusted each cylinder about the same amount so that they are centered? If one is cranked all the way out, you'll hear drag, but it'll still take a couple of pumps to get the other cylinder to contact.
Keep in mind that I always have a hell of a time getting drums to work right so my advice is questionable.

Something to check. Each wheel cylinder seems to be showing near the same amount of threads. At one point I over adjusted them to where you couldn't turn the drum and really bled and still soft without pumping.

 

[Green Lantern]

You may have already done this, but my brake problems were solved by bleeding each section of the system from the master down to the wheels. It takes two people and I found some air in the lines between the master and the wheel cylinders. Hope that helps.
Happy Trails!
Nick

 

[TexYoung]

So did you take off each flex line to do that and then just apply some pressure? Wouldn't normal bleeding clear that as long as you bled them enough times? I have ran a quart of fluid through each cylinder.

 

[Green Lantern]

I bled each line using a hand pump. If you ran a quart of fluid and still have trouble, then the line isn't the problem. You may need to take this one to a pro. Master, lines, wheel cylinders, and shoe adjustment; that's all there is.
Nick