Brakes feel spongy after replacing rear hardware?

[Fett]

One thing I noticed about my car a while back was that there were no adjusters in the rears. Looks like the last owner simply used springs instead of the self adjusting levers. So today I replaced all the springs and put the self adjusters in place. The good news is that now the e-brake works properly. The bad news is the pedal feels spongier* and I am feeling brake fade.

The pedal seems to grab low, but if I pump it up the pedal grabs higher. I NEVER opened the system so I couldn't have gotten air in the system. The brakes felt better before I changed the springs.

I am thinking of changing the MC and bleeding the whole system...but I just found it odd that the brakes would feel tighter and grab better before putting the self adjusters in the car. Yes, I did many reverse stops to work the adjusters.

*not sure if "spongier" is even a word...if it isn't, I am taking claim for it.

 

[Mustang5L5]

Sounds like you still have air trapped somewhere.

 

[Roland69]

or a blown line

 

[Fett]

I looked for leaks, expanded lines, everything...I couldn't find anything that would indicate a leak.

It feels like air, but I didn't crack the system open. It didn't feel like there was air in there before today, and all I did was replace the rear springs and self adjusters. That's what is so odd about it.

 

[tunedin302]

Did you adjust them at least so they are close to the drum? If not then did you drive in reverse to adjust them?

 

[Mustang5L5]

Perhaps the secondary shoes aren't making contact with the drum now??



I dunno i'm not a drum expert. Most interaction i had with my drum brakes were the day i took them off and replaced them with disks

 

[tunedin302]

Most interaction i had with my drum brakes were the day i took them off and replaced them with disks

 

[superhuaman]

yeah it sounds like the shoes are not adjusted properly. if theyre fine then bleeeeeeed

 

[Roland69]

it only takes about 5-10 minutes to bleed all 4 corners if that...try that first. you want just a hint of drag on the rear drums when adjusting the adjusters

 

[jrichker]

Pull up slightly on the E brake handle and test the brakes. No change, try a little more pull. If the brakes improve, the rear shoes need adjustment.

The rear shoes come with a short shoe & long shoe. Are you certain that the shoes are in the correct location? The short shoe goes to the rear of the car.