brake bleeding issue

[robstibz]

whats up folks, first post here. anyway, I drive a 2000 4runner SR5, blew an axle seal last week, and i knew i needed to do the rear brakes so i picked up drums and shoes as well. I swapped the seals, all that went smooth, so did replacing the shoes and drums. so i bleed the rear brakes, go for a ride, and still have a spongy pedal. Then i do all 4 in sequence from the right rear, left rear, right front, left front. Then go for a ride and still a spongy pedal. I did that same procedure 3 times and still not acceptable pedal feel. The master cylinder never ran dry, i kept an eye on everything. anybody have any suggestions?

BTW, im manually bleeding the system, i've bled probably 100 systems and never had this issue.

Oh, forgot to mention the pedal feels fairly good if i let off and press it a 2nd time during braking, which indicates air in the system. Also, i adjusted the rear shoes properly, there was little to no drag on the drum...im stumped

 

[Ghostrider]

This may not be relevant but when you say you bleed the brakes do you mean with someone pushing the pedal? There was an article about having to turn the key to "on" on some models to correctly bleed brakes. I think is was only 2001 or 2002 nor 2000. I would search and see it it helps.

 

[robstibz]

yea, I "manually" did it, pops workin the pedal, me breaking the valves open. I'm goin to the hardware store tommorrow am and making myself a pressure bleeder, and pray it works

 

[Ghostrider]

I modified the Motive bleeder to fit mine and it worked fine. Search for GSGALLANTs post of the parts to buy at Home Depot. Takes about ten bucks worth of plumbing and a pressure sprayer. The only issue I can think of it that your reservoir is much smaller than mine so you need to keep it filled and you will not have a pressure guage for the pump

 

[californiak]

All I can think of if you've done everything right is that you may have a leak at one of your wheel cylinders. You should check them and see if there is any brake fluid inside brake assembly.

 

[robstibz]

thats what i was thinkin also, but the truck was braking perfectly fine before i replaced the rear drums and shoes. I just made myself a pressure bleeder and ran 12psi through the system, bleeding each wheel, and still nothing. now im tryin to pull the drums to re-adjust the rear shoes, i heard that can also be an issue when it comes to a soft/spongy pedal...but i cant pull my drums off, i put screws in both the holes to push it off the hub and one broke, the other stripped the threads, now i can't get the f'n drum off, what a pain in the ass

 

[californiak]

On the back plate there is a oval hole covered with rubber plug, two screwdrivers, one to lift the adjusting level and one to turn the adjusting sprocket wheel to loosen the shoes. Go to public library and see if they have Repair Manual for your model, most libraries do have them.

Also your problem could be when you reattached the brake line into the wheel cylinder that connection may have micro leak. Sometimes it wont leak brake fluid out but air can get in if its really small.

 

[robstibz]

thanks for all the help folks, i figured out the issue, it just wasn't adjusted properly. I never thought a misadjusted shoe/drum would cause that type of pedal feel. but anyway, problem solved, im havin a heineken, or 4!