I am having a problem. I have my 72 wagon running now. Problem is no brakes unless I pump them up, and then they bleed back down again. I have replaced all on rear drums, and the master cylinder, had the same prob before replacing it. I have new pads on front and one new caliper. Someone said awhile back that I need to adjust the rear drums somemore. I have a mini spool in the back, so it is somewhat difficult to adjust properly, but I have adjusted them to the point that you can barely turn the rear tires by hand. I also adjusted the brake pedal rod to about 1/4" clearance before it starts engaging the master cylinder. Any suggestions????? graemlins/clonk.gif

Did you bench bleed the master before you installed it on the car? Sounds like air in the lines or a bad master.

Yep, I bench bled it. Don't think it's bad. I am having the same problem as I had with two other cylinders.

I'd bleed the lines in the car.

yea, i was going to bleed them again. Tell ya what though, I pulled the motor out of my truck and put in this wagon, and the wagon flies. Rides real smooth when you are going straight. The spool is very different though on the corners. Oh well, i'm not going far without brakes. Then there is the b&m trany cooler that sprang a leak for some reason. LB weld do your thing, I hope. till need them brakes though.

Well went ut this am and bled the system really well, still can't get a pedal. Guess I better get an anchor.

PAT IM A BRAKE TECH IN THE WORKING WORLD AND MY FEELINGS ARE THAT THERE IS STILL AIR IN THE SYSTEM WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS SEE IF YOU CAN FIND SOMEONE WHO HAS A POWER BLEEDER AND SEE IF THAT WORKS BUT BEFORE YOU TRY THAT YOU CAN GRAVITTY BLEED THEM TAKE THE TOP OFF OF THE MASTER THEN OPEN ALL BLEEDERS LET THEM DRIP FOR AWHILE MAKE SURE YOU DONT LET THE MASTER RUN OUT OF FLUID

I think it was me that said to adjust the rear brakes. If you've bleed it for a while and you think the air is all out, it sounds like your pumping the shoes out and as it sits there the springs pull the shoes back in makeing the pedal weak. I'm a disel fleet mechanic and I see it happen all the time.

Dana, no need to shout. Patrick, you still have air, mine did the same thing, we spend a good hour or so bleeding them on a hoist, best way I found was gravity bleed. Just open one bleeder at a time and let it sit there a while-maybe 10 min. per wheel, keeping an eye on the fluid level. then cap it all up and see what happens.

I have gravity bled, pump bled, if you all were here, I would think that you would aggree there is no air in the system. What I did find though is, that when i pump the brakes up and have pedal, they will go down, but when I pump them up and apply very slight pressure, about 3/16" pedal pressure, that the pedal will stay firm. I had a hole above my brake switch so I put a bolt thru the hole and playrd with different thicknesses of washers, hence the 3/16 and found that this maintains my pedal. I also put the car in neutral, with my leg out the door and pushed the wagon. Keep this in mind also I am awaiting a fusion on my back so my legs are not real strong at the moment. I thinl once I readjust my rears, since i have them over adjusted it will be fine. If anyone has something they would like to add, let me know. I am just glad I will be able to stop the monster now.