Hi everyone,

Just bled out the entire brake system yesterday and finally got fluid coming out in a decent stream from each wheel. I got in the car today (my mother was operating the brake pedal last night) and the pedal still has no resistance to it. It goes all the way to the floor. This is for a 1970 El Camino with power disc brakes/drum rears that has had all the lines replaced. Stainless hard lines and new rubber lines. Master Cyl has been rebuilt along with the metering valve. Could there still be air in the system which would cause this pedal condition? I am borrowing my friends pressure bleeder tomorrow to see if that might help get out any unwanted air. Any other suggestions are gladly welcomed as I want to get the car running for a show on this coming sunday. Thanks all.. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Adjust the rear brake shoes. Tighten the star wheel until the shoes begin to drag almost the point that they lock the drum, then back the adjuster off just until the drum frees up enough so that you can turn it with minimum effort.

Rear brakes were adjusted when I had the rear wheels off to replace the brake hardware. The wheel spins and there is a little contact when the wheel is turning. Contact meaning you can hear and feel the drum making a little bit of contact with the shoes. I also just adjusted the parking brake cable today so that might help a bit also.

Brian,
Listen to Randy and adjust the rear brakes.On a disc/drum system the pedal height and feel is dependent on the rear brakes being adjusted correctly.Back off on the E brake cable adjuster,adjust the rears,then readjust the E brake.With new shoes you should try to get 1 complete revolution when your done.

If you're cettain the rear shoes are adjusted properly, get back with us and let us know what happens after you pressure bleed the system. The rebuilt master cylinder could be the problem. One of the cups may have been torn or installed incorrectly. And sometimes, no matter how careful you are during reassembly, some master cylinders are just too far gone and won't hold up even after a rebuild.

Well, I pressure bled out the system today and got all the air out of the system. The pedal had too much travel so I readjusted the rear brakes a little more so the pedal was good. I was about to back out the elky today when I heard a pop and the pedal went down to the floor. It turns out the metering valve which was just rebuilt had the c-clip come out and the guts blew out all over the place. I immediatly got on the phone with the company that rebuilt it and they are overnighting me another metering valve they rebuilt and tested today. Hopefully, this will solve all of my problems. If not, there might be an el camino up for sale soon. graemlins/angry.gif I should have the new part by 10 AM tomorrow as they are sending it UPS Red label overnight. Its sad that this fun hobby is starting to be such a headache. graemlins/clonk.gif Oh well, wish me luck and I will keep everyone posted.

graemlins/hurray.gif Well, got the new part today by 9 AM and had it installed and bled out by 10:30. Great news is it doesnt leak, stayed intact, and the brakes are like brand new. Thanks for everyones input on this. Happy motoring. graemlins/hurray.gif

Brian, congrats on getting all the bugs worked out, now get her cleaned up and off to that show!!!