I installed new shoes and drums on my car, and the brakes still work but it takes a few pumps to get the pressure up and the pressure slowly goes away when my foot is not on the brake. I can hold the pedal down and still have pressure, it just goes away in between when I use them. The pressure held fine before and I never touched any of the lines.

 

You need to bleed them.

 

most likely you need to adjust the shoes a little tighter to the drums. you should be able to hear them making contact with a little drag. with new shoes you can make them a little tighter than an old set.

 

I adjusted the brakes so they are just barely touching still the same result on the pedal. So I went to bleed them, had my wife pumping, and the driver side went fine. Went over to do the passenger side and the bleeder valve twisted off like it was 45 years old, so any ideas on how to get that out would be very much appreciated.

 

Just replace the wheel cylinder.

It's ten times easier than drilling out the bleeder, and they're only $10-$20, depending on brand.

... But be ready to change the brake line if you can't get it out of the cylinder...

- Eric

 

Sounds easier and cheaper than what I was picturing.

 

Or you can tale it off and use an easy out. It will probably come right out and then you can put in a new one.

 

Maybe.

But I'd be ready with the cylinder and the brake line.

- Eric

 

Be sure to use a tubing wrench / line wrench on the brake line fitting. I rounded off a few of those trying to loosen them with a regular open end wrench.

 

I use 6pt ignition wrenches when I bleed mine.

 

Thank you i will get a cylinder and a couple hoses the driver side hose is in tough shape

 

When you did the shoe replacement did you pull back the cylinder dust boots to check for leakage? From what you describe it sounds like the hydraulic system hasn't been serviced in a long time. If that is true I would seriously recommend replacing all wheel cylinders, all hoses, and the master cylinder with new parts. That is cheap insurance against future failures.

 

The passenger side cylinder was wet around the boot, so I am going to get the parts and fluid I need to redo the hydraulics.

 

If you do end up replacing the master cylinder, keep your old cap. I replaced mine with an Advance Auto part and the cap leaked, even tried replacing the new gasket. Put my old cap on it and haven't had a problem since.

I replaced my wheel cylinders when I did my brakes. It was easy-peasy, even with 44 year old connections. But yeah, I used the proper wrenches on the lines.

 

Does anyone have an idea how much brake fluid I would need to fill it back up?

 

Get a quart. That should be more than enough.

- Eric

 

Thank you all for your help.

 

Just got everything put back together and the brakes work like a champ thank you for all your help now on to the fuel pump.

 

You're welcome. Always glad to help out!

- Eric

 

Well done