just a few springs????

Update:

The drum brakes were actually super easy once the drums were off. Shoes and new drums went on fine.

Then, as I was bleeding the first corner, a square inch block of metal where the bleeder screw attaches snapped off. It is leaking brake fluid everywhere. My father loaned my his car. I'm gonna tow it to a shop nearby and tell them to fix it and then bleed it themselves. I'm mad depressed.

PS- that piece of garbage Motive bleeder didn't work. It had a leak in the hose and wouldn't hold pressure

you mean like the whole caliper or wheel cyl broke?


I'll take that motive if you're just gonna throw it away :p

wtf you break?

http://www.car-stuff.com/store/image...068updated.jpg




good thing theyre only like 20 bucks for a new wheel cylinder

Exactly that. It is essentially the entire piece where the bleeder attaches. It sheared off. I thought I overtightened it and stripped the bleeder, but the entire thing just broke. It was so frustrating.

Mine works like a charm! Did you replace the hose?

I suppose I will call Motive and ask them to send me a hose. It's a huge pain though. I need my car back and by the time I get the hose, my car will already be done.

I have another question: how long does it take for clean fluid to get to the furthest brake? I feel like I opened and closed teh bleeder valve 15 times and was still getting dirty fluid. I used a turkey baster to get the old fluid out of the reservoir and then filled it with clean fluid.

thats why you use the vacuum canister, it takes a little bit.

Eh. I gave up. Dropped it off at the shop down the street. I am gonna call Motive and yell. I blame them.

Thanks to everyone who chimed in this thread. For some reason, I have never had brakes go smoothly with me. Argh!

after all that, the brakes suck. look at the pad contact on the front rotor. yikes! I have to drive that thing to Coney Island tonight too

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...660/photo1.jpg

Were they bedded-in (burnished)?

I did about 5 stops from 60 to 5mph. Still the same issue. The pedal (not the steering wheel) pulsates at high speed braking as well. I'm about to go remove the caliper and see whats up. It seems like an issue with the pads.

are the slides good, does the caliper move freely?

Make sure that you didnt twist the brake hoses when you put the caliper back on.
Getting a pulsation in the pedal when braking, but not the steering wheel, sounds like something with the drum.

Ok, well I just checked it out with the wheels off, and the pad is now making full contact with the rotor. The pedal feel is still off though. I just checked the hoses and they are straight. I think my next plan of attack may be a full fluid flush. It has only had a bleed and the fluid in the reservoir still looks dirty.

Al what do you mean that you think its the drum? Do you think its warped? It has been replaced. To clarify, it only pulsates at about 40mph or higher stops, and only in the pedal. It almost feels like the ABS is engaging.

Never assume off the shelf drums and rotors are true. Also are the rear brakes adjusted properly?

The shop that replaced the wheel cylinder and bled the brakes, adjusted the rear brakes. I suppose I'll have whomever does the flush check the brakes. I figured I bought good quality brakes and they should be good, but I seem to be having some crummy luck with buying parts lately.

Where the drums machined at all or just cleaned and adjusted?

Replaced. They were brand new units from Centric

still have the old ones?

yeah but they were shuddering even worse than these. They are pretty damn worn out.

I've been doing some googling and I think its the rotors. It can't be much else. I'm gonna have a shop look at it and do the flush. I may call centric and send them back if they are warped.

Usually an untrue rotor will cause steering vibration, so you would feel it in the steering wheel. Vibration in the car, and not felt through the steering, could be the rear?
But your car has, I believe, electric steering so that would negate everything I just said....

electric steering indeed. I see what you are saying though. Maybe it is the rear drums. Hmmm...

Or possibly adjusted too tight/parking brake shoes too tight?