hi all im after a little help with my tin top brakes the car has been sat now for a couple of months ive had to change the alternator and rear brake shoes.
i took it for a little run round the block to cheak it all works fine but noticed that i have to pump the brakes to get any resistance once i pump the pedal about 1 and a half times they seem to work fine untill i need them again when i have to do the same again do they need bleeding ? or any thing else i can try

sorry its a vectra 2.5 gsi year 2000 so the facelift of the old shape

[Edited on 4/4/09 by adam1985]

Not normal.

Might also help if we knew what make and model of tin top.

It MIGHT be that they just need to be adjusted properly. OR it could be something else.

[Edited on 4/4/09 by jollygreengiant]

good point have edited the original post cheers

Were the rear brakes Disc or drum.

If drum then likely that they could just want adjusting.



Edit bit. Just re-read your post you said shoes, so ignore the next bit.
If disc it could be that you have managed to reverse the seals in the master cylinder. IF this is the case then be prepared to replace master cylinder. THIS IS an know fault with Vauxhalls.

[Edited on 4/4/09 by jollygreengiant]

When you changed the shoes, what were the slave cylinders and seals like ?

Is the auto adjuster working on the shoes ? What's the handbrake like ?

Make sure this is adjusted up otherwise you won't get enough pressure at the rear.

Could be air, try an easy bleed if you're on your own.

Self adjusters never work properly on vauxhalls unless set up properly when new shoes fitted.

De adjust handbrake cable fully.
With wheels removed, adjust adjuster thro' wheel stud hole until just binding. Pump brake pedal to centralise shoe. recheck for binding. if still just binding de-adjust a couple of klicks till it JUST rotates freely. Repeat operation for other side.

Re-adjust hand brake cable to give about 6 clicks on the hand brake.

Pedal should then be good.

on the back brakes on the vectra it has both caliper and drum brakes the caliper works on fluid (foot pedel) then inside there are some brake shoes (which i replaced) that are like drum brakes these are just for handbrake it seems a silly set up to me

Did you open the bleed nipple before pushing back the caliper pistons? You may have damaged the master cylinder, they are crap on later Vauxhalls.

no i didnt open the nipple the calipers just slid off so didnt need too