Problems after putting in Brake Shoes on '98 Civic

I just replace my brake shoes on the left side. When i went to test it
out, i found that my brakes were not working properly. I n order to
stop, i have to push the brake pedal all the way to the floor. Also my
Brake light is on even though the e-brake is down. I rechecked the
shoes and everything seems fine. What is wrong???

 

A) I don't know if it is a rule, or just good practice that has been drilled
into my head, but brakes (and tires) always get replaced in left/right
pairs. I.E. Both fronts or both rears. Not 1 side or the other.

B) The brake light also illuminates if your brake fluid is low. I suspect
you didn't check that.

 

Did you bleed the air out of the brake line? If you replaced shoes (drum
brakes) and not pads (disc brakes) did you adjust the brakes properly?

 

make sure the adjuster mechanism is set correctly and that the hydraulic
system is bled properly. and fluid level sufficient.

also, i hope you changed the pads on both sides, not just this one.
highly dangerous otherwise.

 

Are you certain the shoes are properly mounted? Did you compare you
installation to the other side to make sure they both look the same?

Did you pull up and down repeatedly on the handbrake until the shoes were
adjusted?

How many clicks does it take before the parking brake is set when you pull
up on the handle?

I sincerely hope you changed BOTH SIDES, and not just the shoes on one
side.

The dash light is probably the fluid level.

 

on the civic drum rears, you need to operate the foot brake to adjust
them, not the hand brake. pump that pedal hard about 20 times.

 

Right you are. Too much Toyota experience here....

 

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It's a thing of beauty to hear when its working correctly: You clean and
lubricate everything, put it back together, then pump, click, pump,
click until it stops clicking. My gen 1 CR-Vs are the same (rear drums).

'Curly'

 

Its not just an adjustment issue since you say the pedal goes ALL the
way to the floor. Re-check your wheel cylinder to make sure the pistons
are both in. They can creep out when doing a shoe change.

-SP