Replaced the rear brake shoes on my '95 Astra 1.4 hatch. This model has just plain drum brakes, not disk and drum combinations. Rear cylinders and shoes were replaced (both sides), but existing drums refitted. After re-assy the pedal was operated many times to ensure operation of the self adjusters. Hydraulics bled using Gunsons pressure kit. The job appeared to be straightforward, but things don't seem quite right. There is too much travel on the pedal. Heavy braking appears good and normal. After a couple of days local use the assy was taken down and examined, but nothing appears wrong, everything is exactly as shown in the Haynes manual photo. The thermo clip tabs are engaged in the cut out slot in the end of the adjuster tube and the 'flag' is towards the backplate. All springs correctly fitted and the pawl sits correctly on the adjuster ratchet. On second re-assy the adjuster was manually screwed as far as would allow the drum to be replaced, but pedal feel was no different. Subsequently I have re-bled the brakes,(rear only) but no air bubbles emerged. Next step is to re-bleed whole system. Handbrake movement had been excessive, so the cable adjuster was taken up (made tighter) even though I would have thought that new shoes would have required it to be slacked off. Any ideas? Roger R
