TeamSwift

Okay, this has happened twice, so something strange is going on:

In Europe every car needs to pass a test every 2nd year. I have the last two times used two different car shops,
the latest only a test station not a repair shop.

This applies to a 32 year old MK1, brake pads in front and shoes in back. Car had complete new brake system replaced some years ago, but not the brake booster.

Both times, when I delivered the car the brake had to be pushed quite a bit down in order to brake.

Both times when I got the car back, the brake was super responsive. Like someone had taken air out of it or adjusted the booster.

But never paid for it, they did a quick fix. What is this?

I have never fiddled with the brake system except changing master cylinder and changing brake shoes front/rear.
Also did dome bleeding using a hose down a jar...

Test station probably pulled the wheels and accidentally contaminated the rotor surface with grease. That would make the brakes grabby (sensitive) until/if the contamination eventually burned off.

Normal brand new brake feel is a minimal amount of initial brake pedal travel to the point of friction but easy to modulate brakes.

I'm guessing your self-adjusters aren't working. After re-installing the drums, they adjusted your rear brakes properly, as you drive it they wear.

I could be way off base here, what kind of adjusters does a MK1 have?

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91 Pontiac Firefly Turbo
10 Suzuki Kizashi


Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms
Should be the name of a convenience store, not a government agency

You are likely correct, same style adjusters as we normally see here. You can add a bit of adjustment while drums are off sometimes, it's a sign of a shape mechanic working on your car who is doing that little bit extra.
If I were to guess, a few teeth are worn off your adjusters and it doesnt quite hold its adjustment correctly, when they pull it out a bit more they are engaging teeth that aren't worn. This makes more sense if you have the part in your hand or are very familiar with how the adjusters work on these cars.

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1995 Swift w/16V 4.39s, 3tech cam, Esteem t-body, Header, needs more.
1995 Gt Mustang "Boss Shinoda" package.
1999 F150 4x4 Supercharged
1967 Mustang 428 auto, never ending expensive project
1993 Civic si h22a, fell in my lap, couldn't resist!