Brake issues, need advice

[dzadzabing]

Hi!

I mainly registered cuz I have this problem and I'm not sure how to fix it. I hope someone has an idea!

I got an Audi 80 B3 '89 1.8S PM. No ABS, drum brakes in the rear.

The brake fluid was dark and full of sediment, also braking distance was terrible. So I figured I'm gonna flush it all and bleed it. It's been ages since anyone even looked at it. Said and done.
After the bleed though, I still got a soft pedal if not even softer LoL! o.O
I tried bleeding the system a couple of times, thinking I was doing it wrong and some air was still left. I used 3 litres of fluid in the process. Still no improvement.
I then bought a new master cylinder as the old one started to leak cuz I may have pushed it too far -.- But it was very old anyway so good riddance
Also bought two new drum brake cylinders as one of the old ones was leaking a bit. Then I disassembled, cleaned and re-assembled the drum brakes.

I tried bleeding it the "one person" way I found on the net which is put a bottle with some brake fluid on the floor and pump the pedal.
Also tried hanging the bottle upside down which would fill the hose with fluid, then opening the valve and pumping a few times.
Even tried with someone pumping the brake while I open/closed the valve!
So I'm pretty sure no air is present in the system O.O I could be wrong ofc.

I also checked the brake proportion valve (brake force regulator) and I think it does it's job. I let someone pump the brake for me while I was rotating the wheel and moving the lever of said valve.
When I applied pressure like the spring would when the back of the car is loaded, the wheel stopped earlier as opposed to relieved pressure where it would take quite some brake pressure to activate the rear brakes.
The valve moves 0.5/1mm when I manually tried it.

When I push the brake pedal it goes slowly to about half way until it stops. I feel the rear drum brake shoes expanding as I push. As if they need to travel some distance before touching the drum
I checked the brake shoes and drum surfaces and they're still OK. There's very little clearance between the two so I don't know why it would take half the pedal to fully activate them.
When I deactivate the rear brakes via the brake proportion valve so no or very little fluid is moving to the rear, I get a harder pedal.
Also when I apply the parking brake I get a much stiffer pedal. So obviously it's something related to the drum brakes?

I was thinking of buying some new brake shoes, but I'm not sure what that would do really?

Any advice on this? I'm really desperate since I'm trying for a few days to make the brakes work

[micheal balbrig]

From what you say,it seems like the problem is is with the rear brakes. From what I remember there is a small wedge attached to a light spring in brake shoe assembly
for the purpose of self adjusting,inspect this area to see if all is working as it should. Check also to see if the small flexi hoses are bulging when pressure is applied.
It may be possible to manually adjust by removing a wheel nut and pulling this wedge down.a fraction at a time. Good light with narrow beam required to see the wedge.

[dzadzabing]

Will check for bulging. As for self adjustment, could you show me what wedge you mean? ThanX!

EDiT:
I googled a bit about this wedge and I managed to tighten the brakes and the pedal is now much stiffer.
Thank you very much :P
It's not stiff as in my corsa c though. I suppose every car is unique o.O
I'll try the brakes later when I put the car down and then we'll see.