I was able to get the brake torn back apart and replaced the wheel cylinder again.
That’s the remnants of the bleeder screw in the bottom.
I bled the brakes all around and then adjusted them. It now has a great pedal, about 2/3 of a pedal, which is as good as it has ever been. It still doesn’t actually stop very well, but there is enough pedal to stand on if need be. It used to just clack against the floor board.
After adjusting the shoes at each wheel, I decided to check on the parking brake situation. Obviously, it wasn’t working too well. The wheel was turning when I was torquing on that rear axle nut with the parking brake on (and car in gear and wheel chocked).
I peeled back the tatty dust cover on the e-brake handle to get to the cable adjusters.
The one on the right was tightened down about half way, but with a broken screw head. The one on the left was tightened all the way down and the cable was slack.
So apparently, the parking brake hasn’t been applying on the driver’s side. That mystery is solved. And another TO DO item added to the list.
In an attempt to clean out my kitchen, which has turned into a tool shed and car parts storage, I bought a garden cart (Amazon link) to help shuttle my gear up and around from the basement.
That load would have normally taken five trips carrying everything by hand.
