Rear brakes don't work

[tonymasone]

89 B2 XLT, Rear brakes won't work. Tried the following:

1) Checked brake fluid level (little low topped it off)
2) Replaced the Shoes, cleaned up everything.

Brakes Still wouldn't work.

3) Tried to bleed the brake lines, but no fluid would come out at the drums, even when completely removing the bleeder plug.
4) Opened the brake line at the mid point halfway back and tried bleeding there, no fluid.

Also looked at the ABS module, no idea if this works or not, I do have a "Rear ABS" error light on the dash, I'm assuming that the ABS module would fail open right?

Any other suggestions on what might be broke?

(Front Brakes bleed and work fine)

Thanks

[Ranger Dave]

loosen the line at the master cyl and see if any fluid comes out there

[tonymasone]

loosen the line at the master cyl and see if any fluid comes out there

forgive me for not listing it, but I tried that as well.

[04sd]

Had the same problem on my '90 when I bought it. Bypass the ABS block, or better yet just take it off and throw it away. At least on my '90 the ABS failed in the closed position.
IMHO, these early ABS sytems never worked well anyway even when new.

[tonymasone]

Had the same problem on my '90 when I bought it. Bypass the ABS block, or better yet just take it off and throw it away. At least on my '90 the ABS failed in the closed position.
IMHO, these early ABS sytems never worked well anyway even when new.

I suspected that it could "fail closed" the thought of that is completely insane, i guess it's not as important as the front brakes working, I was thinking of bypassing the module, wonder where I can get short brake line like that? (Autozone?Advance?) Then again there might be enough slack there to but them together with the right fitting.

On a side note, because my aunt had this thing for 2 years without the rear brakes working, they were a solid mass of rust, had a hell of a time getting everything removed and clean :(

Thanks for the help!

[tekatlarge]

Pull the inlet and outlet line from the abs block. Put some air pressure on the inlet and see if air comes out the outlet? No air bad unit. Lots of air no failure.

[04sd]

wonder where I can get short brake line like that?

When I did mine I ran a new line from the master cylinder all the way back to the axle, new hose and steels lines on the axle.
I also replaced wheel cylinders, shoes, drums, etc.
You can get steel line in various lengths at any auto parts store. Helps to have a flaring tool to be able to cut lines to size and re-flare the ends but you can probably get lengths that are close enough to work.

[Ranger Dave]

loosen the line at the master cyl and see if any fluid comes out there

forgive me for not listing it, but I tried that as well.

no fluid comes out??? then its the master

[tonymasone]

loosen the line at the master cyl and see if any fluid comes out there

forgive me for not listing it, but I tried that as well.

no fluid comes out??? then its the master

Fluid does come out of the master cyl

[thepostman4]

Here is some useful info on the rear abs system http://www.aa1car.com/library/abs_kelseyhayes_rwal.htm Hope this helps

[drofman]

Just wondering???? are the rear brake adjusted?

[drofman]

nevermind my last post. i guess it helps to read the whole post before making a comment