Double pumping brake pedal to work and can't remove brake drums

Hi. To get my brake pedal to apply the brakes I have to pump the pedal a couple of times before it comes up and the brakes work. What would cause this? Also, I can't remove the rear drums as the are catching on the brake shoes. How can I get the drums off? Thanks for your help.

Air in system causes the brakes to need pumping.

Adjusters on back wheels need taking back abit to bring shoes in to allow drum to slide off

agreed, u need to bleed. how old or bad are the drums?? they can sometimes develop ridges that make drum removal a real pain, back em off, smack the drums with a hammer as u spin em

cheers steve

Yes, air in system, see the many threads about bleeding brakes. Slacken off the adjusters. Remove the drum brake screws, slacken off the brake bleed screw and push the drum against the shoes to force the cylinders back in. This should get the shoes over the ridge in the drum.

If it's a Series, there should be a threaded hole in the drum which takes the little screw that holds the drum on, but you use it to push the drum off. Usually gives enough movement to break the seal on one edge, then you whack the other edge from behind. Book says use a soft-faced hammer, but I've never found one heavy enough. Be careful, though, as cast-iron can crack or chip if you're too rough. Moral - every job on a Land Rover takes at least twice as long as anticipated. Good luck.

Thanks for your responses. I had removed the small screws on the face of the drum and slackend off the adjusters. The head of the bleed nipple has been sheared off I'll have to try and undo the brake pipe to release the pressure that way.

I couldn't get the drums of my s1 and someone recommended getting the sealey ten inch puller an they came off like a knife thru butter

Sealey Triple Leg Reversible Puller | Sealey

that link is for illustration purposes, can't remember where I got mine from. iirc I just googled it and picked whoever was selling it for least including shipping

If you slacken the adjuster off too far it will lock again. Either your brakes need bleeding or you need to do up the adjusters to stop double pumping.

You need the bleed nipple to work or you wont get the air out of the cylinder. You either need to get the nipple out with a reversed thread extractor or buy new cylinders I'd say. If you do DON'T get britpart cylinders...I got some and they just ****ed fluid everywhere!