Something sounds wrong, either bad seals, or the cylinders were to far gone even with honing. They could be to much oversize to seal properly, or pitted or scratched?
It would not hurt to bench bleed the cylinders, although I have never heard of it being done for wheel cylinders, just new master cylinders. If you had all the air out and a good firm pedal the way you first did it you can't ask for more.
You already have a bleeder valve at the highest points of the wheel cylinders, there is no need for additional bleeders.
Brake shoes are ruined by brake fluid, or at least they don't work very well after.
There are many "tricks" to get the brake fluid off, but the problem is it is soaked in the pads, and with heat from braking it resurfaces.
So, all the brakeclean in the world won't fix it.
I have heard, but have not tried, that if you soak the pads in Coleman fuel, (white gas) then set them in a shallow pan with a little more fuel, then light it you can burn most or all of the brake fluid out. I would give it a try, as you have nothing to loose. I think it may work satisfactorily, but again, have not tried.
Grigg
