Before I did any work the brakes worked fine, except for the telltale sqeak when braking. I just changed the rear brake shoes and the front brake pads with no problem. I pushed the pedal 3-4 times and the pedal felt good. I started the engine and pressed the pedal and it went to the floor. I pressed several more times and and the pressure only increased a bit. I repeated the procedure and noticed the idle slowed. I shut off the engine and pressed the brake pedal, and it felt good, not hard or soft. I started the engine, pressed the pedal and again, no brakes. I'm sure someone has run into this, what's causing the brake pressure to go away and idle to change, only when the engine is running?

 

If the pedal goes to the floor chances are there is air in the brake lines somewhere.

 

The idle changes because you are robbing the engine's vaccum using the power brake booster (normal).

The pedal pressure changes because you are compressing the air that you have introduced into the lines somehow. Did you open up any brake hoses or lines?

 

Thanks. I think bleeding the brakes all around is the next step.