Reach around behind the wheel to the rear of the drum (opposite of where you
put the tires :-).  There is a 1/2 inch or so hole behind the back.  You may
need to remove a rubber protective plug to get at it.  You can then use a
flat screwdriver to ratchet the brakes away from the drum.

I would bang a little harder on the drumb with a hammer.  I was surprised
how much force was actually required to loosen the drum from the rust
build-up.

Good luck,

Paul Borghese

-----Original Message-----
From: mwilliamson <mwilliamson@USWEST.NET>
Newsgroups: groupstudy.vanagon
Date: Saturday, January 22, 2000 7:39 AM
Subject: Freeing Rear Brakes

>Hello all-
>I set about to renew the brakes on the transporter last week end.  Front
>brakes pads went as smoothly as always.  However, when I tried to tackle
the
>rear brakes, the drum is on so tight that I cannot remove it to get at the
>"works".  Can anyone help me understand how to free them up?  I rapped on
>them with a mallet and drove around, but in the end make no progress.
>
>My Haynes manual indicates that through some (unidentifiable to me) port I
>can slacken the brake for just this sort of need.  I wish I could tell that
>I can see it.
>
>Any suggestions/help is appreciated!
>--
>Mark A. Williamson
>Denver, CO
>88 Wolfsburg Multivan (160K)
>95 Golf (62K)
>---