At 00:28 5/10/2000, k1cajun wrote:
> > Rear brakes.  Looks like you just remove the wheel and the drums pry
> > off.  Doesn't seem to make sense and I am a little disappointed in my
> > Bentley, but perhaps it is that simple. Comments??

>  I think the
>Bentley shows removal by taking off the castle nut and taking the lugs and
>flange off with it.  I did it this way and it was a pain without the tool
>that you can get from Bus Depot, maybe other vendors too.

Bentley specifies to take the hub off because it gives better access to the
brake components without the hub in the way.  But it's entirely practical
leave the hub on for anything that does not involve removing the
backplate.  And a *heck* of a lot easier, as the torque on the hub nut is
astonishing.  Not to mention that it keeps the bearings nicely buttoned up
and clean.

>   But if the drum
>isn't rusted to the lug flange, or whatever it's called, then you may have
>success without undoing the castle nut.

There are a couple of M6 bolts holding the drum to the hub.  They are
entirely unnecessary, as mounting the roadwheel completely secures the
drum, and in fact they're not strong enough to have any functional effect
other than keeping the drum from falling off when the wheel is removed (I
presume they were specified either for assembly reasons, or to keep the
drum from falling off while following the Bentley procedure).  Usually the
drum does not fall off because the extremely tight clearance at the hub
center has gotten rusty.  Some penetrating oil and tapping with a hammer
should loosen it so it can be wiggled off.  I believe that tapping between
the lugs is particularly effective.  And you can keep the M6s as spares...

david

David Beierl - Providence, RI
  http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"