Hi Hotch,
    I have broken a 3/4 inch breaker bar on axle nuts, mine was a blackhawk which they replaced. I was using 10 foot pipe extension,
jumping up and down on it when the wrench let go. I then bought a stamped 46 mm  axle nut  wrench from jcwhitney. It is the type you
can hammer on. I use it and a 3 pound hammer to get the nuts started.  This stamped tools and the  shock of the hammer  has worked
many times without fail for me.
    You can replace brake components by just removing the brake drum. There is a notch built into the axle hub you can turn to gain
access  as required.
Darrell

----- Original Message -----
From: "R. Hotchkiss" <hotch@HOTSTRINGS-INC.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2001 10:24 AM
Subject: Seized Axel Nut

> Hey All,
>
> I tried to begin the process of changing my rear brakes on my 86 GL.  So
> far I've broken 2 breaker bars (craftsman luckily) because the axel
> won't budge. I've applied over 500lbs of torque and I've heated it and
> I've sprayed it .... Do I have to remove the axel nut as per Bentley or
> can I change the shoes by just removing the drum?
>
> Hotch
> 86 Vanagon GL
> 89 Jetta GL
> http://www.hotstrings-inc.com
> http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze27yp5/
>