on 6/4/01 11:23 AM, Andrew Fox at afox@USGS.GOV wrote:
Andrew,

The wheels are not bolted to the drums.

There is a hub behind the drum and the drum has five holes in it for the
studs to poke through.  The wheel goes on those studs and the drum floats
between the hub and the wheel. The 11mm bolts hold the drum onto the hub.
So try backing off the brake shoes from the drum by turning the star-wheels,
that may free up the drum.  It is also common for the drum to be rusted to
the hub.  A few blows from a hammer and/or a propane torch may help to
release this "rust-weld".

If all else fails take it to a brake shop that advertises free brake
inspections.  They will get the drums off, tell you what you already know,
(brakes need work), and you can just take it home and fix it yourself.  Be
sure to give them some business sometime, though, just for good karma.

Miguel

> I'm trying to replace my rear brake shoes and i see that bentley shows
> using a puller to get the drums off.  When you replaced your shoes did you
> take the drum off with a puller?  I removed the two small (11 mm) bolts on
> the drum, then put the wheel back on, put 2 lugs on and tried pulling the
> drum off with the wheel but it did'nt come off.  Parking brake is off and
> car is in park.  Any suggestions?
>
> BTW, by browsing my mostly completed  vanagon links webpage at:
> http://www2.hawaii.edu/~andrewf/vanagon/links.htm
> which takes a new approach to linking (indexed by individual how-to's and
> articles not homepages) it is now easier to find an article on how to fix
> something on your van.  It is also easier to see what's out there and
> although there are one or two articles on replacing front brake pads i
> have'nt found anything on rear Vangaon brakes out there on the WWW.  When i
> finish replacing my shoes ill try to write something up, and if you are
> thinking of writing a how-to for the vanagon community check my site to see
> what's already been written and what's needed.
>
> THanks,
> andrew fox

--
Miguel