You can turn it either direction with a bladed screwdriver, but the
screwdriver needs to be about 6" long or so.  The adjustment wheel on the
right side has left-handed threads.  The wheel on the left side has
right-handed threads.  The piece you turn (the toothed wheel) is to the
front of the van on both sides.  So, to adjust the brakes OUT (towards the
drums), on the right side, you need to turn the wheel clockwise (as you look
from the front of the van).  On the left side, you need to turn the wheel
counter-clockwise.  So in both cases, insert your screwdriver from in front
of the spring/shock, with the handle down and the blade up.  Then pull the
handle up with the blade engaged.

Another way to think about this is the top of the adjustment wheels move
towards the inside of the van in order to move the shoes closer to the
drums.

Also, there is a self-adjusting bracket that rides on the adjuster wheel,
and it clicks each time you turn the wheel.  If you listen to the clicks,
one direction will be louder than the other.  The direction that clicks
louder is moving the shoes AWAY from the drums.

I always learned to adjust the brakes to where you couldn't turn the wheel
by hand, then back it off one or two teeth.  The brakes supposedly
self-adjust, but I have always had better results with doing them manually
when the e-brake cables get too loose.

HTH,
bmc  :)
"Faith will move mountains, but you'd better bring a shovel...."

> From: Rubatoguy <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM>
> Reply-To: Rubatoguy <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM>
> Date: Sun, 12 May 2002 18:08:48 -0700
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Rear brake adjuster
>
> Can anyone tell me the secret to actually moving the read brake adjuster
> wheel?  It seems the access hole is positioned in such a way that makes
> it almost impossible to be able to get any too inside.
> I was trying to back off the adjustment as I think mine may be stuck and
> causing the rear brake to rub.
>
> Also, does anyone know which direction you move the adjuster wheel to
> back it off?
>
> thanks,
>
> Todd
> '88 Westy
>