Neil, et al

I also had the same problem on an 87 syncro that had rusted pins
the rusted pins caused a failure in the brake shoes by releasing the little coil spring that jammed the shoes and BENT the adjustment spreader.
which is nearly NOT AVAILABLE..  

so these pesky little nails can be very problematic..  
even BUSDEPOT advertises that the pins in the kits DO NOT FIT.   but my FLAPS guy was more patient, looked up specs and discovered that the A1 RABBIT rear shoes also used 'nearly' the same sized pins, so we bought a set of those (I also own an A1 bodied cabriolet)

in near desperation I almost resorted to using SS stove bolts as a 'brake shoe tension spring retainer' 
does anyone have any input as to why a properly loctited stovebolt couldn't be used to replace the retaining nails?

Dan in Syracuse
*-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From:    neil <goofymuso@YAHOO.CA>
Subject: FYI: Rear Brake Hardware Kit

Hi all.

Just to help others. (up here in Canada anyways)

At this page:

http://www.cip1.ca/SearchResults.asp?Cat=1214 

listing says "80-92" for rear brake hardware. On my
81, pins that hold brake shoes in toward backplate,
are longer than what was supplied with hardware kit.
This has resulted in a PITA.

Not ragging on vendor. (well maybe a little ;^)  Just
letting others know that if they get the kit, the pins
may be too short. On that note....

Although time consumming, I have found that filing the
original long pins will make them fit the new cup.

Is this a bad idea? i.e. will this comprimise
structure/strength?

Will try local VW dealership for parts first ......
*sigh*....   ;^)

Cheers,

Neil Nicholson.
1981 Air Cooled Westfalia.

http://web.mac.com/tubaneil