Jeff,
Where in Virginia and which inspection station?  I'm
in Richmond and would like to know whom to avoid
before inspection next month.  Thanks!

Stephen

--- Jeff Michal <jeffmichal@YAHOO.COM> wrote:

> So a little bit off topic, but I went yesterday to
> get an inspection.  The mechanic at the filling
> station did the whacking with the hammer and pulled
> the right rear drum off my 90 GL with what appeared
> to be very little effort.  He indicated that the
> shoes were on backwards and that this was an
> inspection issue.  He rejected my van and sent me
> away.  I took a look at my bentley book and at the
> tiny pictures I could see on the busdepot website.
> It didn't look like it was even physically possible
> to install them incorrectly because of the hand
> brake levers.  I took my van to my VW mechanic this
> morning and he showed me a good high res picture of
> the shoes.  It seems pretty clear, the shoes simply
> cannot be installed backwards.  Someone confirm for
> me, small shoe in the front or in the rear? My
> mechanic has my van right now and he is getting it
> inspected by someone else.  How can a trained
> mechanic make a mistake like this?  At a minimum the
> inspector cost me several hours
>  of my time, and at the most I can see an attempt to
> defraud me.  The longer I own my Vanagon the more I
> worry that every mechanic I let touch it is going to
> mess something up, and this doesn't help much.  I am
> considering contacting the State of Virginia about
> having the garage's inspection license revoked,
> regardless of whether or not they return my money
> because it just is not fair for them to be wrong and
> waste people's time. Does anyone have an opinion? Am
> I being harsh? Should I just get my money back from
> them and let it go?  Ya'll chime in, I love
> opinions.
>
> Jeff
> 90 GL
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Chris Lisica <wavanagon@GMAIL.COM>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2007 2:34:11 PM
> Subject: Re: rear brakes ?
>
>
> Pretty much what everyone has said. Don't be afraid
> to whack the drum. I
> used a piece of 2x2 oak that I had laying around so
> I wasn't pounding
> directly on the metal drum w/ a hammer. The first
> time I did this, I even
> thought it would be a good idea to drive around the
> block to heat them up,
> but to no avail. I just had the rear brakes off on
> my 1972 F-100 and I was
> actually able to get those off easier than my van!
> Don't pry on the dust
> shield, it bends very easily. Happy beating....
>
> On 6/14/07, John Meeks <vanagon@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > On 6/14/07, Don Hanson <dhanson@gorge.net> wrote:
> > > Hi,  "84 van, no power brakes, manual tranny"
> >
> > >   What I did  so far was to tap around the
> drums, which seemed to loosen
> > up.
> >
> > Don~ First time I removed the rear drums from my
> 85, I would describe
> > my tapping more as "pounding" using a rubber
> mallet. The drums
> > eventually loosened. Don't be afraid to give it a
> good whacking :-)
> >
> > --
> > John Meeks
> >
> > Vanagon Rescue Squad
> >
>
http://www.vanagonauts.com/Vanagon_Rescue_Squad74.htm
> >
> > '91 Multivan, '85 GL
> > Top o' Northern Michigan
> > KC8ZFN
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Chris
> 88 Vanagon GL
> 02 Golf GLS TDI (SOLD, looking for a Westy, now that
> I know what I really
> like to drive)
>
>
>
>
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