Even with brand new shoes (dealer) and new drums you can add 2-3mm of spacers on the lower show mounts. McMaster Carr has some 14mm shim options. I like stainless 16ODX14IDX1mm. 

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of mark drillock
Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2009 10:41 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Rear Brake Question: uneven wear on new shoes or just bedding down?

It is impossible for the rear shoes to ever wear evenly. The bottom end
position is fixed and only the top end gets pushed out against the drum.
The wear will always be greatest at the top and none at the bottom. The
wear area as well as the brake performance can be improved at times with
spacer rings installed at the bottom end to bring the bottom shoe area
closer to the drum. This is really helpful with well used drums and
drums that have been turned. I don't like to suggest the spacers very
often since it is important to use a well fitting spacer and not just
whatever crappy washer some bonehead can dig up and make work. The lower
shoe holder pins must be removed first and the spacer goes between it
and the hole. The holder pins are often badly rusted into place so the
spacer project may be beyond some people.

Mark

Loren Busch wrote:
>  RE: Rear Shoes Bedding/wearing in
>
>> What do you folks think? Something amiss or just shoes just bedding
>> themsleves down? Shoes, drums, wheel cylinders were all replaced. You
>> opinion will be geatly appreciated.
>
>
>  Just went through this two weeks ago on my '90 with my mechanic who has
> been doing nothing but VW stuff for over 20 years.  Since 'arcing' the new
> shoes is no longer done because of environmental issues the rear shoes have
> to be worn in and will show  what appears to be uneven wear for some time.
>