Ff the drum is somewhat loose and won't come off over the shoes,
then you think about backing off the adjuster, which can just barely be done
through the backing plate, at the top.

sounds to me like your drum is firmly stuck on the flange.
And I've had them way, way stuck........like no amount of oxygen -acetylene
heat will help, no amount of hammer work etc.
then I remove the big nut,
take the flange and drum off as a unit.
in every case.........I just lay the drum on the floor, outside facing up,
and a nice hit with a hammer on the flange, and it falls right out of the
drum.

if there is a lip worn on the back edge of the drum .........the flange and
drum may not come off easily as a unit.
then it may be necessary to back off the adjuster some.
I've had one or two that took 2 hours of intense persuasion to get off, even
more.
I hope yours is nothing like that.
Scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Andy Morse" <andysings@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, August 09, 2009 4:27 PM
Subject: removing drum on brakes?

> It's been a long tyime since I have had too remove the drum on a vehicle.
> Not having much luck with my 86 syncro.
>
> Yes the E brake is off :)
> Yes I did remove the two small screws.
>
> I've hammered a bit on the drums (all sides, around spindle to try and
> break some rust away), tried map gas, not budging.....
>
> I guess the next step is to attempt to loosen the adjusters but can't
> remember which way to turn the adjuster to loosen them. It seems the slot
> is on the top. Do I turn towards the ground or towards the sky?
>
> Is there a tool for removing drums? A bigger hammer :)
>
> Thank you,
> ????????????? Andy