First you need to grow a third arm, preferably with Vice Grip fingers.  Draw
or take a pic of the layout so re-assembly will be easier. I always sand the
bumps on the backer plate where the shoes ride and give them a light smear
of anti-seize.  Disassemble the adjuster screw assy and clean and lube the
internal parts for ease of movement.  A good spring hook or needle-nose Vice
grips really help for attaching those confounded springs on re-assembly.  If
you happened to buy the hardware kit from Bus Depot, be aware that the pins
for the retainers are NOT long enough. I've bought 2 and both sets were too
short.  I advised them of this fact both times.  The spreader bar for the
E-brake slots on the shoes is where that third arm comes in handy.  Gravity
always wins on this step.  Harbor, Great Wall of Freight, has a small
adjuster spoon that works real well in the adj. port which is in such a
difficult location.  Don't know whether I answered your question, but I feel
much better now, Thanks,

Dave Creasy
'85 Westy
'93 EVMV
'98 Beetle
'04 Audi A6 Avant
--------------------------------------------------
From: "neil n" <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sent: Saturday, October 02, 2010 3:51 PM
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Subject: Re: Rear Brake Shoe Spring Clips

> A Bentley is really useful and there should be lots of info in the
> archives on this. Ken Wilford posted a great how to IIRC.
>
> A couple of tips: take pics of your brakes before taking them apart.
> Also, do ONE side at a time. This should help a lot when it comes time
> to re assemble. Bear in mind that the PO or mechanic could have put
> them in wrong.
>
> Are you asking about these clips?
>
> http://tinyurl.com/335djj3
>
> IF so, I usually hold the pin head at backside in place with my
> finger, hold and push down on retainer with pliers, then turn the
> retainer and release it.
>
> Neil.
>
> On Sat, Oct 2, 2010 at 10:43 AM, J Stewart <fonman4277@comcast.net> wrote:
>> Even though my current '85 is my 10th Bus/Westy, I've never had to deal
>> with these &%$# things before, either the bus didn't have them or I never
>> needed to replace the rear shoes. Now I need to replace the rear shoes on
>> my '85 and I can't figure out how the come out. Someone enlighten me
>> please! How do those damn things come out?! Thanks, Jeff
>>
>>
>>
>> Jeff Stewart
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
>
> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>
> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
>