Get a right sized set of vice grips and try twisting them loose. Sometimes they come out without much fuss. An air-acetylene (plumber's torch) or MAPP may do the trick. 
Consider getting a set of shoes from GoWesty. I do not know where they get them from but so far they are almost a factory fit. With new drums the most you will get in place of a shim is 1mm on the front shoe. Most of the other shoes I have tried will take 3 to 5mm sometimes for both shoes. The next best set I have found come from AutoZone. Go figure.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Neil N
Sent: Sunday, June 7, 2015 8:37 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Brake Shoe Lower Mount Shims: Make-Install Shim Over Pins?

Haven't tried MAPP. Assumed it would be a no go.
Sounds like you had success with that method?

Neil.

On 6/7/15, Larry Alofs <lalofs@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hey Neil,
>   Have you soaked them well with Liquid Wrench, etc. and given them the
> "200 taps" ?
> Do you have a MAPP gas torch?

--
Neil n

Blog: Vanagons, Westfalia, general <http://tubaneil.blogspot.ca>

1988 Westy Images <https://picasaweb.google.com/musomuso/New1988Westy>

1981 Westfalia "Jaco" Images, technical <http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/>

Vanagon-Bus VAG Gas Engine Swap Group <http://tinyurl.com/khalbay>