In a message dated 98-06-29 10:57:45 EDT, vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG writes:

<<
 I didn't mean to start another long and nasty thread here, but, I have seen
 the rear drum removed from a Vanagon without removing the 500ft/lb nut the
 holds the hub on.  This is the way the VW dealer here does it all the time.
  Yesterday I tried removing my drums and there is no way they would come
 off.  I removed the two bolts that "hold" it in place but the area around
 the hub would not let go.  I tried liquid wrench, wd 40, tapping it with a
 hammer - no go... any suggestions here?  I'd like to put new brakes on the
 rear before heading to Saskatchewan on the 1st. >>

 Hi David,  I thought that you new everything about these cars, putting
engines in that and taking something else out and so on, LOL.  Well anyway,
with the wheels off, turn the brake shoe adjusting stars in that hole by the
wheel cylinder, until the brake shoes are away far enough from the inside of
the drums, and Wala, the drums will slide right off. Kinda like the old bugs.
After you put the new shoes on, cleaned the threads for the stars ( lubricate
with antiseeze) and installed the drums, turn those adjusting stars all the
way until the shoes are touching the drums, the drums will obviously stop
turning. Press the brake pedal down a few times, wich sets the brake shoes,
turn the stars tighter if you can, the wheels shouldn't turn, now back off the
stars a few turns so the wheels spin freely, there will be resistance from the
transmission, so don't comfuse drag as if coming from the shoes.  Make sure
that before you adjust the stars when you have done the brakes, that the E-
brake cable adjustment hasn't been screwed in, the adustment nut that is. If
you see about a inch of threads in the cable, don't touch it, you never
perform a E-brake adjustment there anyway, it's always done at the stars in
the drums. Good luck.
 Michael Modl. 87 syncro.