Dave,
this is possible, i removed both my drums which has been on for
thousands of mi.

i squirted liquid wrench in the bolt holes, the lug bolt holes and
around the hole the hub passes through, had some beer and let the fluid
work for a bit, then hammered the circumference of the drum with a
rubber mallet and turned/pulled to get it off.  it did require some
force and a bit of time going between hammering and pulling and soaking
more with liquid wrench.

BTW to replace the shoes, the killer tool tip is to get a spring
grabber.  the handle and shaft look like a screw driver, but the working
end is a threaded cylinder with an angled slot.  the cylider threads
onto the shaft and by tightening you can clamp onto the brake springs.
using pliers to work the brake springs is a PITA!

BTW2:  i'd recommend checking your wheel cylinders while in there and
also bleeding the entire brake system--i think brake fluid absorbs
moisture and can cause corrosion--the fluid i bled was translucent
brown, not clear.

later,
fred

David Marshall wrote:
>
> 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.
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> -- David Marshall, Quesnel BC, mailto:david@volkswagen.org --
>    -- 78 1.8L VW Rabbit, 80 2.0L VW Caddy, 87 Audi 5KQ  --
>    --  85 1.8L VW Cabrio, 88 1.6L VW Syncro Double Cab  --
>    --   Volkswagen Homepage http://www.volkswagen.org   --
>      --  USE DAVID@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG WHEN SENDING PMAIL  --