Question about removing drum brake on 85 vanagon (picture included)?

Question

I am trying to take apart the drum... having a hard time. do I need to remove that 46mm nut? or could i just put a couple 7mm bolts in those two holes and drive em down to pop the drum off?
here's a picture of the situation
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/855/0530111833.jpg/

Answer 1

You need a bigger hammer!



Forget the bolt hole idea. Those holes hold the drum on the hub. The hub is threaded, not the drum. What happens on those (and I did the same job last week on a 79 Type 2) is the center area of the drum gets a rust bond to the hub. I use a 2 lb hammer and "whop" the outer edge of the drums to loosen them. You can also spray some PB Blaster, or other penetrating oil around the center of the hub, bolt holes and wheel studs. That should loosen it.



You may have to back off the star wheel adjusters, but I doubt it. Those shoes are not self adjusting and rarely develop a severe lip in the drum. They usually don't get adjusted at all causing the pedal to feel spongy, leading to a premature brake job. You may find shoes in there that don't look very worn at all.

Answer 2

Look on the inside of the wheel and there should be a small slot toward the bottom. It might have a cap or a piece of metal you have to remove.

Use a brake spoon, or a screwdriver works sometimes, and loosen the brakes.

The drum should then come off easily.



Those two bolts might work but if there is a lip on the drum, you will have to loosen the shoes.

Answer 3

85 Vanagon

Answer 4

That's the newer style, so the axel nut doesn't need to come off, however you will need to back the shoes off with a brake spoon or screwdriver, and in most cases the drum has pretty much grown to the hub with corrosion,. so a bit of penetrating oil may be in order, other than that its a pretty easy job,

Answer 5

I would believe one would use two bolts to extract the drum out.



It does not look like it's necessary to undo the spindle nut. The drum looks like it will clear out without having to remove it.

Answer 6

they are in all likelihood sticking to the pads, hit the exterior of the drum each and each and every of how round with a mallet, you may then use some huge screwdrivers or pry bars to wedge the drum of somewhat at a time from opposite aspect of drum. placed pry bar between rear plate and inner fringe of drum to attempt this. earlier doing this confirm you launch parking brake cable from the point on the again of drum in case the cable is seized and preserving pads antagonistic to drum. strong success.