Overhauling a Opel GT Rear Diff. Unit

I am about to Overhaul my Rearend and Axle Bearings on my Yellow GT. I can not stand the howling noise no more. I think I replaced the left axle bearing about 10 years ago. I think it's time to rebuild the complete unit. It's just too noisy now.
I am having trouble trying to move the rear backing plate adjusters (2) on each rear wheel. These are the only way to adjust the rear brakes.
The 17mm Nut are seized to the backing plates, I tried soaking them in penetrating oil and even try heating them to get them to move.
I know with enough force the part will snap off.
See photo.
I wanted to know if anyone else has experience this/ and how to go about making the repairs/ Mod.
Unless it's wise to find good used backing plates.. but where do you find theses parts??

The last time I did this was with the Blue GT... soak them up w PB blaster..ended up snapping the adjuster
and used a spare set of backing plates from a parts rear
This time I tryed soaking and heating them but nothing yet.. I'll try the impact but what happens is there some kind of lock washer thing behind the adjuster that broke..than it junk as the adjuster will be loose and will not stay set in the proper position..
Going to try Impact gun..if it breaks.. will need to fix somehow..let you know

It worked After getting some Kroll ( was using PB blaster) and letting it soak.. I tried the Impact gun very slowly and presto
they started moving ..Yay I was not thinking Impact gun..was using a breaker bar.
Then I removed the axles with a slide hammer and off came the backing plates.
I'll be doing a complete rebuild.. I think Gary said you will be doing the same.

Thanks Gary I just needed a little help from my Friends.

I think I'll be posting my rebuild project here.. start to build posts here.. and get use to the new environment

Here photo so far

I tired the Project section ..I don't See a place to post my photo's,, I kinda like the Forum layout with all extra settings ..Large Places to add photo's ..pretty nice so far

Am going to rebuild the rearend and will Doc. as I go with Pictures. I will be adding sway bar brackets and getting a lot help from Markandson. I have modified my Kwiklift with special Bolt down stand that are Home Made. I have removed the rear myself //alone// not easy.. was kinda hard lowering the unit without killing myself. I have doubled up the two bridges and use a floor jack ( now thinking about a light aluminum jack) The rear I plan on getting Powder coated Jet Glossy Black. I be posting as I go
Hopefully there will be others to chime in.... The next thing will be welding on the sway bar brackets and removing the axle bearings...Stay Tuned
Here what I've done

I am thinking about adding this to my rear Brakes.... Any advise will help

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Scheibenbr…%3D282341650322

Gary, I was also wondering if you need to make the wheel studs longer using 15" wheels
also will need to make flex line brackets (2)
and mod, e-brake lever threaded bolt rod longer and new e-brake cables// brackets too.
Not sure if I can get all these parts in the states from aftermarket VW vendors
Thinking about the German kit.. complete LQQKS nice
What do you think

I'm back to add more to my Thread. I Have the rearend taken out of my GT. I got a lot of Help from
( markandson) and we did a lot last Saturday in his Welding Shop.
I first located where the rear sway bar brackets were going to be welded to the axle tubes, then I got a flapper disc on my grinder and grinder off the paint.
Jeff had made a Jig to hold the rearend so the sway bar bracket could be installed properly and evenly to both axle tubes.

Then he worked his magic and the bracket were installed...took a while to get the rear located into the welding Jig
Take Look
Axle bearing removal.. first remove the retainer ..notch with a chisel and retainers came right off
Then we removed the axle bearings from the two axles using a Home made Press made of flat bar and a jack screw.
with a Flange Bearing puller clamp attach to end .. Jeff's design. Took a two men operation but off came the axle bearings and the retainer plates. Was hard to take a photo.. with our hand full LOL The two plates on each side and the axle flanges will be powder coated too, before installation of the new bearings

Next was to disassembly the gears from inside the rear housing and then I'll clean the debrie from the axle tubes and sump.. for then it's off to the Powder Coat Shop.
Am not exactly sure what was making the noise.. as the gear look a bit worn.. I think it was the pinion bearings and outer and inner races look worn and scored... I hope that it??

Now that it's all apart I'll need to bang out the inner and outer pinion races... and I guess carefully tap the new races into place...Opel Manual says to use a special installer??
The carrier unit will need a special type of puller to remove the carrier Bearings too..I think??

See the gears below are Crap/ Trashed / worn out / going to find my extra Ring and Pinion from my spare parts Bin

Than everything off to the Powder Coat shop

Stay Tuned for more....

I hope someone is reading this

Today I took the housing to clean out all the debrie ..I found that one side (left ) axle tube has a small amount of corrosion inside .. after a little consulting was told to try and hone the rust out w/drill clean out the diif. box (pumpkin ) Also if you look at the photo's the spider gears and ring and pinion gears are Crap.. these four gears are too worn... looking though my parts Bin.. I found another set with matching numbers, If you look at the spare carrier someone replace ring and pinion as you see thread sealer on bolts.. I have another Opel friend Chris that will help me with the setup of the gears, as he done it before ..a couple times.. Stay tuned for more ... I hope to see more posts here...

Good Gears Attach. Below

Hey Thanks Yellow73 GT...Hey your avatar is Blue.... Hey Blue73 GT Just kidding

I was wondering when someone was going to chime in... You have to start some time her..and get use to the lay out... so far this forum is cool.. I be here

So to update this thread.. Am decided to Mod. the rear brakes too. I have a local friend chris who has the factory Rear Diff. tools to help me set up the Gears... am waiting for the Disc Brake pkg to come from Germany
I'am not sure weather I should Mod. make a dust shield for the rotor at the axle tubes.. others have left it off/missing
So it would effect the Rear Disc brakes while driving in the rain.. late brake grab... and the only time I drive in the rain is coming home from Carlisle LOL

Am in the process of cleaning out the Housing and tubes inside the diif box...
Am using a Brake cylinder Hone to try and remove the rust / corrosion that ac-cured on one side tube.
Norbert said that the rust came from the broken Diff. Vent ( that had broken off and I couldn't find a replacement that fit properly ) That let water and moisture inside the diff. and probably caused the corrosion / Rust... need to research and find a couple for my GT's now
see attach