Oh great sages of the list...

Anyone BTDT and know how to get the e-brake cables to come off the rear
brake backing plate?

I'm replacing rear wheel bearings on my Westy, and since I'm taking the
brakes apart anyway, I want to clean up and POR-15 the backing plates...
I've got one brake apart, and now have the backing plate attached to the
van by only the e-brake cable. I'd like to get it detached from the van, so
I can do the cleanup/painting in the garage (where it's warmer).

On another note, I need to shim the bottom of the brake shoes slightly, I
recently replaced them, but I've got wear only on the tops of the shoes.
What's the recommended method for shimming these? Do I just slip thin
slivers of shim stock between the shoes and the lower mounting pins, or do
I need to pull the mounting pins, and insert shim 'washers' under them? Is
aluminum good enough, or do I need to pick up some brass shim stock?

Thanks in advance,

Tim