Rear rotor removal

[texcam]

I have a 1996 Explorer XLT with the control-trac 4wd and all-whell disc brakes. I am replacing the rear brakes and I need to replace the LH rotor because the brake pads gouged my rotor. My problem is that I CANNOT remove the rotor. I have beat the crap out of it and it still won't budge. I have even unhooked the parking brake cable. When I turn the rotor, there is a little drag. I believe that may be the problem but not sure. I have a parking brake adjusting tool, but when I stick it trough the opening, all I can feel is a spring not the adjuster. The Haynes manual has a picture of the parking brake setup after removal of the rotor. It looks like the adjuster is on the top but the opening is on the bottom. Help!!!

 

[TarHeel085]

just hit the back with a big hammer, that should work just fine. good luck

 

[mridings]

sometimes you have to break them off

I had the same problem when I went to do my brakes the first time. Sometimes the rotor gets bonded to the wheel so badly that the only way to get it off is to break it off with a sledge. Since your replacing it anyway...
Start swinging like your at the carnival. Good luck.

 

[tmsoko]

My parking brakes actually wore a groove in the "drum" and when I finally got the rotor off, it had pulled the p-brake shoes out as well and damaged the p-brake hardware. Make sure you have new p-brake shoes and a hardware kit - odd are you will need it.

 

[texcam]

Thanks to everyone for their advice. To anyone else that has this problem, I'd like to add that I had to unhook both the left and right parking brake cables. Then I used a BIG rubber mallet and whaled on the rotors. Use the Rubber mallet if you want to save your rotors and your hearing. This is an awesome website.

 

[simmons1]

The adjuster is on the bottom and the spring rest up against it. You should be able to see it with a flashlight. The best way to set the e-brake tension is to keep increasing the the adjuster until the rotor becomes difficult to pull off the studs because of the tension of the e-brake pads. Then back off the adjuster a couple of clicks. Make sure all of the e-brake hardware is in good condition. I just had a e-brake pad break loss while doing 80mph! All of the hardware can be bought in a hardware kit for $20 at Carquest.