I am trying to get the rear rotors off of an '02 Explorer. They are not stuck or rusted on like many seem to be but it appears that the e-brake is keeping me from removing them. The driver side came right off but the passenger side is not. How do I release the e-brake pressure? Any help would be hugely appreaciated.

 

If the e-brake is via a cable, there is a turn buckle usually 1/2 way on the cable that will allow you to loosen the tension for service - but these tend to rust frozen sometimes too - I've never worked on an 02 - but I would think it was the same basic design as this system has been for years... sometimes you can adjust the cable in two places, so that you can apply even pressure to both wheels when you set the parking brake.

 

Dont do that, just back off the e-brake adjuster star, inside the e-brake drum....there is a little hole to get to it thru the backing plate...

 

that star wheel is for loosing the tension of the shoes against the drum, - but if that works all the better/easier - I guess it makes sense that it would, only because that entire system is manually driven from inside the truck for the e-brake, since those shoes are only for use with that brake, as the rotors are for the power brakes...

 

its the only way to back them off, messing with the turn buckle wont properly relieve the e-brake pads from the drum

 

you will probably find the shoes delaminated off the steel. that is common. i have a 2002. you migh tjust have to pry the brake disc off and the shie will eventually give up. a real good fix is to take the lining and thow it in the trash. just leave the shoe and cable in place.