Trouble removing rear brake rotors

[skyzend]

I'm trying to replace my rear rotors on a 1999 4x4. I'm having trouble getting these to slide over the parking brake "ring".

Any ideas, I cannot see any adjustment. The parking brake cable is loose so should be in the fully released state. I tried tapping the drum/rotor all the way to a full blown rage and still won't move. There must be a better way or I'm missing something basic.

Hayes and Chiltons manuals are of no help as they do not give any real description of rear rotor removal.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[AJT1961]

I did this last year and had the same problem. You need a bigger hammer. I beat the crap out of it (harder than I've ever hit any brake rotor or drum) and it finally came off taking the parking brake shoes with it -- but it did not harm them or the system. I'm almost certain there was a star wheel adjuster in there, so you might want to look for any access slits in the rear plate.

[MT-2500]

As AJT1961 said big hammer may help.
The repair manual is not much help on it.
It says to use a slide hammer on it.
The adjuster may be inside. Have a look at it when you get one off.
There is a TSB about replacing the hold downs on the emg brake shoe from damage removing the drum.
It might be a good idea to get and install the new revised hold down clips for emg brake horse shoe .
They are covered in TSB 02-05-26-001C dated Jan 19 2005
Good Luck.
MT

[old_master]

There is an adjustment for the parking brake shoes on the backing plate, upper left as you're looking at it with the rotor off. Back off the adjuster and install the rotor. Adjust the parking brake shoes until they just begin to touch the parking brake drum and there is a slight drag when you rotate the wheel. After you're all done, adjust the parking brake cable so the parking brake pedal goes about half way to the floor.