2012 35i rear brake rotors frozen

[mitch808]

Is there a special programming needed to release the parking brake on a 2012 35i e70? e.g. protools, etc?

I can't get the rear rotor off even after beating it with a dead blow hammer.
It also escapes me which size bolt fits in the rotor to try to release it.

[nodemgr]

Is your electronic parking brake unit broken? If so you can pull the emergency parking brake release cable in the left hand of cubby near the rear hatch. However this will disable your electronic parking brake unit...you could reset it if you take the unit out and disassemble it, though. Otherwise it needs to be replaced.

[mitch808]

Originally Posted by nodemgr

Is your electronic parking brake unit broken? If so you can pull the emergency parking brake release cable in the left hand of cubby near the rear hatch. However this will disable your electronic parking brake unit...you could reset it if you take the unit out and disassemble it, though. Otherwise it needs to be replaced.

The question is not that it's broken or not.. I can't get the rotor unstuck in trying to change rotors.

My question is more around, is it needed to put it into some service mode? And can protools do it?

I might try a long bolt and a couple of nuts and washers to force it off with leverage through the caliper mount holes... Better than beating it with a hammer and damaging the rotor and not having a way to back out if I fail.

[nodemgr]

You should be able to loosen the parking brake shoe using the hole in the rotor. There is a geared type nut that if you turn in the right direction will remove tension from the parking brake shoe. Since it's geared you'd need to use like a flathead screwdriver to turn it, or drum brake tools. You can search youtube on how to tension a parking brake and do the opposite to loosen it.