It is time to replace the front tire - going with Metz ME880. I have an '05 1200 Custom - 21" wheel, small fender.

Question is: serv manual seems to have me:
Remove fender
Remove brake pads
Remove Caliper
Loosen axle nut
loosen Axle clamp & remove axle

It seems possible to skip the fender and caliper removal - Does everyone follow the serv manual on this?

 

Just got thru with mine...
After you place jack under frame...
Remove caliper bolts and lay caliper aside.
remove axle nut
loosen pinch bolt.
Pull axle out

Reverse

 

just replaced mine with new lightningstar front wheel.. you are correct in thinking you can do it without removing caliper or pads!! i did it with a friends help. he bought my old wheel and tire. so we did it twice... good luck and good selection on tires!!!!!!!!!

 

Yep. You really don't even have to squeeze the caliper back down when reinstalling...just wiggle the rotor in it a couple times and it will slide back on.

Get some grease and hit your axle too...always a good idea while it's off.

Oh...and DO NOT use a hammer to remove and install your axle. Period. If it doesn't just slide out or in, wiggle the wheel around until it does.

 

+1 No need to remove the fender (with the skinny 21" tire) or the caliper. You can use a LARGE flat blade screw driver between the brake pads once the wheel is off to gently press the piston back into the caliper cylinder to seperate the pads. That will make getting the rotor back in between the bads easier.

 

Thanks for the advice, had thewheel off in 60 sec. I can see why tehy say to take off the caliper, it is a little tight getting the tire past it. I guess I will let the air out of the new one if it is a prob. I put a piece of 3/16" paneling between the pads.
The Cheap part of me says WTF? when looking at a $140 tire replacement that won't go 15k mi when my car tires are under 100 ea and nearly hit 60k ????

 

In case anyone searches for the "do I need to remove the caliper to pull the wheel" question (like I did and ended up here). On a 2015 Sportster 883 Iron, the wheel comes out easily without taking off the calipers.

 

Removing the calipers is easy, so why not do it and then inspect and clean them up while the wheel is off? Considering the obvious importance brakes, passing on the opportunity to service them is, IMO, a 1/2-*** thing to do.

 

So true. Whenever i remove tire I r&r the caliper. I use qtips doused in brake fluid to go around the pistons to clean off brake dust then i extend the pistons fully so I can get any crud off that was hidden when they were retracted. Then i retract them fully to clean off any crud that built up at the edge while retracting. Then I pull the pin holding the pads and clean the rod then add a dab of antiseize so the pads will slide easily. Takes maybe 15 minutes.

 

Remember that the calliper bolts require a 12 point , M10 METRIC socket . Please don't let people convince you that they are Torx bolts . The pins that hold the pads are also METRIC Allen heads . ( M6 I believe )