Anyone try to loosen up the rear wheel and swingarm adjusters for the axel removing the axel nut and just move the axle in just far enough to pull the caliper. The wheel removal is a pia. Thanks.

 

Well I guess my post wasn't answered because no one knew the right answer as I didn't have enough info. Some probably wanted me to find out by myself. Whatever the case here's the procedure I used. The axel was installed from the right side. I had to pull the axel totally out to remove the caliper. I jacked the bike off the ground and shimmed the rear wheel to support it at the height where the axel was lined up able to be pulled. Just high enough to work sitting most time on a five gallon pail. So I could reach my beer. Next loosened the rear cylinder exhaust flange and center mount, it was in the way of removing the axel. I removed the axel remembering the axle spacer and washer order. This gave me room to wiggle the caliper from the bike. I rebuild the caliper and master cylinder. I placed the caliper and right side spacer in line and slid in the axel. Continued to slide farther almost outside the rim I moved the longer spacer back in line and slid the axel to the swing arm. I had to back off on the axel tensioner screw back of swing arm belt side and the axle slid right in. I marked the washer edge both sides when I started as MOCO just installed two new tires and they are always right. HA. Installed the washer then nutted it and put the pin in. The master cylinder was filled with nasty looking brownish brake fluid. I bought Dot five for the job so I emptied the fluid put the new piston parts in wiped fluid out with a rag blew out the lines. I hooked up the lines, all new crush washers. I started to bleed the brakes and will finish bleeding tomorrow. Next is the front caliper rebuild, do the easiest job last. God bless and ride safe.

 

It's easier if you insert the axle from the left (I did it to avoid having to pull the rear muffle, IOT pull the axle).

I believe your '03 is the same as my '02, so there's just no easy way to pull the stock rear caliper/mount without dropping the wheel.

 

Why not just drop the wheel. You got it to where its just hanging any way. Its much easier when the spacers are out if the way. The caliper pulls out toward the wheel. With the wheel pushed up close to the left side swing arm it will almost fall out. The extra 10 mintes to get the wheel off and on can save a lot more time.

 

The wheel was off and the caliper wiggled right out. It is the same as the 02 with the caliper sliding over the axel. I was working alone so keeping the wheel as close to the hight as when installed made it easier to pull the axel and put it back. When the MOCO installed my new tire I wish they installed the axel from the left. Anyway it is done. and worked out fine.

 

Pulling the rear wheel on my 2001 FXD ain't a big deal...putting it back on by yourself is a PITA.

I also put my axle in from the left side so I did not have to remove the top exhaust pipe to take off the rear wheel. Even so, it is still easier to just take off the wheel to pull the caliper...and about the same level of aggravation to get the caliper reinstalled with the wheel on the bike as it is to put the wheel back on by yourself...six of one, half-dozen of the other.

 

Good post. Noted. I'll be swapping out a real caliper on my '99 eventually.

 

Dropping the wheel is easy. Putting it back on by yourself is a pain the ***.

Hoping my new HF lift table & a scissor jack will make that task a bit less arduous.

 

Good idea, wish I'd thought of that when I changed rear tire a few weeks ago. Since I need to drop the exhaust this weekend for something else I'll probably pull the axle just to swap it.