Hello all . . . it's time to change the rear brake pads on my '09 Fat Bob, which I've never done before. Looking at the service manual makes it look pretty easy. Remove the pin, pry the pistons back, remove the pads, put the new pads in, put in the pin, all without removing the caliper.

I have my doubts it's that easy. Would you guys recommend completely removing the caliper in order to do the pad replacement? Seems like it would be a little easier to compress the pistons that way? And less apt to damage anything in the process? Or am I making it harder than it needs to be?

I've searched the forum and Youtube and can't seem to find any good procedures.

Any of you willing to share your expertise I would greatly appreciate.

Thanks in advance and ride safe!

 

if your old pads are right down then the pistons would most likely have to be pushed back and I find it just easy to remove caliper and use a clamp to push pistons back in

clean the fluid cap and bike around it, remove the lid carefully as well for if fluid creeps up a little when pistons pushed back

its pretty easy job

 

• remove completely,
• remove pads,
• and clean before compressing pistons.
• loosen m/c cap,
• compress pistons,
• clean anything you missed,
• pads in,
• remount caliper,
• bleed.

fun times!

 

It's really simple, and you have the right idea,, no rocket science involved,, take out the extra bolt to remove the caliper and do some cleaning while it's in your hand.
Nothing complicated,, no extra problem to watch out for,, if you have the manual, the best advice is to follow proper torque values while putting it back together.

 

extremely easy and can 100% be done on the bike.. piston are so small
they can be compressed using a rag to protect caliper and lay old pad on pistons
then use a medium size pair channel locks


buy brake clean and use an old tooth brush before compressing pistons back in to the caliper to thoroughly clean the pistons and the sliders where the pads ride..


did mine recently and it took about 35 minutes start to finish

 

Good advise and I agree on removing the caliper, it makes cleaning much easier. A note on the pad pin; it is metric but you can use a 1/4" 12 point to remove it. Simplest way on the pad pin is to break it loose with the caliper still mounted and torque it once the caliper is mounted again...

Changing out the pads is a perfect time to bleed and flush the fluid

 

Hey thanks for all the great tips. Doesn't sound like too big a project. A good one for a cold winter day!

 

I removed my caliper, but left the brake hose connected so I wouldn't have to bleed it. Whole think took about ten minutes. Don't be scared, it is very easy.

 

I forgot to add, stay away from the cheap off brand pads especially those on ebay.. when you do it go with OEM or a quality brand replacement ( I went with EBC-V pads ) those cheap ebay pads aren't worth spit, week after doing mine friend of mine needed his done AGAIN because the cheap ebay set was nearly gone after only 1800 miles

 

By the book.

But I wonder...why would you need to bleed a closed system that was not opened? Taking the mc cap off will not let air into the system...pushing the pistons back in should not let air into the system, so where did the air that needs bleeding out come from?

I have often not bothered with bleeding a brake system that I did not open when changing pads, including car, truck, airplane, or motorcycle...probably should just because, but then I have never had any issues doing it that way either...