My plan is to replace rear brake pads on my 2011 Heritage this weekend. While looking at the rear caliper it looks like the staggered mufflers have to be removed to access the caliper bolts and possibly the exhaust system main hanger bracket behind mufflers. I have read my shop manual and looked at several videos. None address this directly.
Can any of you give any tips or shortcuts on replacing pads that will help? I assume the caliper has to come off to remove pads, unlike some Harley's the pads can come out of the top of the caliper. I would like to do the pads without removing the mufflers if it's possible.

 

Anybody?

 

You don't need to take the pipes off.
It's easier though if you take the right bag off.

Take a T-40 torx bit with either a "dog-bone" or regular wrench, reach behind the pipes and take the bottom of the two bolts out.

The upper bolt can be got to with a T-40 "T-Handle" wrench.
If you don't have a set you could use the bit, but you should probably get a "T-Handle" set.

Once the bolts are out you just slide the caliper off the rotor.

Once you get the caliper off it's just like a car caliper where-as you need to take the brake fluid reservoir top off and then compress the pad to make room for the new pads.

To give you a reference, take some pictures of the caliper with the old brakes on.
This might give you a hint if you somehow get turned around.

It's a easy job.

 

Blueraven, all good info. I see how you did it with the torx bit and the ratchet wrench. Did you have the bike on the floor or raised on a jack with the rear wheel hanging? Also, the small bolt that goes thru the pads looks like it might be a 12pt 1/4" socket? What size socket for the pad pin bolt?

 

I'm not sure if the changed the later models, but on my 02 you don't pull the caliper off at all. You just take the two small bolts that hold the pads in and compress the caliper. The old pads will fall out the bottom. You the slide the new pads inf rom the bottom line up the bolts and torque them down. Took me less then 10 minutes on the ground. Like blue-raven said take the right bag off. Hope this helps.

 

No the bike was not lifted, but perhaps that would make it easier.

As for the "pad pin bolt" I don't recall what size that is, but once you have the caliper off I wouldn't think it would be that difficult to figure out.

Just jump into the swap, you'll see it's not no big deal.

 

Thanks, I can't put a 1/4" socket on it to test fit it until I get the caliper off. I was just lining up the tools I need so I can get it done. I will figure it out when I get started.

 

This caliper/pad setup is different then the 2002, but good to know.

 

I just did the brakes on my 2013 Deluxe. I was faced with the same issue so I removed the top slip on and then it was a very easy to remove the caliper.
Hope that might help