How to Change the Brake Pads for your Harley Davidson Touring

One of the most important maintenance procedures for any Harley Davidson Touring
is the brake pad replacement. Brake pads on the Touring, like those on
other vehicles, are designed to help the brakes to stop the vehicle
efficiently and quickly. Without proper brake pads, the Touring becomes a
dangerous vehicle on the road, both to the driver and to the other
drivers in the area as well. In order to maintain proper safety levels,
plan to change out the brake pads on your Touring every 2000 to 3000
miles. The procedure is easy and can be completed at home with a few
basic tools and a brief period of time.

Step 1 — Gather Materials

Collect the following tools and materials in order to change the brake pads on a Harley Davidson Touring:

• New brake pads
• Allen wrench
• Screwdriver set
• Cleaning spray
• Pliers

Step 2 — Prep and Mount the Touring

It’s important to wait for a few hours after riding until after the
bike has cooled down in order to mount up the Touring for this project.
Failing to do so may mean that the bike will be overheated, and you
could cause injury to yourself trying to access the brake system at this
time. Once the motorcycle is entirely cool, put it up on the mount
such that you’ll have access to both sides easily.

Step 3 — Remove the Caliper Bolts

Use the Allen wrench to carefully remove the caliper bolts from the
outside of the brake system. Set them aside in a safe place to be
replaced and reinstalled on the bike later on. If your Touring has a
retaining clip setup to hold the calipers in place instead of bolts,
turn the clips by hand until they line up such that the ends of the
clips stick out. Next, use the pliers to remove the clips and set them
aside as well.

Step 4 — Remove and Clean the Calipers

Pull out the calipers by hand and examine them for signs of damage.
This can include cracks, general wear and tear and any other signs of
abuse. If you detect any damage, discard the calipers and purchase new
ones to replace on your vehicle. Otherwise, use the cleaning spray to
clean the calipers of any dirt or debris that may be on them.

Step 5 — Remove the Brake Pad and Clean the Pistons

Take out the brake pad on either side of the brake system by hand and
discard it in an appropriate place and manner. Depress the brake pedal
until all of the air has been forced out of the pistons and they’re
fully collapsed. Next, use your cleaning spray to clean up the brake
caliper pistons and the spring setup. When you’re done, use the
screwdrivers to push the pistons back into the brake caliper set.

Step 6 — Replace the Brake Pads and Close Up the System

Replace the brake pads with new pads and then place the calipers back
in place. Put the caliper bolts or retaining clips back in place to
hold the calipers steady. Use the Allen wrench to tighten up the brake
pad calipers once again. Before you remove the bike from the mount, test
out the brake pedal to be sure that it will depress properly.

Remove the bike from the mount and test out the brakes by driving it at a very slow speed and in a controlled way.

The parts necessary for this project are available at motorcycle repair shops or hardware stores.