21017 roadglide special 40k miles. I need to change its rear brake pad and I am stuck. I loosen two bolts and trying to slide brake assembly off the rotor, it wont slide out because it is hitting the wheel. It was never this hard on my 2012 roadking when I change the rear brake pad.

It looks like the rear wheel needs to come off to replace a rear brake pads. What a bad designed

 

if you push the pistons in, there is enough room to remove caliper. 15 minute job. loosen pad retainer bolt before removing caliper. mike

 

I pushed in the pistons but did not remove retainer bolt. I'll try that tomorrow. Thanks.

 

That's weird. I didn't have that problem with my 2017 FLHTK. My rear brake was squealing something terrible after about 1k miles. I removed the caliper no problem. Cleaned it and applied a new layer of brake caliper grease to the back of the pads. I had to wiggle the caliper just right to get it off. If I remember correctly I had to pump the shocks up all the way on my 2012 to get clearance past the wheel. Try turning your shocks up for more clearance.

 

Your pads were brand new, the pistons were all the way in already.

 

If the pads won’t allow enough clearance to get the caliper off, it’s ok to push the pistons in a bit by “twisting” the caliper so the rotor acts like a lever against the pad. However there “should” be juuuust enough room to get the caliper off without doing that.