When you get the putty knife out to pryapart the pads try prying open your wallet and getting the service manual its worth the price.

 

Point taken... it's next on the list of bike related purchases.

G.T.

 

FLAMED96, When you get the putty knife out to pryapart the pads try prying open your wallet and getting the service manual its worth the price. Great advice. I do not agree with the manual if it tells you to install new brake pads this way. Many problems can occure.
jokr, Howie21, grumpy irish again, with the high probability of pissing you guys off I must respectfully and 100% disagree with all of you. This is my reasoning: If you do not remove your caliper from the wheel, you can not clean out the Sinistered brake dust off of your pistons and your caliper. You also can not visually inspect your caliper. Does a pilot visually check his wings, ailerons, rudder, oil, tail, cables et al. before taking off? Is your life or that of a loved one worth any less to you than that pilot?

This procedure and my reasoning is outlined [here] and is explained in better detail in my PDF file you can either read or download. Please read my exploded view and parts PDF for yourself if unfamiliar with what is inside of the caliper. Please do everything I say and purchase great brake pads, do not look to save your shekels buying a bargain pad.

For all the above members I have pissed off: jokr, Howie21, grumpy irish again please do the same. You can call me anything you like, but please be safe and keep your passenger safe. No Ostridge with his head in the sand for me if I can help keep you from harm! You guys got something better to do with your time other than work on your motorcycle? It will take only a few min. more and make this job more comfortable for you. It is not like the life I have got to leed, I have to put sun-block on, test a set of customers shocks, and ride to my errands in my bike around town for today (about 100 miles).

Yesterday, 2/25/2008 in FORT LAUDERDALE, FL High Temperature: Actual: 85°F
Normal: 77°F
Record: 89°F Low Temperature:
Actual: 70°F
Normal: 61°F
Record: 37°F Precipitation:
Actual: 0.01 in
Normal: 0.09 in
Record: 1.32 in
We can argue back and fourth and discuss this subject again if you practice safe motorcycle maintenance. I really like the people who ride motorcycles and wish you all to still be here. If you have any comments or constructive criticisim please post it here. If you got anything to say about me, do so also. I am not telling you to buy any product and I am not endorsing any product. Do with this information what you like but just do it for yourself!

 

Not knocking your logic, but if he is asking how to change pads, a good guess would be this is the first time the pads have been serviced. That would lead me to believe the bike has no more than maybe 15,000 miles. Breaking the caliper apart is overkill unless you've experienced problems with erratic braking or failure to release. Since bikes usually aren't exposed to road salt and other harsh chemicals the rate of piston failure due to pitting is too low to even comprehend. If the old pads can be easily pried away from the rotor that's a pretty good indication of their condition.

No need to make a simple job more than it is.

I replaced the rear pads three times on my last Ultra and never once broke the caliper apart. No problems.

 

Wecroft As per instructions, taking the caliper apart into 2 halves was not indicated, advised, or (in this case) needed. As per photos, you have to take the caliper off of the axle, turn the caliper up side down (with the pad pins already loosened) and clean with a solution (not oil based) with a tooth brush or other method and go around the pistons. Follow the rest of the instructions. You need not remove the brake line to do this. I recommend to clean calipers out (not take them off) every 2,500 miles if you are running a sinistered or dirty other pad (not usually found on Harleys). Everyone, please take time out to read the procedure completely, than go back to beer & ****. Thank You for your time. Remember, it is you that benefits as well as I from having you all around. It does not cost a dime, just work, loving work!

 

And what's wrong with beer and ****?

I'll stick by what I said and also what your local wrench and an "expert" told you as per your lengthy service instruction. If it ain't broke. don't fix it.

Now back the Ron Jeremy marathon.

 

And what's wrong with beer and ****? Not enough, both are too expensive, and this damned job takes up too much of my time.