Removing Rear Wheel on Softail Deluxe

[shotgun]

Hi All,

I am very close to removing the rear wheel on my Softail Deluxe FLSTN

Can somebody confirm whether the caliper needs to come out ?
If so, it looks like the only way to get at it is to remove _both_ mufflers and then exhaust mounting bracket. I have one muffler off anyway to get the spindle out. Seems a bit of a b**lache to remove both.

So far I've done this :

Lifted bike & strapped it down
Removed top exhaust muffler
Removed top and bottom chainguards
Slackened axle bolt

I'm ready to drop the wheel, so just wanted to check about the caliper.

cheers
Andy

[Fish]

Yes, it does need to come off. It's very tight and is easier if you remove the pads first to give it enough clearance to twist a little.
I removed the belt guard too.
Tip: drop your lift down until the wheel is just touching the floor, remove what you need to to free the wheel, then jack the bike up clear of the wheel.

[shotgun]

Hi,

Thanks for the tip, so to clarify the caliper does need to come off and this should be done _before_ the wheel is dropped.

This'll mean removing both mufflers and the bracket before I can get anywhere near the caliper retaining bolts (profound joy).

Oh well...

-A

[spinlondon]

What year is your bike?
Pre 06 you can't remove the caliper from the bracket, don't try to as you'll only split the caliper itself. On 06 and later bikes, you have to remove the rear pin in order to remove the brake pads.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by shotgun

Hi,

Thanks for the tip, so to clarify the caliper does need to come off and this should be done _before_ the wheel is dropped.

This'll mean removing both mufflers and the bracket before I can get anywhere near the caliper retaining bolts (profound joy).

Oh well...

-A

Yes, remove pad pin and slide pads out of caliper. Drift axle out (keeping wheel on the floor), space is also caliper bracket. Remove caliper, hang to side. Release caliper bracket from locating lug on swing arm. You may find it easier to remove belt guard also. Remove wheel and jack bike up clear.
That's how I do it. I was surprised how little clearance there is.