Rear wheel removal - can't get the brake caliper off or remove axle - help??

[mgardiner2673]

Just started removing rear wheel to have a new tire installed. Reached the point of jacking the rear so I could get most of the weight off the rear tire.

2 problems:

1. I couldn't get brake caliper to slide off the disc. I have made sure the parking brake is released so I know that isn't the problem with the caliper.

2. I could not remove the axle from the rear assembly. It just wouldn't slide out.

I don't have the rear fender/license plate unit so I'm not sure why removing the lower bolt on the shock is necessary. Is there some trick or regular item I'm missing in the rear wheel removal process???

Just bought my 2018 Spyder F3-S so I'm a Can Am newbie, but I have ridden and worked on bikes for most of my life. Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Mike

 

[Bfromla]

As far as the caliper goes, try pressing against the rotor to compress the pistons a touch. Just Manually - you won’t need a C clamp or anything else 'til after it's off & ready for a brake job.

 

[Woodaddict]

The rear caliper is a screw in/out type of piston, so you won't get much movement by applying pressure. There has to be fluid pressure to twist it out. Have the brakes worn past the liner and into the backing? That would make a higher ridge that the pads or very worn pads have to go past to get off. Might also be past the service limit of the rotor.

Not sure about the F3-S, or if there is any linkage attached to the swingarm for ride height computer measurement. You would need to take out that linkage bolt first if there is. You don't need to take out the shock bolt IF you can walk the belt off of rear pulley, once the jack has fully lifted the rear wheel off the ground while jacking on the rear-most part of the frame.

 

[mgardiner2673]

Thanks for the info. I think my rear pads are good but will recheck them when I get home. As far as the caliper I tried to push the pads back in a bit but that didn't work. If I have to, I'll pull the pads to check them. I know I should be able to slide the caliper down and off the disk at that point.
Mike

 

[Woodaddict]

As for the axle, you might try a little upward relief of the wheel weight pressing down the axle - that could be making the axle harder to push out.

 

[Bfromla]

As for the axle, you might try a little upward relief of the wheel weight pressing down the axle - that could be making the axle harder to push out.

So, any progress??

 

[Yabbadabbadoo]

Having done this a few times on my F3S and a friend's F3S as well, you don't have to remove the shock bolt. Have you removed the two bolts holding the brake assembly to it's mounting bracket? To remove the axle, make sure there is little to no weight being applied on the tire. Jack the frame up so that the tire just comes off the ground, then lower it slightly so the tire just touches the ground again and relieves the pressure on the axle.

 

[jcthorne]

You need to remove all tension from the belt on the rear axle before you can easily slide it out. Usually that means remove the lower shock bolt and allow the swing arm to lower and the belt looses all tension and slides off the sprocket easily.

 

[pegasus1300]

I have found on my RTL that I can roll the wheel backwards while pulling outward on the belt and I can walk the belt off. WATCH YOUR FINGERS, DON'T GET THEM CAUGHT IN THE BELT. With the belt off you can then remove the axle. I also don't disturb the belt alignment or tension.