How in the world do you install the rear wheel?

I just spent an hour trying to get the rear wheel back in to place, but I can't get the brake pads around the disc without one or both of the pads falling off.

The brake pedal couldn't have been pressed while the wheel was off because the brake lever was off before the wheel was off so I know that the pads are wide enough to get the wheel on.

I have to push the brake caliper towards the engine to get the wheel into the swingarm. It's when I have to pull the caliper back so that the axle thru can slide all the way thru the swingarm that the brake pads fall off. I tried 50 times to try to get the pads to stay in place but they wiggle on the way down and catch the edge of the brake rotor.

What are your tips???

What bike are you talking about?
Steve

Are you trying to install the axle thru everything while the wheel is in place between the swing arm?
As for the brake pads, maybe put some brake grease on the back side of the pads to glue them in place or use masking tape.

I have a rear drum brake & install the complete rear wheel, axle & chain adjusters as an assembly. I roll the wheel up onto a pad & into place on the swing arm. It's a pretty easy way to do it.

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SWest wrote: What bike are you talking about?
Steve

Sorry, forgot to mention - 1982 KZ750 LTD

martin_csr wrote: Are you trying to install the axle thru everything while the wheel is in place between the swing arm?
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Yeah pretty much. I put the axle thru the left side of the swingarm, thru the spacer, thru the wheel hub, thru the other spacer/bushing, but then I can't get it to line up with the caliper thru hole. It's when I'm trying to get it thru the caliper when I am pulling the caliper away from the engine to line up with the axle that the pads wiggle out. I could try some brake grease, but I'd have to buy some before trying again..

I should probably mention I'm doing this all with the bike on the center stand only.

Having the bike on the center stand is the way to do it. I would try masking tape to hold the pads in place.
I've never done a rear disk brake, so I don't know the particulars, but I would try assembling the rear wheel w caliper off the motorcycle, then roll it into place.


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I'm probably not properly understanding the question but here goes

If the rear wheel is already off the bike bike then see the picture below which is from another post.



Remove the brake part which has the piston
insert the axle ( #9 in the pic may be backwards ) from the brake side. The rear disc is signified by the yellow line. Cant remember what the brake part in the pic is called. For now I'll call it the big black Y.
Hang the pads, pad guide and anti rattle spring etc in place on the big black Y .
Put the piece which has the piston on top.
secure with the bolts.
Hook up and the brake stay (torsion bar ?)

Its pretty easy to change rear brake pads with wheel in place. Just remove piston part, insert pads, replace top

Why cant you just take the calliper off, put the wheel back in then put the calliper back on? You won't be juggling the weight of the wheel and trying to align the calliper and pads at the same time then.

Warren3200gt wrote: Why cant you just take the calliper off, put the wheel back in then put the calliper back on? You won't be juggling the weight of the wheel and trying to align the calliper and pads at the same time then.

That would be the way i did it when r/r my rear wheel. Can't imagine trying to do it with the caliper in place.

Warren3200gt wrote: Why cant you just take the calliper off, put the wheel back in then put the calliper back on? You won't be juggling the weight of the wheel and trying to align the calliper and pads at the same time then.

Because I was going by how the manual tells you to do it. I got the wheel back on with the caliper off (but with the brake line still attached) but then a pad fell out and now I can't get the pad back in.

The caliper will close up a little after a while. I take a tire spoon and open them up just enough to fit the rotor. As you apply pressure it will slowly open back up.
Steve

Open the calliper up with a tire spoon as Steve says, keeping an eye on the fluid level in the reservoir, fit the pads, open the calliper so its wide as the disc slip some cardboard between the pads to keep them in place, slip over the disc, once halfway on slide the cardboard out and push the calliper on and bolt it up, job done.