Well, I THOUGHT it was going to be an easy hour of "do-it-yourself" garage maintenance?! My VFR as 38k Km's and when I replaced my rear tire last fall, the shop guy said I could use some new pads...thought it was something I COULD DO! Had a @#%!? of a time figuring out how to remove the rear caliper on my 2002 VFR800 (ABS model). Took off the rear wheel (easiest part of the whole event!)...removed all the caliper bolts I could access...caliper was still pivoting on the hanger by a booted pin! Opted to remove the single pin holding the pads in place, and removed the worn pads with the caliper still partially attached to the hanger...then I removed the three 12mm bolts holding the two halves of the caliper together...only THEN was I able to slide the half with the pistons completely clear of the rubber booted pin on the hanger, and thereby revealing the BOLT that I hadn't been able to access directly behind the brake lines on the piston side of the caliper. Once I removed that bolt...Shazam!!...the hanger came away from the frame! Bolted the caliper back together (after giving everything a good cleaning), compressed the three pistons, put the new EBC pads in, slid the booted pins into the caliper hanger (now removed)and slid the entire assembly back over the rotor. Still had a @##!? of a time tightening that upper bolt again? There is literally no room to fit either socket or standard wrench between the brake lines!! Is there an easier way to remove the rear caliper?! And am I in for more adventure replacing the front pads? Do I need to remove the front wheel? Hoping someone has some "do-it-yourself/step by step" photos to help? Today's ordeal made me think that my time may have been better spent on the golf course and paying the shop guys to do it? Thanks all
This from another thread regarding front brakes. I didn't link to the thread because the OP is a little out there & some of his posts can be entertaining or painful depending on your perspective. I'm 99% sure what your asking for exists here. I remember seeing a step by step thread w/ pics. Just can't find it. if you don't have a service manual here's a link to thread that has a download: http://vfrworld.com/forums/showthread.php/46070-2002-2006-VFR800-VTEC-Service-Manual Pretty sure you do have to be a registered member of VFRD to download. In the meantime hopefully someone knows where a step by step thread is and chimes in.
You can replace the rear brake pad without removing anything. I'm not a shop monkey, but I managed to do it a few years ago. It was a PIA, but not as bad as removing the wheel sheesh.
It's easier if you can get up on a work stand so you aren't standing on your head trying to see what's what. I don't believe I removed the rear tire or caliper when I replaced my pads a couple years ago on my 5th gen.
