bigdog2003
Member
I removed the rear wheel to clean it up and am having trouble aligning the axle spacers with the axle on the right-hand side. Anyone have a trick to align the spacers, the caliper bracket and the swing-arm opening? Thanks.
Rear wheel issue
- Thread starter bigdog2003
- Start date
KaptinAmerika
Guru
It helps to use two jacks or place a small scissor jack under the rear tire
Rex Winters
Member
I used a small sledge and a block of wood, so I didnt mar the metal.
bigdog2003
Member
All good suggestions but I have 2 jacks. The problem is that there are three spacers -- a wide one on the left side, and a medium-width one plus a thin (1/8") one on the right side. The axle on the right side also has to go thru the caliper bracket.
Axle enters on the left side - no problem getting it thru the wide spacer and the wheel. On the right side, there is the medium spacer, then the bracket, then the thin spacer. Everything works fine until I try to put the thin spacer between the bracket and the swingarm. It came off easily but now it seems like there's not enough room to put in back in.
I've reseated the races/bearings thinking that they may have moved but that's not the problem. I scratched up my billet brake bracket trying to put this thing back together. Got that all polished out but still can't figure out why that thin spacer doesn't have enough room. I know that the whole assembly has to be loose enough to move horizontally to get it adjusted properly. I just can't get that #%*&! thin spacer in there.
Been playing with this thing for over a week and I'm unbelievably frustrated at this point because I'm a passable mechanic. Any genius' out there who may have had the same problem and found a fix?
Axle enters on the left side - no problem getting it thru the wide spacer and the wheel. On the right side, there is the medium spacer, then the bracket, then the thin spacer. Everything works fine until I try to put the thin spacer between the bracket and the swingarm. It came off easily but now it seems like there's not enough room to put in back in.
I've reseated the races/bearings thinking that they may have moved but that's not the problem. I scratched up my billet brake bracket trying to put this thing back together. Got that all polished out but still can't figure out why that thin spacer doesn't have enough room. I know that the whole assembly has to be loose enough to move horizontally to get it adjusted properly. I just can't get that #%*&! thin spacer in there.
Been playing with this thing for over a week and I'm unbelievably frustrated at this point because I'm a passable mechanic. Any genius' out there who may have had the same problem and found a fix?
wolfen
Member
I have had a problem getting my back wheel spacers on too. I put the wide spacer on first , than I put the inner spacer on the brake side next , than I drive the axle in just enough to leave room for the final small spacer. I use a small pry bar and seat the wheel and spacers as far as I can than slip the thin spacer in place. It`s a tight fit ,but,it works every time now. Once you do it a few times it gets easier.
That's on a 2005
That's on a 2005
bigdog2003
Member
Wolfen:
Viewed from the back, this is the way I'm trying to put it back together.
Swingarm/large spacer/wheel/inner spacer/caliper bracket/thin spacer/swingarm.
Is this the same order as your bike?
Also, when using the prybar, are you inserting the bar between the swingarm and the brake rotor to push the wheel assembly to the left?
Viewed from the back, this is the way I'm trying to put it back together.
Swingarm/large spacer/wheel/inner spacer/caliper bracket/thin spacer/swingarm.
Is this the same order as your bike?
Also, when using the prybar, are you inserting the bar between the swingarm and the brake rotor to push the wheel assembly to the left?
bigdog2003
Member
Rear wheel installation
I appreciate all the responses. I was able to get the wheel back on and aligned properly.
Just a heads up to anyone who reads this post -- I ended up buying a 6" copper, thin-walled plumbing pipe at Lowe's that's just slightly smaller than 1" in diameter. Costs about $8. Makes a perfect tool (almost like a clutch pilot tool) to align the axle, spacers and caliper bracket. Just insert it through the swing arm on the right-hand side, slip it over the threaded end of the axle and it goes right through the caliper bracket and both spacers. Made it super simple to push the axle through.
Amazing what you can do when you use your brain.
I appreciate all the responses. I was able to get the wheel back on and aligned properly.
Just a heads up to anyone who reads this post -- I ended up buying a 6" copper, thin-walled plumbing pipe at Lowe's that's just slightly smaller than 1" in diameter. Costs about $8. Makes a perfect tool (almost like a clutch pilot tool) to align the axle, spacers and caliper bracket. Just insert it through the swing arm on the right-hand side, slip it over the threaded end of the axle and it goes right through the caliper bracket and both spacers. Made it super simple to push the axle through.
Amazing what you can do when you use your brain.