ST Rear Wheel Removal & Reinstallation

Steve has a 2022 Softail Low ST on the table lift and is set up to demonstrate the procedures for removal and installation of the rear wheel.

The rear wheel of your Harley will need to be removed many times throughout the life of the motorcycle. The main reason for wheel removal is for tire replacement. Other common reasons are: rotor replacement, pulley replacement, and wheel bearing replacement.

Having the ability to remove and re-install your own wheel is very beneficial, mainly because it will save you a considerable amount of money when needing new tires. In fact, many shops offer free mounting and balancing when you purchase the tires there. Bringing a motorcycle to the service department for tire replacement can easily be double the cost of the tires.

As far as labor goes, shops usually get about 1.5 hour labor time for rear tire replacement and 1 hour for front tire replacement, regardless of what the actual labor time turns out to be.

Rear wheel removal and installation can mostly be achieved with basic hand tools. The only exception would be the need for a 1 7/16″, half in drive, socket and a foot pound torque wrench for the rear axle nut.

The steps for rear wheel removal are straightforward:

– Remove the rear caliper retaining hardware and lift caliper off of the rotor.
– Remove axle E clip
– Loosen axle nut.
– Loosen left and right side axle adjusters.
– Lift rear wheel with a flat jack until the wheel is just grazing the top of the table lift.
– Remove the upper belt guard.
– Remove the axle nut and washer.
– Slide axle out.
– Remove the right side spacer & ABS sensor.
– Remove the left side spacer.
– Slide the belt off of the pulley.
– Raise the motorcycle until there is clearance for the wheel to be removed.
– Slide out the caliper bracket as you roll or drop the wheel out of the swingarm.

Re-installation of the rear wheel is the reverse of the removal steps.