Hi I am trying to change my front brake pads on a 1999 sportsman 500 can't figure out how to get the pads off of the posts, any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

welcome to the forum. are these the pads w/ the 2 holes on top that sslide over the pins to be held in place? was thinking if they are not all rusted on that once bolts were out and disassembled, that they should slide off the pins?

 

Thanks and yes they are, I have pushed in the caliper pin but cant' seem to get enough room to get the pads off of the pins?

 

You have to remove the 3/16" allen screw in the caliper bracket to allow the caliper to move just a little further back,then you can pry off the top part of the old pad,then pry off the bottom. Best to pull off caliper bracket and grease caliper pins after pads are off,then install bottom of new pads first and top part of new pads last where the screw was. After pads are installed and caliper is mounted back over rotor,pump brakes up,install allen screw back in bracket,slowly tighten screw as you turn the rotor,when you feel resistance against the pads,back allen screw off 1/2 turn. This aligns caliper to rotor. OPT

 

I used your advice and it worked great, 1st time I have worked on this type of brake and I was able to get her done!
Thanks for the help it is greatly appreciated.

 

Feels good when you can git er done yourself! Good luck on the brake job. OPT

 

Never knew that allen screw was for aligning the caliper. I guess on my 2003 600 it would serve as the same function and I should go back and loosen the 1/2 turn. I just tightened all of them all the way in......OOOPS!

Thanks again OPT. As a side note I have my new iginition kit ordered and we will see how that goes.....

 

All the way in would cause the inner pad to wear down a little faster. Just take the front tires off,back the screw almost out,pump the brake, then while turning the rotor by hand feel for resistance when screwing the allen screw back in,then back off a half turn. Trying to adjust with the tires on will end up in the screw being too tight,you need to be able to feel the rotor. OPT