How to Change Yamaha Raider Rear Brake Pads
Changing out the rear brakes on a Yamaha motorcycle is an easy maintenance job, and bleeding the brakes after swapping out the pads is recommended.
Watch the video above or follow the steps below to do a rear brake pads replacement on a Yamaha Raider motorcycle.
Tools and Parts - Yamaha Raider Rear Brake Pads Replacement
- Needle nose pliers
- Ratchet and extensions
- Assorted wrenches
- Torque wrench
- C-clamp
The Yamaha manual states the wear limit for brake pads is all the way down to 0.8mm, but that might be pushing it a little too close, and it’s difficult to measure that low level of thickness.
PRO TIP: Measure from the back side of the brake pads and replace them when they’re at about 5.5mm thick, just to play it safe. That’s because when you’ve got that little material left on there, it heats up the entire pad very quickly and wears it even faster, and you run the risk of the brake pad failing.
When inspecting the brake pads, there’s no way to really tell how worn out they are from the front side, so it’s recommended inspecting them from the opposite side. That way you can see the inside pad. If it looks anywhere close to the thickness of a credit card, you should change out the pads immediately.
Yamaha Raider Rear Brake Pads Change
Step 1. Remove the 12mm caliper mounting bolts, then bring the caliper down.
Step 2. Reach in and pull out the two old rear brake pads.
Step 3. Use a digital caliper to measure the thickness of the brake disc. The Yamaha manual says the wear limit is 4.5mm, so if the brake disc has reached or exceeded that limit, replace it immediately.
NOTE: Our Yamaha Raider’s brake disc was at 5.8mm thickness, so there was no need to replace it.
Step 4. Use a C-clamp to push the piston back into the caliper.
Step 5. Slide the new rear brake pads into place.
Step 6. Put the caliper back into place, then add a light coat of brake caliper grease to the mounting bolts, reinstall them and torque them to 13 foot-pounds.
Step 7. Remove the seat to access the brake fluid reservoir and make sure it’s full so you can bleed the brakes.
Step 8. Attach an 8mm wrench and a clear plastic hose onto the brake bleed screw, then place the other end of the hose into an empty container and bleed the brakes.
NOTE: When bleeding the brakes, keep an eye on the reservoir to make sure it doesn't go dry. Run it down to the bottom and then fill it back up to get fresh fluid down into the caliper, where all the heat goes.
Step 9. Top off the reservoir with DOT 4 brake fluid without going past the fill line, then reinstall the cover and the seat and you’re done.
Need help bleeding the brakes on your motorcycle? Watch the video below for a more in-depth look at how to bleed Yamaha Raider motorcycle brakes.
