Ok I have a 95 FLSTN and i'm going to change the brakes on the front and rear this weekend plus i'm going to change the front rotor. I looked in my service manual for my bike about changing pads and it pretty much didn't tell me crap, but it did say to unhook the brake line to the caliper which i don't agree with at all. Is unhooking that brake line common or is that the purpose of taken off the master cylinder cap?? Also is taken off the master cylinder cap necessary? This is my first time changing my brakes on my bike so i want to make sure i get right.

 

On a 2001 softail springer fxsts, all i gotta do is use a 1/4-12pt socket, pull the pad retainers (2 I believe), push pads back (w/ a putty knife or something), they'll drop out, put the new ones in?

 

I know for a fact that if you don not clean the pistons before pushing them back in you can and will over time destroy the seals in the caliper that the pistons ride on. You will develop a fluid leak and you will lose brake pressure and stopping power.
I recomend CRC Braklean. You can pick it up at any auto parts store.