Rear Wheel Alignment issue?

**BigAirSkier1580** · 03-09-2007, 09:17 AM

I'm a n00b when it comes to MTB-ing, and am having a problem on my bike. Want to get it fixed up before the snow melts and the trails dry out.

Basically, my rear wheel will push out of alignment when I put heavy pressure on the pedals. It torques to the right basically. I can spin the wheel with no pressure and it will stay perfectly centered and spin true, but if I get on it like a hard climb out of the saddle, the front of the wheel will go so far out of alignment that it rubs on the chainstay.

Like I said, I am a n00b when it comes to working on a bike, but am fairly proficient with tools.

What could be going on?

**kidwoo** · 03-09-2007, 10:12 AM

Check your spoke tension and make sure your wheel is tight in the rear dropouts. What frame is it?

**trainnvain** · 03-09-2007, 10:26 AM

Wheels will flex under load. Either spoke tension or you upgraded your tire size too big for the frame.

**flowtron** · 03-09-2007, 10:38 AM

If your gears don't jump around and get all sketchy when this occurs, then it sounds like a low spoke tension issue, yup.

**Natedogg** · 03-13-2007, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by kidwoo

make sure your wheel is tight in the rear dropouts. What frame is it?

That would be my guess. If the spokes werent tensioned, the wheel would be floppy and not true, I would think?

I think Anby had some problems where the wheel popped out of the drops every once in awhile enough to make the wheel rub, but when he stopped to look, it was back in. The whole rear wheel finally popped out over a big rock and he bit it hard. Cant remember what he did to fix it--it was kind of one of those mechanical mystery things...

**kidwoo** · 03-13-2007, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by Natedogg

That would be my guess. If the spokes werent tensioned, the wheel would be floppy and not true, I would think?

Yeah but it could have enough tension to be straight(ish) and then flex with the motions you put into a bike when pedaling.

I had an old specialized enduro that had messed up dropouts and under hard pedaling the drive side would pull out and the wheel would hit the chainstays. I'd break skewers trying to get it tight. I eventually got a replacement.

**Natedogg** · 03-13-2007, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by kidwoo

Yeah but it could have enough tension to be straight(ish) and then flex with the motions you put into a bike when pedaling.

True, but I would think youd notice it...

After re-reading his post, maybe not... Sounds like it is just when under real heavy load. Ok, I guess it could be spoke tension, too...

**paleale** · 03-14-2007, 03:52 PM

Tighten that skewer down harder!

If it still does it, then you have bigger issues....

If its a full suspension, check to be sure your pivot bolts are all tight.

**Natedogg** · 03-15-2007, 01:30 PM

So...

What it was?

**BigAirSkier1580** · 03-15-2007, 01:49 PM

Haha, well... The yard is still under a foot of snow and puddles here in the WNY region, and the bike is in the back shed, so I will check things out as soon as things dry out and melt in a few weeks...

It's an entry level hardtail Gary Fisher. Just got into biking again this past year, and didn't have any coin for a nice bike.

And yeah, it only freaks out and goes sideways under real heavy load. I have tried cranking the shit outta the QR too, to no resolve.

**paleale** · 03-15-2007, 05:38 PM

Try a different skewer.

**El Chupacabra** · 03-15-2007, 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by BigAirSkier1580

Haha, well... The yard is still under a foot of snow and puddles here in the WNY region, and the bike is in the back shed, so I will check things out as soon as things dry out and melt in a few weeks...

It's an entry level hardtail Gary Fisher. Just got into biking again this past year, and didn't have any coin for a nice bike.

And yeah, it only freaks out and goes sideways under real heavy load. I have tried cranking the shit outta the QR too, to no resolve.

Originally Posted by paleale

Try a different skewer.

Not trying to be insulting here, but it's one of the common "new bicyclist" things --

Are you using the quick release properly? i.e., using the lever to cam the skewer closed -- tight, with resistance -- and not simply spinning the quick release shut, using the lever as a handle?

**BigAirSkier1580** · 03-15-2007, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by El Chupacabra

Not trying to be insulting here, but it's one of the common "new bicyclist" things --

Are you using the quick release properly? i.e., using the lever to cam the skewer closed -- tight, with resistance -- and not simply spinning the quick release shut, using the lever as a handle?

Haha, no offense taken. I have been using the QR properly.

**BigAirSkier1580** · 03-31-2007, 09:45 AM

So I was finally able to get the bike out of the shed yesterday afternoon.

I needed a new QR skewer. Put that on, things seemed to be looking good until about 15 minutes into my trail ride, and I felt the rubbing again.

So the verdict is likely spoke tension? For a bike noob, is this something I should take into the shop to have done? Or is there a easy way to diy?

**Natedogg** · 04-01-2007, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by BigAirSkier1580

So I was finally able to get the bike out of the shed yesterday afternoon. So the verdict is likely spoke tension? For a bike noob, is this something I should take into the shop to have done? Or is there a easy way to diy?

How much do you weigh and do the spokes feel loose at all???

**BigAirSkier1580** · 04-01-2007, 09:51 PM

215lbs.

They don't feel loose to the touch or anything.

**paleale** · 04-02-2007, 02:42 PM

Is your tire straight on the rim? Does it wobble when you spin the wheel? Is the tire pumped up to its recommended psi?

**Natedogg** · 04-02-2007, 02:59 PM

Originally Posted by BigAirSkier1580

215lbs.

They don't feel loose to the touch or anything.

If you grab a handful of spokes on either side and contract your fingers, do the spokes move much?

Do you have a wheel that is solidly built? Use something metallic to ping off the spokes and compare the two wheels. If the sound is significantly lower on the wheel youre having trouble with, its probably spoke tension. Also compare how "loose" the spokes are on each wheel.

Check this out:

http://www.bikexprt.com/bicycle/tension.htm

Im still leaning towards the 'un-quantifiable mystery drop out problem.' Borrow a buddies wheel and see if you still have the problem.

<edit> I just re-read the entire thread. Sounds like you probably dont have another wheel (you could *try* to compare the front wheel--why the heck not) and may not have a buddies wheel to try. If its an entry-level bike, it might just be a shit wheel. Pick up a cheap one on here from a maggot. Unless you can deal with it.

**BigAirSkier1580** · 04-02-2007, 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by paleale

Is your tire straight on the rim? Does it wobble when you spin the wheel? Is the tire pumped up to its recommended psi?

Tire is on straight. No wobble if you spin it freely, or under light load. Tire pressure is good.

The second I really get on it to get going, or a climb where I am pushing hard on the pedals, and it just twists. Perfect way to replicate it is to apply the brakes while stationary, and apply pressure to the pedals.

Natedogg, I will try the ping test tomorrow AM. The bike has only about ~150 miles on it. And it just started the problem in the last 20-30 miles of riding.

**Natedogg** · 04-02-2007, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by BigAirSkier1580

The second I really get on it to get going, or a climb where I am pushing hard on the pedals, and it just twists. Perfect way to replicate it is to apply the brakes while stationary, and apply pressure to the pedals.

Natedogg, I will try the ping test tomorrow AM. The bike has only about ~150 miles on it. And it just started the problem in the last 20-30 miles of riding.

Correct me if Im not understanding correctly. If you sat on the bike, applied the brakes, and put a ton of pressure on the pedals, I doubt the wheel would bend towards the chainstays. There must be some torque youre missing. Are you twisting when you do this? Youve even mentioned that the wheel twists.

If youre really going straight on with no twisting, then the wheel must be coming out of one or both drops, albeit maybe only slightly.

**flowtron** · 04-03-2007, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by BigAirSkier1580

The bike has only about ~150 miles on it. And it just started the problem in the last 20-30 miles of riding.

This leads me to believe your spokes prolly need to be retensioned. You are a kinda big guy, machine built wheels will need a little love after you break them in.
The mysterious dropout thing could maybe be it, but in my experience, once it shifts in the dropouts, it stays shifted or gets worse and tries to fully escape. If you take the wheel out of the frame you'd be able to see a bunch of shiny mangled shaving and little to no knurl on the frame.

Take it to a shop and have them take a look. Mention " true and re-tension." and see what they think.

**BigAirSkier1580** · 04-03-2007, 10:50 AM

Well, I can't say for sure the WHEEL twists, but the front par t of the rear wheel will force the tire into the chainstay on one side.

**Natedogg** · 04-03-2007, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by flowtron

This leads me to believe your spokes prolly need to be retensioned. You are a kinda big guy, machine built wheels will need a little love after you break them in.
The mysterious dropout thing could maybe be it, but in my experience, once it shifts in the dropouts, it stays shifted or gets worse and tries to fully escape. If you take the wheel out of the frame you'd be able to see a bunch of shiny mangled shaving and little to no knurl on the frame.

Take it to a shop and have them take a look. Mention " true and re-tension." and see what they think.

True'nuff.

They may have never been pre-stressed...

**BigAirSkier1580** · 05-31-2007, 07:19 AM

Just wanted to update this archeic thread so if anyone looks for the same answer, they can get it.

It ended up being a bent axle which was causing the issue. I got that fixed a while back, and all has been well since then.

Thanks for all the suggestions though!

**uncle crud** · 05-31-2007, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by BigAirSkier1580

Just wanted to update this archeic thread so if anyone looks for the same answer, they can get it.

It ended up being a bent axle which was causing the issue. I got that fixed a while back, and all has been well since then.

Thanks for all the suggestions though!

Thanks for telling us the cause/fix too. That helps.