Bike repairs

simms

Diamond Member
Sep 21, 2001
8,211
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"rim itself goes from side to side and touches the brakes as it goes around"

This is what I was trying to say. So how do I fix it? Truing it? Can I do it myself, or at least teach myself?

This makes it very hard for my brakes to actually brake effectively. I have tried replacing the brake shoes but when I squeeze my brake handles, the brakes don't actually touch the rim hard enough to stop the bike.

I was thinking about paying $40 to get a bike shop to take a look at it and get my brakes fixed, but it may not be worth it if the rim of the wheel is warped (the bike is a speed bike from the 1970s).
 

dug777

Lifer
Oct 13, 2004
24,778
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should be able to pick up a new/secondhand rim for very little, bike probably isn't worth $40 anyway ;)

Garage sales and the like often have those kinda bikes rusting in the corner..a wheel off somthing like that would do you perfectly.
 

Fausto

Elite Member
Nov 29, 2000
26,521
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You need to get the wheels trued. A shop can do this for you if they're not too far out of whack.
 

Brutuskend

Lifer
Apr 2, 2001
26,558
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Originally posted by: Fausto
You need to get the wheels trued. A shop can do this for you if they're not too far out of whack.

$12-$15 at most shops. But from the way you describe it, it sounds like your hubs may need adjusted as well.
 

Cheetah8799

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2001
4,508
0
76
On my bike, the wheels are kinda lopsided so the wheel will shift from side to side on its axle.

This confuses me. Is it actually rotating funny at the axle, or is it just that the rim itself goes from side to side and touches the brakes as it goes around? If it's the latter, then Fausto is right, you need your wheel trued. It's not hard to do yourself if you want to learn and buy a spoke wrench.
 

oboeguy

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 1999
3,907
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76
Either your wheel needs to be replaced ASAP or it merely needs to be trued. The problem is not with your brakes. They key is how off from reality your description of the situation is. :D
 

DaShen

Lifer
Dec 1, 2000
10,710
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Get your wheel trued... I am guessing you don't have the tools so go to a local bike shop. There is nothing wrong with your brakes. An easy fix would be to lower the tension on your brake and it won't rub. If it is the front one that solution can work for a while, but it is best to true your wheel.
 

simms

Diamond Member
Sep 21, 2001
8,211
0
0
"rim itself goes from side to side and touches the brakes as it goes around"

This is what I was trying to say. So how do I fix it? Truing it? Can I do it myself, or at least teach myself?

Thanks! :)
 

LS20

Banned
Jan 22, 2002
5,858
0
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byu a truing tool for 5$ and true the rims yourself... really, it is much easier than many people say...


2ndly, you can tighten the cable pull on the brake calipers to get more power


edit: if the bike is from the 70s.. the rims might be heavy steel.. see if you can get some used aluminum wheel from the shop for cheap
 

Bozono

Banned
Aug 17, 2005
2,883
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People may flame this response but if it's a steel wheel you can just take it off and bend it back into shape with your hands using your knee on the outermost bent portion on the rim. I do it all the time for a quick fix.
 

Pliablemoose

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
25,195
0
56
you can ctually use the brake pads as a point of reference & true the rims yourself, and learning on an older bike is best.
 

iamtrout

Diamond Member
Nov 21, 2001
3,001
1
0
Take it to a bike shop to have it examined. Sometimes it's not the spokes that need adjustment, but the rim is actually bent, like from a hard landing or a pothole, in which case truing (basically adjusting the spokes) isn't going to do anything.
 

Cheetah8799

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2001
4,508
0
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Originally posted by: simms
Do I have to take off the tire and hosing before I "true" the wheel?


No. Not necessarily. It helps though so you can see the rim better. The poor mans way of doing it is to spin the wheel between the brakes and adjust as necessary to true the wheel until straight. Problem with this is that the brakes may not be perfectly centered. As long as you are careful though, you should be fine.

Read this link:
http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=81
 

laurenlex

Platinum Member
Feb 26, 2004
2,370
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First you need a spoke wrench, the correct size.

Then put the bike upside down on the ground.

Christ, I'm not gonna try and explain how to true a wheel. Google it.

Go slow and easy, 1/4 turn on the nipple at a time.

Basically, you tighten spokes on the opposite side the rim rubs the brakes. You must loosen other spokes on the side that rubs.

Be careful, or your wheel will not rub the brakes, but is not round anymore.

 

Cheetah8799

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2001
4,508
0
76
Originally posted by: simms
Thanks! So all I would need is to buy a Spoke Wrench, right?

Ya, just a spoke wrench, unless if it turns out that something major is busted. For a standard wheel truing job though, just a spoke wrench.

Oh, make sure you get the right one. You may want to bring your bike into the shop when you check just to be sure it'll work. There are different size spoke nipples. You could get one of the circular ones that work with many size nipples, but I find they aren't quite as good, but they do work.