Bike wheel visibly off centre AFTER truing
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 19
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Bike wheel visibly off centre AFTER truing
My front wheel was off centre (so to centre it I had to lift one side slightly higher in the dropouts). I was unsure if it was a wheel issue or a fork issue so took to a bike shop and they trued the wheel. It now sits properly in the dropouts but is visibly off centre. Is this normal? This is my first disc brake bike and I read they are normally more to one side, but I would have expected to still align with the centre.
Or have they trued a wheel when it's a fork issue?
Or have they trued a wheel when it's a fork issue?
#2
hello
Flip your wheel. If it offsets to the opposite side your wheel wasn’t dished (centered) during the truing process.
If it is offsetting to the same side, then it’s your fork.
If it is offsetting to the same side, then it’s your fork.
Likes For roadfix:
#5
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,992
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6196 Post(s)
Liked 4,810 Times
in
3,318 Posts
Who trued it? Take it back. Probably should take the bike too so they can see what they are dealing with. My front wheel with disc brakes is centered. The off to one side thing you heard must have been their way of relating dish. But IMO and AFAIK, the rim and tire should be centered.
Though it might be that you didn't get it in the fork ends correctly. I would have liked to have seen a camera angle from each side showing the lower part of the fork end under the QR. But if you say it's good, I'll take your word for it.
Though it might be that you didn't get it in the fork ends correctly. I would have liked to have seen a camera angle from each side showing the lower part of the fork end under the QR. But if you say it's good, I'll take your word for it.
#6
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,366
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6219 Post(s)
Liked 4,220 Times
in
2,367 Posts
A disc brake is a dished wheel. If someone tried to set the tension equally on both sides, the wheel will not be properly dished. The disc side will have a higher tension (tighter spokes) than the off-dish side. OEM wheels are sometimes off on dish.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#7
Really Old Senior Member
Is that a bad tire?
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: reno, nv
Posts: 2,301
Bikes: yes, i have one
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1138 Post(s)
Liked 1,182 Times
in
687 Posts
Don't think the tire is bad. Looks bulging but I think that is the hub below. The light area just looks like dirt to me.
Likes For spelger:
#9
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 13,525
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4357 Post(s)
Liked 3,995 Times
in
2,666 Posts
Blown up a touch there is a little variation but I think there is a piece of metal or something sticking out just far enough that it looks as part of the tire which it is not.
#11
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 19
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Who trued it? Take it back. Probably should take the bike too so they can see what they are dealing with. My front wheel with disc brakes is centered. The off to one side thing you heard must have been their way of relating dish. But IMO and AFAIK, the rim and tire should be centered.
Though it might be that you didn't get it in the fork ends correctly. I would have liked to have seen a camera angle from each side showing the lower part of the fork end under the QR. But if you say it's good, I'll take your word for it.
Though it might be that you didn't get it in the fork ends correctly. I would have liked to have seen a camera angle from each side showing the lower part of the fork end under the QR. But if you say it's good, I'll take your word for it.
Will try flipping it tomorrow and see.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Elevation 666m Edmonton Canada
Posts: 2,483
Bikes: 2013 Custom SA5w / Rohloff Tourster
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1237 Post(s)
Liked 323 Times
in
249 Posts
It's a Walmart bike. If the dropouts were bent the disc would be off too.
Maybe the headset isn't set right.
Turn the bike upside down and take pics from front to back to show alignment.
Maybe the headset isn't set right.
Turn the bike upside down and take pics from front to back to show alignment.
Last edited by GamblerGORD53; 03-27-24 at 06:48 PM.
#14
Senior Member
My front wheel was off centre (so to centre it I had to lift one side slightly higher in the dropouts). I was unsure if it was a wheel issue or a fork issue so took to a bike shop and they trued the wheel. It now sits properly in the dropouts but is visibly off centre. Is this normal? This is my first disc brake bike and I read they are normally more to one side, but I would have expected to still align with the centre.
Or have they trued a wheel when it's a fork issue?
Or have they trued a wheel when it's a fork issue?
Last edited by Duragrouch; 03-28-24 at 12:08 AM.
#15
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 19
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Wheel flipped 2 - off centre to left
Wheel flipped
Wheel back right way - off centre to right
#16
Senior Member
If flipping it visibly goes to the other side it must not be dished properly. In the old days you didn't dish a front wheel you just centered it.
Likes For zacster:
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 7,067
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4409 Post(s)
Liked 1,566 Times
in
1,028 Posts
Someone screwed up. Take the whole bike back to the shop that trued it.
Likes For Kontact:
#18
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,992
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6196 Post(s)
Liked 4,810 Times
in
3,318 Posts
You have to consider if the place you bought it from is really a full service bike shop or just a sales outlet. And just because they might have a mechanic that can wrench bicycles, doesn't mean that person knows anything about wheels. I've DIY'd my own bikes for over 60 years now. But I don't do wheels. I rather they be done by someone that does them often and that wouldn't be me.
If they pulled the wheel that much off center truing it, then I'd wonder if the spokes on the left side of the wheel are not protruding inside the rim. And the right side spokes hanging on by a few threads. But I don't claim to be a wheel person. Not my cup of tea for the DIY I like to do. So maybe see if any of the other persons that actually build wheels has any input on that thought.
I don't know if it's been ask yet, but have the fork ends alignment with the frame been checked? There wouldn't need to be much difference in the length of one to the other for it to be off center at the top of the fork. Though flipping the wheel did show that the rim isn't centered between the hub's OLD. So that still is the bigger issue.
If they pulled the wheel that much off center truing it, then I'd wonder if the spokes on the left side of the wheel are not protruding inside the rim. And the right side spokes hanging on by a few threads. But I don't claim to be a wheel person. Not my cup of tea for the DIY I like to do. So maybe see if any of the other persons that actually build wheels has any input on that thought.
I don't know if it's been ask yet, but have the fork ends alignment with the frame been checked? There wouldn't need to be much difference in the length of one to the other for it to be off center at the top of the fork. Though flipping the wheel did show that the rim isn't centered between the hub's OLD. So that still is the bigger issue.
Last edited by Iride01; 03-28-24 at 07:50 AM.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: socal
Posts: 4,266
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 883 Post(s)
Liked 824 Times
in
623 Posts
As above, you need to have the wheel dished properly and locate a proper bike shop first, then decide on the alignment of the fork (which seems asymmetrical to me).
Likes For Mr. 66:
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 9,847
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
Mentioned: 106 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2338 Post(s)
Liked 2,827 Times
in
1,543 Posts
are you seating the axle all the way in the fork ends? it looks like the wheel is tilted? If it is seated all the way there is and issue with the fork
From what I can see, the bike is not a great quality bike...so this could just be parts of lots of ongoing issues.... I know OP does not want to hear this, but start saving for a better bike and get rid of this one as soon as possible
From what I can see, the bike is not a great quality bike...so this could just be parts of lots of ongoing issues.... I know OP does not want to hear this, but start saving for a better bike and get rid of this one as soon as possible
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
#22
Sr Member on Sr bikes
You could see if/how much the dishing is off. Take the wheel off the bike, and the QR skewer out. Rest the wheel horizontally on 3 or 4 blocks (under the rim, not the tire). Measure the distance between the lower end of the axle and the floor. Flip the wheel over and measure that same distance with the other end of the axle. Both measurements should be the same.
Lastly…could this be that the dropout is resting on the QR skewer and not the axle on one side?
Dan
Last edited by _ForceD_; 03-28-24 at 01:36 PM.
Likes For _ForceD_:
#24
Full Member
Turn the bike upside down. Spin the front wheel and examine the tire profile. Make sure that the tire is properly seated and not warped.