Wheel off 2mm in seat stay....ok?
08-04-18, 09:47 AM
#1
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Wheel off 2mm in seat stay....ok?
Hello and happy summer, (or winter to those below the equator). I just bought a very slightly used Giant Anyroad Comax, (composite frame), and after installing brand new wheels and wider tires, I notice that the rear wheel seems to sit about 2mm closer to the right seat stay, at the top edge. The wheel seems to be centered just fine in the chain stays though. The bike came with 32mm tires, and I probably wouldn't have even noticed the issue had I not put on 38mm tires. The larger tires and its closeness to the seat stays make the 2mm difference evident. Is 2mm something to get worked up about?
From my research I see that some recommend seeing if the wheel is properly dished, by simply installing it reversed and observing if it becomes offset 2mm in the other direction. I think I'd have to remove the rotor to do that, but does it make sense that the wheel could need redishing but still could be straight in the chain stays? I'd think that if the wheel needs to be redished it would be offsett in both the seatstays and the chainstays.
Any other ideas? The bike seems to ride and shift just fine.
From my research I see that some recommend seeing if the wheel is properly dished, by simply installing it reversed and observing if it becomes offset 2mm in the other direction. I think I'd have to remove the rotor to do that, but does it make sense that the wheel could need redishing but still could be straight in the chain stays? I'd think that if the wheel needs to be redished it would be offsett in both the seatstays and the chainstays.
Any other ideas? The bike seems to ride and shift just fine.
08-04-18, 10:18 AM
#2
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Hmm, did you buy the wheels at a shop?
The advice to flip the wheel is surely meant as a mere test and shouldn't require you to do anything with the free hub. Just flip the wheel and put it back and see if it's moved the other direction. Honestly, 2mm doesn't SOUND like a big deal if the tires are not rubbing, but it does sound like something I could obsess over... Therefore I think I'll not take the ruler to Fritz for fear of falling down THAT rabbit hole unless some of the wiser and kinder amongst us weigh in.
The advice to flip the wheel is surely meant as a mere test and shouldn't require you to do anything with the free hub. Just flip the wheel and put it back and see if it's moved the other direction. Honestly, 2mm doesn't SOUND like a big deal if the tires are not rubbing, but it does sound like something I could obsess over... Therefore I think I'll not take the ruler to Fritz for fear of falling down THAT rabbit hole unless some of the wiser and kinder amongst us weigh in.
08-04-18, 10:24 AM
#3
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Hmm, did you buy the wheels at a shop?
The advice to flip the wheel is surely meant as a mere test and shouldn't require you to do anything with the free hub. Just flip the wheel and put it back and see if it's moved the other direction. Honestly, 2mm doesn't SOUND like a big deal if the tires are not rubbing, but it does sound like something I could obsess over... Therefore I think I'll not take the ruler to Fritz for fear of falling down THAT rabbit hole unless some of the wiser and kinder amongst us weigh in.
The advice to flip the wheel is surely meant as a mere test and shouldn't require you to do anything with the free hub. Just flip the wheel and put it back and see if it's moved the other direction. Honestly, 2mm doesn't SOUND like a big deal if the tires are not rubbing, but it does sound like something I could obsess over... Therefore I think I'll not take the ruler to Fritz for fear of falling down THAT rabbit hole unless some of the wiser and kinder amongst us weigh in.
Last edited by Wattsup; 08-04-18 at 10:30 AM.
08-04-18, 10:36 AM
#4
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I think you should be fine with 2mm, especially as this is a disc brake bike. If the rim is true and there are no handling issues then I’d ride it as is.
08-04-18, 10:39 AM
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I don't think the advice intends for you fully install the wheel when you "flip it" but only to see if the offset moves to the other side. Literally just putting it in, clamping it down and seeing if the offset has moved. Few wheels are designed to be flipped AND ridden.
EDIT: Ah, the disc brakes, right! Now I see the conundrum! Apologies for my confusion
EDIT: Ah, the disc brakes, right! Now I see the conundrum! Apologies for my confusion
Last edited by DanBraden; 08-04-18 at 10:42 AM.
08-04-18, 08:53 PM
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Maybe it's the frame and not the wheels.
08-04-18, 09:02 PM
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If the rotor has even clearance while spinning the wheel & the chain alignment is tracking true, id not fret over it... Unless you can find cracking paint that might point to a cause of the spacing indifference.
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08-05-18, 06:48 AM
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First things first. How sure are you that the axle is fully bottomed in the dropout on both sides?
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08-05-18, 08:23 AM
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08-05-18, 08:43 AM
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So far good advice. It is a composite frame, in other words mostly carbon fiber, so there is no way it got twisted on the road. I could believe it happened at the factory if it isn't the wheels being properly dished.
08-05-18, 06:07 PM
#12
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08-07-18, 10:19 AM
#13
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Thanks, sounds like good advice if do decide to straighten it. At this point I'll probably just leave it as it is.
08-07-18, 10:30 AM
#14
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If you've eliminated axle seating and dishing as a cause, it's possible that the wheel is straight but that the layout of the rear triangle isn't exactly symmetrical. I've noticed this in a couple of frames recently, particularly those with disc brakes. IMO, frame builders these days ensure that the wheels, seat tube and down tube are all aligned to the same plane. Frame builders are less concerned about the seat and chain stays meeting the front triangle at precisely the same location as that's largely aesthetic and has no bearing on the performance of the frame. As a result, chain stays and seat stays can vary a bit from each other. If it bothers you, redishing the wheel slightly is a 10 minute fix and will work fine given it's a disc bike.
