Bent front fork

suzyb
suzyb Posts: 3,449
edited November 2009 in The workshop
I've had a problem with rubbing front brakes and after a little investigation I believe my front fork is a bit bent. When the wheel is properly inserted into the drop outs it looks squint and when holding a spirit level to the forks it isn't level (don't know if it should be but assume so).

It only seems to have been after my LBS fitted mudguards so I assume they have bent the forks whilst doing that.

So is there any way I can unbend them.
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Comments

  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Are the forks bent or are the drop outs uneven?
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • will3
    will3 Posts: 2,173
    Why don' t you take it back to the LBS if you think they bent them?
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    -null- wrote:
    so I assume they have bent the forks whilst doing that.

    I would not do that.


    It is very hard to bend forks. if they have you would see some serious damage where they wil have had an impart of force applied.

    try refitting the wheel.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • will3
    will3 Posts: 2,173
    Are they steel forks or aluminium alloy ones?
  • suzyb
    suzyb Posts: 3,449
    The forks are steel. So probably not in fact bent.
    cjcp wrote:
    Are the forks bent or are the drop outs uneven?
    How would I check this?
    Whippet
  • will3
    will3 Posts: 2,173
    If your forks are truly bent, it should be obvious if you sight along the steerer tube, or, if you take a straight edge aligned along the steerer tube and mark where it intersects the axle line (best done with the wheel out and the dropouts resting on the ground. THis should make it fairly easy to see if the forks are bent left or right.
    If they're not then it's likely that you have one leg longer than the other,
    You can check this by sighting the bike from the front/rear. Again it should be obvious if the wheels are not parrallel. Best to get someone to hold the bike for you.

    this is not a huge problem, you just have to fiddle the wheel slightly as you put it in so that it's not resting completely home in the dropout.

    I have a pair of forks on a bike that are a little bent, but then I did T-bone a car at speed with them. Not sure how you would bend them just fitting a mudguard, unless they used a hammer to fit the screws.
  • suzyb
    suzyb Posts: 3,449
    I assumed the forks were bent because one drop out is further forward than the other.

    But I'll have a better look later.
    Whippet
  • will3
    will3 Posts: 2,173
    Ah that sort of bent

    [cue how many ways to bend a fork]


    Do you know anyone called Uri?
  • suzyb
    suzyb Posts: 3,449
    huh?
    Whippet
  • will3
    will3 Posts: 2,173
    sorry, that one was two steps removed!

    bent fork > bent cutlery > famous "spoonbender"

    bent%20fork.jpg
  • suzyb
    suzyb Posts: 3,449
    will3 wrote:
    sorry, that one was two steps removed!

    bent fork > bent cutlery > famous "spoonbender"

    bent%20fork.jpg
    My bike isn't that bad :lol:
    Whippet

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