Quick releases and centring wheels

Cubic

Hi, probably a numpty question, but does tightening the quick release to attach your wheel also centre the wheel?

I've been gently moving the rim as I tighten the quick release to get an equal distance between the rim and brake pads. But should I instead tighten the quick release (assuming that will centre the wheel) and then adjust the caliper to line up the brake pads?

Thanks for your help.

hopper1

Your wheel should be centred to your forks, or stays. Once centred, then the brakes should be adjusted, if necessary...

John.T

The wheel should be central in the drop-outs. The QR is only to hold it there. Set the brake to the wheel. If the wheel is not central then either the wheel dish or the drop-out is wrong. This is for vertical drop-outs. If you have horizontal ones then you have to centre the wheel horizontaly yourself.

mattward1979

as you tighten the QR lever, its best to get it hand tight, then loosen it off slightly and wiggle the wheel to seat it correctly in the mounting before clamping it securely.

I found that if I neglected to do this, the wheel (front especially) could be ever so slightly out of true, and you would get rubbing on the Brake pads.

Cubic

Thanks for the help guys.
I've noticed that my bike can feel kind of wobbly when descending at speed. I guess if I've pushed the wheel slightly off centre to line it up with the brake pads that could expain why. You live and learn.

Scrumple

meh?

you just push it all the way in, maybe press down on the bike to seat it fully, then tighten.

John.T

Cubic wrote:

I've noticed that my bike can feel kind of wobbly when descending at speed. I guess if I've pushed the wheel slightly off centre to line it up with the brake pads that could expain why. You live and learn.

No, that is just fear (or shimmy). You would not put the wheel alignment out by enough to cause that.

justresting

all things being equal, if the wheel was seated properly and the brakes set to suit when the wheel was taken out it should be the same when its put back in. Unless of course you've been making adjustments to the wheel off the bike.