Hub problems.... do I need a new hub?

ExTrEmE BiKeR

I have a deore xt rear hub right now and the cones keep coming loose. I keep having to take the bike to my LBS to retighten it (which im lucky they never charge me for) and it just keeps coming loose again. I can only ride it for about an hour or two before the cones are so loose that the wheel is able to knock about half a cm to either side of my bike. I've only noticed this recently and I have probably done around a 6-8 rides with the cones that loose before realizing it was a problem. So.....have i done some damage to my wheel? do I need a new hub? new wheel? new cones?

Anonymous

sounds like the locknuts aren't being tightened properly.

ExTrEmE BiKeR

thats what i thought but the guy at my LBS said something was wrong with the cones and i might even need a whole new wheel?

ride_whenever

nah, you see this a lot.

A bit of locktight on the locknuts sorts it out fine usually.

supersonic

Doesn't sound like the LBS is doing it right, or the axle is bent or bearings badly worn.

ExTrEmE BiKeR

they also said something about bearings squaring off whic i have no clue if that is a minor or major problem

specialized989

squaring off of bearings or ovalising can be caused by overtightening of cones, was the wheel particularly tight before the problem became prevalent?

ExTrEmE BiKeR

i wouldnt know. i bought my bike secondhand after it was part of a rental fleet at a bike shop