Front wheel rubbing brake pad

notnot
notnot Posts: 284
edited August 2012 in Workshop
Just had my (new secondhand) bike serviced and some repairs done (wheels were OK). Been out for a ride today, and part way through noticed that the front wheel is rubbing the break pad. It still rides fine, but there's a 'swish...swish...swish...' noise as the same bit of the wheel rubs against the pad on each rotation.

Sod. Does this mean the wheel's likely not turning quite evenly? There are potholes on the roads here, but would seem rubbish luck to have done damage already.

Comments

  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,337
    Probably the brake calliper is not centred. Grab it with two hand and centre it
    left the forum March 2023
  • wishitwasallflat
    wishitwasallflat Posts: 2,927
    Check the wheel axle is located correctly in the drop out and that the quick release skewer is locked up properly and that the brake caliper is centered. If none of those are the cause sounds like the wheel needs trued - get it on a stand (if you have one) or turn it upside down, spin the wheel and look where the deflection is that is causing the rub. If its a minor deviation it is fairly simple (do it slowly and carefully a bit at a time) to tighten up the offending spokes - loads of info on how to do this on the web.

    For bigger deflections take it to a reputable wheelbuilder (I find lbs just are not specialised enough to do a really good job at this type of repair).
  • notnot
    notnot Posts: 284
    Thanks. Doesn't look like the calliper - will have a bit more of a play.
  • notnot
    notnot Posts: 284
    I'm an idiot. I checked the wheel was locked in OK and checked the brake caliper looked to be centred, and assumed a problem with the wheel itself when that looked OK. I then took the wheel off on the off-chance something was obvious to me - nothing was, but now I've replaced the wheel it no longer rubs :) I'd guess it had slipped slightly out of place, somehow...

    On the plus-side, I'm a happy idiot. Having accidentally fixed the problem, I won't need to look at getting the wheel trued :)

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