Play in the forks, friction in the cranks?

Question

I bought a brand new Raleigh Pioneer Metro road bike, and have two problems with it:

1) The front wheel shudders when I brake at medium to high speeds. Stationary, with the front brake on, I can push the frame backwards and forwards. Shop claims this is down to the quality of the headset, forks and brakes.

2) When I pedal at speed I can feel friction in the crankset - the pedals pass vibrations into my feet, and there is a 'scraping' noise when I push down with my right foot. The gears are properly aligned and everything is lubricated. Shop claims this is loose cranks, which they tightened, but there was no improvement.

Does this sound like a bad setup, or a defective bike? Don't quite trust the store as they gave it to me with the front wheel nuts only finger tight. Oops!

Answer 1

Anyone who delivers a bike with loose wheel bolts already has two and a half strikes against them. If you bought this from a department store or a chain it's time to write a letter with the words "negligence" and "liability" in the first paragraph. Lawyer's stationery is an added bonus.

1. When you lock the brakes the only play you should feel in the front end is NONE! Your bike is high enough quality to confidently claim it's not the quality of the headset, fork and brakes but the quality of the installation. The fork is a solid piece so it cannot wobble. The brakes are locked so the only play there is in the brake arms: at most 1 mm. So it has to be in the headset and even the cheapest will have NO PLAY if installed correctly. BTW, it shudders because the pads aren't toed-in properly.

2. Obviously they haven't fixed the problem. Friction in the crankset comes from bearings too tight or defective bearings. Since it makes a NOISE (for cryin' out loud!) something is shot in addition to bad bearings and it needs to be replaced.

Sounds like you bought a badly assembled bike from a bunch of incompetent crooks. In addition, it sounds like they know it's bad and are trying to blow you off with BS that proves they don't know what they're talking about. A bad combination any way you look at it.

Take it back now, get your money back and never darken their doorstep again. There are lots of honest, local bike shops out there who'd love your business and who are happy to practically teach you how to build a bike if you want to listen. You may pay a tiny bit more (or not!) but if you buy it there they'll always remember it's their sticker on the bike.

If these guys won't take it back, take it to your LBS and have them look it over and tell you everything that's wrong with it. Then it's time to write (see above).

Answer 2

Scraping noises and vibration don't happen by accident- it means there's friction somewhere and in the long term that means wear so I wouldn't settle for it. I'd insist that the shop gets it dealt with. From what you say about the front wheel nuts they sound like a bunch of chancers rather than a reputable bike shop and I suspect I'd be looking for a refund so I could go elsewhere.

Answer 3

take this bike back to them and tell them to fix it or give me my money back. If you get your money back go to a bike shop and you'll be much happier in the end. From what you describe it sounds like the store you got it from just slapped the bike together.

Answer 4

Bad, bad setup.  I'm a home mechanic, and I'd be looking at the same places the other respondents told you about.

You got hosed.  Follow the others' advice.  Get your money asap.

Answer 5

Well, the first problem is caused by a loose headset. This will damage your headset if not corrected in time. I am not really certain about the latter problem, though I would think it would be an overtightened bottom bracket. This sounds like the worst bicycle shop I have ever heard of. They know less than me for God's sake.