Whats with my bicycle rim, it wobbles back and forth to the side.?

Question

It goes back and forth so bad that it hits the brake pads on both sides i thought i over tightened the spokes, but it got worse every time i adjusted them. Yes, the axle is tight through the forks and even.

Its somehow unbalanced and its the brakepads. anyone know whats with it?

Im confused with this one, I know how to turn a wrench and have had a good amount expierence mechanichly.

Answer 1

well, my buddies bike did it when the axle that held the hub unit together was loose, another thing, tale it to a bike shop to get the wheel trued if this is not it, they charge 15 dollars but its worth it.

Answer 2

It's bent............

Take it off, have a look at it, if bent, buy a better one

Answer 3

First of all the rim is bent!

want to fix it yourself?  as inexpensive as possible?  buy a spoke wrench.  You can find some universal for as little as 3 bucks that has several different sizes.  Tighten the spokes on the side that you want to have the rim go towards.  remember that it is opposite as in it will be lefty tightly and righty loosey.  I can be done using the brake pads as your guide.  you can get it good enough.  oh you may loosen some that is opposite side but don't do it too much.

Answer 4

You need to take it to a shop where they have a wheel truing stand.

Just tightening the spokes doesn't necessarily do the trick.  They need to be tight - not overtight - and balanced, so that they all pull on the wheel to make the wheel true.  They make special stands that show how true the wheel is.  With experience - you will be able to do it yourself with such a stand.  For now, you should take it to a shop and have them do it.  And read up on how to do it - or watch them do it - and then eventually buy your own stand.

When the pros true the wheels - they have a particular order in which they tighten or untighten the spokes - and use the wheel truing stand to show how true the wheel is.  They only stop when the wheel truing stand shows that the wheel is straight.  It's hard to eye-ball this, so it really helps to have a stand and specific experience truing wheels.  Just having generally good mechanical skills and know-how will not make you someone who knows how to true wheels.  It will help you learn it more quickly - but you still need the right tool and some experience and guidance.