Rear wheel movement and slight clicking noise

[DSK]

I just noticed something strange with my rear wheel whilst balancing the brakes. The bearings sound ok and the wheel spins fine.

If you brace the bike with it on the floor and grab the rear wheel from the top, just wiggle it, there is a few mm of movement left/right with a slight clicking noise but I can't see the movement. Quick releases were checked and OK. Even when 1 brake pad hits the rim (even if you do it gently), you can see the wheel move accordingly.

The front wheel is spot on. Any ideas?

 

[stuarttunstall]

I had a similar thing on my Scott Sub Cross 10 a year or so back, the front wheel had some left/right movement although it rode OK.. you could see the wheel kick when the brake was applied (disc brake) .. turned out the bearing cone was loose and needed adjusting and the lock nut tightening..

 

[raleighnut]

^^^^^^^ wot e sed

 

[Gunk]

If it is a cup and cone wheel bearing you should have a very tiny bit of play in it.

 

[raleighnut]

If it is a cup and cone wheel bearing you should have a very tiny bit of play in it.

No you shouldn't, that's just lazy.

 

[Gunk]

You don’t want them too tight, I’m talking about a very slight bit of movement. Most people overtighten them, that’s why they disintegrate so quickly.

 

[stuarttunstall]

I had quite a bit of play in my front wheel, hell of a "kick" when the brake applied... think the damn rough lanes I use shook it loose lol

 

[Gunk]

I had quite a bit of play in my front wheel, hell of a "kick" when the brake applied... think the damn rough lanes I use shook it loose lol

That’s far too loose, should just need nipping up.

 

[MountainSide]

OP; You say the quick release is "ok" but have you tried to make it a little bit tighter. Might help, although probably won't adjust for "a few mm".

 

[si_c]

Which hubs do you have on your wheels?

 

[Sharky]

Check the frame's rear triangle. I had similar symptoms and eventually spotted that the seat stay had rusted through just above the rear ends.

 

[DSK]

I did undo and re-do the quick release just for sanity's sake and it made no difference.

The wheels are Fulcrum racing 5 but I'm not technically minded to know what hubs they are.

I do hope its something like the post further above where some nut may need tightening. Thanks for the knowledge as it sounds like it could be an easy fix. As for the rear triangle, the hangers are all in good shape and the frame is carbon with no rust or marks on it.

 

[stuarttunstall]

I did undo and re-do the quick release just for sanity's sake and it made no difference.

The wheels are Fulcrum racing 5 but I'm not technically minded to know what hubs they are.

I do hope its something like the post further above where some nut may need tightening.

I did not have the click with mine just the left/right kick..... when I took the wheel out you could move the spindle up/down, backwards/forwards and the nut/cone was at best finger tight.. may be worth taking the wheel out and checking..

I did take mine to the local bike store as I have no idea what I am doing which took them about 5 mins...

Just looked on the Fulcrum site they say sealed bearings but looking at the picture of the centre of the rear wheel it looks like it has a lock nut which on mine was loose...

 

[DSK]

I will get the bike booked in with my local guy as I only have the basic tools and no specialist bike spanners etc. I was just thinking if the verdict seemed serious I could prepare or probably have some potential parts ready but hopefully it will be a simple tweak by a specialist.

 

[stuarttunstall]

Hopefully, as I say took them 5 mins to do mine, I have no bike tools apart from the multi tool and as I do not know what I am doing safer to let the experts..