Hit pothole, now front wheel has more friction, makes sound
08-19-14, 08:28 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 111
Bikes: 2007 Jamis aurora
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 15 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Hit pothole, now front wheel has more friction, makes sound
I managed to hit a pothole that was underwater (so invisible to me) on my last ride. I finished the ride but the entire time my bike just felt... slow. I assumed the front wheel was out of true and was rubbing a bit. I just checked and the wheel looks fine. I tried spinning the wheel and it silently spun, but only for a revolution or two before stopping. The brakes were not rubbing at all - plenty of clearance. I pulled the axle to check if it was bent and it looked OK - but then after I put it back in the wheel still spins much better than before, but all while some sort of rumbly sound is coming from it (I think from the hub, but not positive). I'm guessing I have a damaged hub, though it's not clear why removing and reinstalling the axle made it louder but not so slow. What do you all think? Cosmetically everything looks fine, as far as I can see.
Last edited by uoficowboy; 08-19-14 at 08:37 AM.
08-19-14, 08:36 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 8,688
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1074 Post(s)
Liked 295 Times
in
222 Posts
While possible, it far more common to damage the rim than the hub. My first guess is that you have flared the rim, bent the brake tracks outwards at some point of the circumference. Check again for clearance all the way around.
If that doesn't show anything, at the very least pull the wheel out of the fork and twirl the axle by hand, feel for roughness.
At that point it would have been good to know how it felt before, but that's life for you.
If it's a cup & cone type of hub you'll have to pull the axle to inspect the bearing surfaces.
If that doesn't show anything, at the very least pull the wheel out of the fork and twirl the axle by hand, feel for roughness.
At that point it would have been good to know how it felt before, but that's life for you.
If it's a cup & cone type of hub you'll have to pull the axle to inspect the bearing surfaces.
08-19-14, 10:54 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,671
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5767 Post(s)
Liked 2,541 Times
in
1,407 Posts
Remove the wheel, and hold one end of the axle by the lock nut and try turning the other (which shouldn't move). Also spin the axle and see if the ends wobble. Unless You've ridden a long time with this condition (bent or broken) the bearing surfaces should be fine.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
08-19-14, 03:03 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Long Beach, CA
Posts: 53
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, S-Work Epic, Cannondale F29er, Intense ProXXL Cruiser, Electra Cruiser 1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Did you pop the tire during the impact?
If you didn't pop the tire during impact I doubt anything happened to the hub, axle, or wheel. My guess would be the cones are to tight, probably have been. Remove the front wheel and spin the axle with your fingers, should spin very smooth. If it does not then the cones are to tight.
If you didn't pop the tire during impact I doubt anything happened to the hub, axle, or wheel. My guess would be the cones are to tight, probably have been. Remove the front wheel and spin the axle with your fingers, should spin very smooth. If it does not then the cones are to tight.
