I'm trying to true my front wheel.

I had a large lateral deflection at the join that took way too much spoke tension to correct. So I used a method I found in a wheel building PDF to try and correct it. I put three pieces of wood under the rim (still laced and tensioned up), two either side of the deflection. Then I put one on top of the deflection and struck it with a hammer, roughly eight times with medium force.

The deflection seems to be corrected and the spoke tension around that area is no longer so extreme. However as I spin the wheel in the fork, I heard small pinging noises as if the spokes are de-stressing themselves.

Is this normal?
Have I damaged the rim?

I've tried relieve spoke tension by grabbing bunches and pushing down on the rim with the hub in contact in the ground, but that pinging noise still remains.


Richard