pmaddocks86

Hi! I'm a bike newbie so bear with me. I bought a 2022 Trek FX2 roughly a month ago and upon checking my tyre pressures I noticed the rear wheel is quite a way out of alignment. I've taken it back into Trek who gave it a look over and said that it does appear as though it is out of alignment at the seat stays however it is in the centre of the chain stays (which is what matters more). Accepting this I left the store but the more I look at it the more I can see the wheel doesn't even align to the seat tube (it is off to the drive side by 3-5mm).

To summarise:

1. Rear wheel appears to be aligned in the chain stays
2. Rear wheel is not aligned to the seat stays
3. Rear wheel is not aligned to the seat tube

They offered if I really wanted to, a warranty replacement of the frame, however they said because the wheel is aligned in the chain stays it will ride absolutely fine. Not sure what to do...

Andrew R Stewart 

Seatstay/wheel off centerness will affect tracking although many riders will never feel it. The questions I might ask the OP are "does the bike track straight when ridden no handed?" "Is there a mechanical problem with the current situation that is a safety concern?" After the two answers the "cost" of a fix comes into play. How much $ to replace the frame (and warranty replacements are not completely free as the, often found, incidentals are often not included under the warranty, labor cost is at the shop's discretion (very few brand warranties list labor as a covered item) and there's the time issue (especially with the need to get any and all bikes out the company's doors as sales these C-19 days).

If this issue really bothers the Op than these costs are small compared to the anxiety it can cost... Andy

Iride01 

Are you measuring this? If so how. If you are just looking, then looks can be deceiving if you aren't aware of wheel dishing and other things that might change your perspective.

If you have doubts about what that shop told you, then find another till you find one that either can discuss it enough with you to relieve your worry or agrees that it's an issue.

dedhed

pmaddocks86

I haven’t gone too scientific with it apart from using my eyes and a straight edge. If I use a straight edge on the seat tube to the rear tire it is definitely angled out more at the top than the bottom. Same with measuring the gap between the wheel and seat stays.

I did speak to the shop again yesterday as I was there picking up my partners bike and they said they had noticed that the seat post and seat stays were a bit out compared to the rest of the frame, but it should still ride fine but the offer of a replacement frame was there if I want it. I’m going down that route as my OCD will never forgive me otherwise.

im not sure how far they have looked into using other wheels/ flipping the wheel etc to see if it really is the frame. I need to take it in Monday so they can take photos to send to Trek so I’ll ask then.

CliffordK

Where are you located?

If the frame is mostly aligned OK.
And the wheel is dished properly.
And, of course, the wheel is properly installed on the bike.
And you have vertical dropouts.

Then you might be able to fix the problem by gently filing down the dropout on the side the wheel is leaning.

If it was a 20 year old frame, I'd carefully check the alignment of everything, then wouldn't hesitate to modify the frame.

A brand new "under warranty" bike, I might choose to send it back, but it depends.

pmaddocks86

I’m in Sydney Australia.

One thing I forgot to mention is that I believe it is a thru axel rather than drop outs on both the front and back wheel

CliffordK

Oh... so, no filing it if it is a thru axle.

It may well depend on how bad the the problem is. If it off by 1mm or so, then you might ignore it. If it is 5mm or so off center, then you have an opportunity to get it replaced, or you will live with it.

I'm not sure what issues may come up. Perhaps changing tire sizes.

I'm sure Trek cranks these bikes out by the millions. Parts can move a bit with welding, but I'd expect blank dropouts to be aligned, then as a final step putting the frames in a jig and drilling and tapping the dropouts. With the right equipment, it would be hard to mess it up.

KerryIrons

THAT explains it! Coriolis effect

texbazII

Send it back. You will never be happy. Do it now before the summer rides get into full swing. Ask for a loaner since its a manufacturing problem. Good luck

70sSanO

First thing is to take pictures with the straight edge to the rim, not the tire. Pics of both the seat and chain stays. You want to make sure you have the evidence that it is a defectively made frame.

John

pmaddocks86

This is exactly what the shop did when I took it in. They also took photos of another trek fx 2 to show the differences.

in doing all of this we also discovered the seat tube is also welded slightly off which makes my seat post come out at a slight angle. Explains why the wheel looks like it off to an angle, it isn’t, it’s the seat post as well.

hopefully Trek will approve the frame warranty replacement, just waiting now!