Hello, I've been having trouble with the back wheel on my Schwinn Mountain bike. It's a simple bike, nothing special, but it works for me. Unfortunately, the back wheel wobbles so much that it rubs against the brake pads and makes it very difficult to get a smooth ride. I got it tuned twice in the last year but it didn't help so I just decided to buy a new wheel. At first this seemed to fix the problem, but after only a month I'm back at square one.

Generally wheels should stay true for quite a while if they are built right.

What type of riding do you do? Do you ride over curbs? Hard core mountain riding? Mostly on the road?

Which new wheel did you buy?

I have ridden my factory wheels on a Giant Sedona for 3,000+ miles, and I weigh over 300 pounds, but I ride only on the road, or rail trails.

Your problem is probably due to insufficient spoke tension to keep the wheel true. Have it re-trued with higher tension or learn to do it yourself with the proper tools and instructions. This is a common problem.

Al

You state that it "wobbles" and "doesn't spin smoothly" which doesn't lead me to thinking about the true of the rim, but rather about the hub itself.

Questions:

- If you open the brakes up, does the wheel spin smoothly? What I mean is, does it make any grinding sounds, or does it appear to 'catch' at any point during the rotation? When it slows down, is it gradual or does it seem to stop rapidly?

- With the bike upsidedown or in a workstand, grasp the rear wheel by the rim and try to wobble it from side to side in between the stays. Does it wobble on the axle or is it stable?


If it's just catching on the brakes because the wheel is out of true, then a proper true and tension should solve the problem.
If it's wobbling at the axle, the hub cones need adjusted.
If it's grinding/crunchy when it spins with the brake open, the cone race is shot and the hub needs rebuilt. (New cones and bearings, cleaned and regreased.)

The trail I follow up the mountain near my house is fairly uneven and it has crossed my mind that it might be too rough for my bike. Both times i've gotten it trued it only lasted maybe 4 or 5 rides, but the shop I take it is reliable.

There is a very subtle grinding noise that's also accompanied by an almost, hollow noise?(that probably doesn't make much sense). It gradually slows down, but when it does it moves faster and slower at different places. It seemed to be stable when I wobbled it.

Thanks for the all help and I apologize for the vague descriptions.

That's probably just the normal cassette or freewheel noise. Do you have a different shop that can look at it, in case the first shop is not as relaible as you think.

+3 I'm also barking up the low-tension tree. I'd also suggest going over the wheel with a fine-toothed comb - looking for any sort of structural damage. Depression on the rim? Crack around a spoke-eyelet?

Good luck.