I bought and installed a cheap rear rack for my commuter a while ago. It works fine, no complaints there, but it's caddywampus lean upsets my commuter chi. When I first installed it I used both of the threaded holes near the dropouts, this seemed logical to me, but it is my first rack. The result was so off-kilter it had to be wrong. I ended up using one of the threaded holes and then on the other side I put a longer screw (from the inside out) through one of the holes for the disc brake mount and tightened it with a locknut. It's better, and like I said functional, but still crooked. Am I dumb? Is my rack dumb? Is the frame dumb?

Do you have a digicam or a cell phone cam that you can use to provide us with a picture?

Nope. On the drive side, it's attatched to the only hole on that dropout. That one is threaded and it worked with the included hardware. On the other side there are 3 holes. The one in the middle is threaded for the correct size and that's the one I used originally. The other two holes are larger and aren't threaded at all, I'm using the one closest to the front of the frame. Does that make sense? I don't know if it matters, but it's a circa 2000 Gary Fisher Tassajara mtb.

Well, it SOUNDS like you should be using the threaded hole on the left side too. Have you measured the height from the ground of both threaded holes (left and right side)? Mounting the bike in a trainer, on a workstand, or hanging it so it is very nearly vertical would help get the measurement right.

Does it look like there is something wrong with the bike or something wrong with the rack?

The other two non-threaded holes are likely disc brake mounts. You should be using the one that matches the single one on the derailleur side.

The problem is with your disc brake (mount). The disc mount is not meant for mounting a rack. Most universal racks will not mount symetrically without a bit of tweeking. Either that or your frame really does not have full eyelets for mounting racks which is not uncommon. There are racks available for these types of frames but they are a bit pricey.

Hmmm... this doesn't make much sense...

Does the rack itself look bent when it's off the bike?
Do the threaded holes on the dropouts appear to be symmetricly placed?

If so, then putting the rack in the threaded holes ought to work. If not, then you either have a bent bike or a bent rack :)

Well, I think I'm just going to have to deal with it. Just by looking at it, it's obvious that the two threaded holes don't match up. The hole for the disc brake that I'm using is close(ish) to a match, but still lower than the opposite side. The rack seems straight, the frame seems straight, it's been working for a couple of months, sooo.... It leans, so be it. I'll probably be replacing that frame soon anyways, I guess that's just another thing to look out for.

How weird... I don't understand what would be the purpose of making the rack-mounting holes non-symmetrical. What model bike is this?

In any case, as long as the rack works, it works. Having it leaning slightly shouldn't weaken it too much for everyday use.

I don't get it either. It's 2000(ish) Gary Fisher Tassajara. It doesn't carry that much weight. Just a rack trunk, no panniers. It bothers me more that it doesn't seem to make sense, but whatever, I'll be alright. ;)