Autumn Tuning
 

Hey I'm back for another autumn of cycling to work.

As many of you know, I have a Trek FX that is going on 3 years old. Last fall, I had to get a new rear wheel because it was rubbing against the brake pads. It was quite loose.

This year, it's doing the exact same thing.

Should I bring it in to the mechanic, or is there a DIY fix that someone can suggest? DIY would definitely fit the budget.

Thanks!

I can think of few reasons why a wheel would rub on the brake pads:

1...wheel not centered in the drop outs
2...wheel axle not tight enough which allows the wheel to move
3...loose bearing locknuts in the hub which allows to wheel to move sideways
4...brake calipers out of adjustment
5...worn out bearings or bearing races

You can check these yourself before going to an LBS and shelling money out.

The rear axle is quite loose and I'm positive that's the cause.

Assume I know nothing, what tool do I need and what do I need to do to fix this?

cone wrench(s)? a good & friendly mech. could snug that up for you in a cpl minutes

but that sounds kinda fishy, where did you get the wheel?

Park Tools offers on-line help for most everything. To do a hub, you will probably need a few specialized tools listed in the instructions.

You could be experiencing a different problem, however. Depending on the model of FX you have, you might have a freewheel hub. Those can be prone to breaking axles. That's a more involved job. It's do able but involves more work.

There is almost always a DIY alternative. But, as mentioned above...you often need specialized wrenches/tools. Although you could possibly do this fix with standard open-end wrenches. Otherwise, look to see if there is a bike co-op in your area. They should have the tools, and someone with the expertise to assist you.

Dan