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Hello
My rear wheel has disc brakes and is quick-release. When I’m putting it back on it might take me a couple of minutes to make sure it is centred and not rubbing anywhere.
I’ve seen other people do this, and it seems to take them seconds.
Am I doing something wrong? Are there any tips anyone can give me?
Make sure the wheel is in the dropouts properly before doing the qr up. I often hold the bike by the wheel so it's weight holds the frame in place. Could be your brake was aligned when the wheel wasn't so to get consistency you need to align it when you know the wheel is in correctly.
If the frame is horizontal dropouts then all bets are off. I normally run those slammed to the shortest to make it easier.
Cable or hydro brakes?
Hydro (at least modern ones) will self centre, so you can plop the wheel in and squeeze the lever a few times and it is good as new.
Cable - not so lucky. I’ve been through this pain (2013 Genesis CDF)
Make sure the derailleur is shifted to the smallest cog (highest gear). Align the smallest cog with the chain. Pull the derailleur back to let the wheel into the dropouts. Align the brake rotor with the caliper. Push the wheel completely into the dropouts. Tighten the QR.
It gets easier with practice. Some bikes are easier than others. Some days shit just never goes right.
Assuming the bike is upside down, squeeze the brake lever and hold it whilst doing up the qr.
If this is a regular issue I'd suggest your caliper wants realigning first though.
Slacken off the two mounting bolts for the caliper so it can be wobbled side to side
Wheel in, and seated properly. Tighten qr.
spin wheel, slowly apply the brake until the wheel stops, nip up the bolts, spin wheel and check for rubbing, if it's all good, tighten bolts.
Rear wheel should sit fully in the drop out.
Put the bike the right way up, and push down on the saddle to make sure it's fully in the drop out, then tighten the rear skewer.
If the caliper isn't aligned for the disc at that point, then align it.
Just find a more appropriate user name, job jobbed.
What bike is it?
Thanks, some good stuff to try here, I suspect dangerousbrain has the answer. I've just got some new tyres, so a perfect time to try some of this.
Ambrose: It's a Pinnacle Arkose 3 from 2019. Hydro brakes. Thru axle at the front, quick release at the rear.
Assuming the bike is upside down, squeeze the brake lever and hold it whilst doing up the qr.
Yikes, I thought pulling levers while bike was upside down was asking for trouble? Plus not really sure how that helps, does clamping the disc between the pads while doing up QR sort of move the pads and pistons with the disc as the dropouts close?
OP - I've always just learned to align chain with smallest sprocket (as thols2) before jiggling it into the dropouts before leaning my chest on the saddle to apply weight, then doing up QR. Makes it consistent every time.
Put the wheel in, put the bike back on the ground and open and then close the QR again to ensure the wheel is seated in the dropouts. Shouldn't need any fiddling about to stop it rubbing. Make sure you don't put any sideways pressure on the wheel or disc when securing the QR.
Wot spooky says.
I just tried the @spooky_b329 method, and it was so easy. I could tell it had worked before I even inspected. Thanks spooky, and others for suggestions.
Now: I sometimes have trouble distinguishing between my arse and my elbow ...
And don’t turn bikes upside down to work on them 🙂
Then you don’t have the problem of the wheel not being fully home in the dropouts, if you have the weight of the bike on it.
Job jobbed. Happy days.