Wheel Truing: Fix Wobbles and Improve Braking

Wheel truing fixes wobbles and improves braking performance. Minor corrections prevent rim damage and brake rub.

Wheel truing

Quick Answer: Tighten spokes on the side opposite the wobble, loosen spokes on the wobble side. Make quarter-turn adjustments and check frequently. True side-to-side first, then round out radial variations.

Reading the Wobble

Spin the wheel and watch the rim relative to brake pad. Mark high spots with chalk. Wobbles toward the left need spoke adjustment on the right side, and vice versa.

Spoke Adjustment Technique

Tighten spokes by turning nipples counterclockwise. Loosen by turning clockwise. Make small adjustments—quarter turns maximum. Work on 2-3 adjacent spokes for each correction zone.

Recommended Cycling Gear

Garmin Edge 1040 GPS Bike Computer – $549.00
Premium GPS with advanced navigation.

Park Tool Bicycle Repair Stand – $259.95
Professional-grade home mechanic stand.

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Emily Carter

Emily Carter

Author & Expert

Emily Carter is a home gardener based in the Pacific Northwest with a passion for organic vegetable gardening and native plant landscaping. She has been tending her own backyard garden for over a decade and enjoys sharing practical tips for growing food and flowers in the region's rainy climate.

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