Topic: Issue with wheel alignment while braking....

[Chad]

So I took my bike to get painted a couple of weeks ago. Got it back today and now I have an issue I didn't have before. My painter took off the rear wheel, brake caliper & mount to paint. (this is on a F2 btw)

Now, when I use the rear brake, the back end of the bike pulls to the right. At first, I thought maybe the rear wheel was locking up and I was just sliding, but it's not. The rear wheel comes out of alignment when I use the rear brake.

Everything was perfectly fine before I took it in. What should I look for?

[calj737]

Several things need to be checked:
- Axle properly aligned L to R
- Spacers correctly installed
- Axle nut properly tightened
- Is the brake plate properly secured to hub

[bjbuchanan]

Check swingarm bolt torque too, could have removed that if you pulled the wheel. A tiny deflection at the pivot bolt can really add up given the length of the swinger.

[MiGhost]

Make sure that there is not a paint buildup on the mounting points of those parts that were painted, or misplaced hardware.

[Don R]

 Sonds scary, check it well. If you've adjusted your chain before you should know the drill. If you haven't, it's time to learn. Do a nut and bolt check on everything they may have messed with. This is a problem that could get serious. 

[Chad]

It was the axle bolt. It was pretty loose. Easy enough fix. I should've went and looked around first. I've come to rely on the forum a little to much at times 

I can't be to upset though. He did a killer job on the paint! 

[calj737]

Yeah he did! He's nothing for a mechanic, but a helluva painter! Very pretty-

[MoMo]

He could have killed you but........ he did do a killer paint job


Sent from my iPhone using rapper talk

[Don R]

:']

[krusty]

There are two axle spacers on the left side. Check that they weren't installed back to front.

It should not look like this. The gap between swing arm and hub should be greater. On this bike one of the spacers was missing!!

[Chad]

Yeah he did! He's nothing for a mechanic, but a helluva painter! Very pretty-

He could have killed you but........ he did do a killer paint job


Sent from my iPhone using rapper talk

I'm thinking one of his shop guys is the one that didn't tighten it up all the way. He's actually a good mechanic as well. Thankfully it wasn't loose enough to be life threatening. Now, if I would've left it that way, it would've been, but it was on good enough for me to get home safely and get it tightened up. Thanks!

[MoMo]

Yeah he did! He's nothing for a mechanic, but a helluva painter! Very pretty-

He could have killed you but........ he did do a killer paint job


Sent from my iPhone using rapper talk

I'm thinking one of his shop guys is the one that didn't tighten it up all the way. He's actually a good mechanic as well. Thankfully it wasn't loose enough to be life threatening. Now, if I would've left it that way, it would've been, but it was on good enough for me to get home safely and get it tightened up. Thanks!

Back in the 70s when I worked at Riff's Cycle one of the mechanics forget to tighten  the rear axle nut when he was doing a routine tune and service.  The owner picked up the bike and just before he pulled out on US Route 1 the rear wheel locked up.  He did not fall but sure was