Vertical Play In Rear Hub

[kw-f]

Hi,

I just purchased a used bike. Salsa Deadwood NX1. I'm going through and adjusting the fit after a couple short rides and noticed some vertical play in the rear hub that wasn't present when I test rode the bike pre-purchase.

I'm familiar with the lateral play in a hub due to improperly loaded, tightened cone/lock nuts. This is different. Rather than side to side play perpendicular to the plane of the tire this is, slight, vertical play from the hub directly up/down to rads the outside edge of the rim. I can only feel the play on the drive side, the NDS doesn't move at all.

Is this normal or do I need to re-pack the hub with fresh bearings? Or is there another possible cause?

 

[BikeGremlin]

Hi,

I just purchased a used bike. Salsa Deadwood NX1. I'm going through and adjusting the fit after a couple short rides and noticed some vertical play in the rear hub that wasn't present when I test rode the bike pre-purchase.

I'm familiar with the lateral play in a hub due to improperly loaded, tightened cone/lock nuts. This is different. Rather than side to side play perpendicular to the plane of the tire this is, slight, vertical play from the hub directly up/down to rads the outside edge of the rim. I can only feel the play on the drive side, the NDS doesn't move at all.

Is this normal or do I need to re-pack the hub with fresh bearings? Or is there another possible cause?View attachment 277

Hi,

That could be some freehub ("cassette") play - if the axle is OK and the wheel doesn't have any play when mounted.

I discussed and explained that here:

Relja

 

[kw-f]

Hi,

That could be some freehub ("cassette") play - if the axle is OK and the wheel doesn't have any play when mounted.

I discussed and explained that here:

Relja

Hmm, that makes sense. Axle looks good. I still get play with the wheel mounted if I grab the frame and tire and leverage the tire left/right. Could that still be cassette play?

 

[BikeGremlin]

Hmm, that makes sense. Axle looks good. I still get play with the wheel mounted if I grab the frame and tire and leverage the tire left/right. Could that still be cassette play?

If there is play in the wheel (rim), then it's either something with the bearings, the axle, or the wheel wasn't tightened to the frame properly.

Relja

 

[kw-f]

If there is play in the wheel (rim), then it's either something with the bearings, the axle, or the wheel wasn't tightened to the frame properly.

Relja

Gotcha. I get the play with the wheel dismounted from the frame. It's a through axle wheel so it seems like I'm isolated to the play being in the freewheel or the hub bearings.

Seems like my next move should be to pull the freewheel and see if I can isolate the play to the freewheel or the hub.

 

[BikeGremlin]

Gotcha. I get the play with the wheel dismounted from the frame. It's a through axle wheel so it seems like I'm isolated to the play being in the freewheel or the hub bearings.

Seems like my next move should be to pull the freewheel and see if I can isolate the play to the freewheel or the hub.

Slight play in the freehub is not a problem (it's a feature).

But, if there is rim play (rocking) when the wheel is mounted on the frame and properly tightened, then it's not just the freehub/freewheel problem - but a problem with the hub or its bearings.

Relja