How To Remove and Install Your Wheels
Demonstrates how to release brake cables and operate front and rear quick release axles.
DownloadAfter last week’s flat repair tutorial, I received a lot of comments from people who thought I should’ve included wheel removal and installation instructions. This tutorial will cover the removal and installation of both front and rear quick release wheels.
Remove Front Wheel
When removing the front wheel, the first step is to disconnect your brake. Most brakes will have a simple mechanism that allows you to unhook the cable without any tools. If you cannot easily disconnect the cable you can always let some air out of the tire until it clears your brake pads. Now pull back on the quick release lever and with your other hand on the cap, spin the lever counter-clockwise a few times until your wheel comes free.
Quick Release Components
- The lever tightens the skewer, and usually has the words ‘Close’ or ‘Open’ written on either side.
- The skewer rod runs through the hollow axle and is threaded at one end.
- The cap threads on the skewer and acts as a nut, holding your wheel in place.
- The two springs should always be facing narrow end inward, on the outside of your frame or fork. The springs are only designed to provide clearance while removing and installing your wheel.
Install Front Wheel
You should always remember to apply a thin layer of grease along the entire length of your skewer rod.
When installing the front wheel, simply slide the axle evenly up into the fork dropouts, with the quick release lever on the left side of your bike. Holding the cap with one hand, spin the lever clockwise, making sure the side marked ‘Open’ is facing outwards. When tightening the lever, it should meet resistance at about the halfway point, with the lever pointing straight out. Now tighten the lever all the way down.
When the lever is tight, check to make sure it says ‘Close’ on the outside surface. I like to position the lever so that it is tucked in close alignment in front of the left fork blade. This gives you something to grip while tightening and loosening the lever.
Re-attach your front brake and check to make sure the pads are lined up correctly with the rim.
Remove Rear Wheel
Removal and installation of the rear wheel has a few extra steps because of the gear cluster. Just like the front wheel, you’ll need to release the rear brake by unhooking the cable or deflating the tire. Next, adjust your rear shifter until the chain is on the smallest sprocket. Then loosen the quick release lever and carefully removed the wheel.
Install Rear Wheel
To re-install the rear wheel, first place the chain back onto the smallest sprocket, and then slide the axle evenly up into the rear dropouts. Tighten the quick release lever the same way as the front wheel, with the lever on the left side of the bike. Make sure the lever is safely tucked in between both of the left chain stays. Re-connect your rear brake and once again check to make sure the pads are lined up correctly with the rim.
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This video is also available on DVD Volume 1
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Comments & Questions - Help Forums
27 Responses to “How To Remove and Install Your Wheels”
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Thank you for placing this video on your web site. I had removed a tire to place my bike in a friend’s car and couldn’t figure out to replace it with the brakes in place. I need to ride in the morning.
This is a terrific site. Thank you for the excellent videos and information. I wonder if you could comment or provide a video on what to do if once you install your wheels, your brake pads are rubbing on one or both sides of the wheels. I have a bike where the brake pads are set very close to the wheels, but they rub sometimes. After installing the wheels, I will spin the wheels to check for brake rubbing. It will appear to be fine until I use the front or back brakes and then rubbing will occur. Thanks again!
No problem, I will do a tutorial on brake adjustments shortly (starting with cantilever style).
Unfortunately this did not help! Still cannot work it out, the springs seem to be getting in the way. They are right where the forks need to slot in.
Try loosening the quick release some more until there is enough room for the springs to clear the fork dropouts.
This site is terrific. I’m currently fixing up a 20year old department store bike. I’d love to get a nice new one, but my buget is limited to this one. The videos are extremely helpful.
Re: Remove and Install Wheels Video.
Alex, Great Site. Some issues not discussed are skewer spring placement, if the springs come off (wide end to the cap side). Also, how important it is to insure the wheel fits equally snug into the drop out openings. For me, maybe one in twenty wheel placements don’t fit squarely into the dropouts - the symptoms are a wheel vibration when braking and/or a slightly more difficult time fitting the tire between the brake pads. So, while other things may cause a wheel vibration when braking, the first thing to check is a proper wheel fitting.
Alex, you’re rock!!! Thanks a lot for this great site.
Hy, maybe you could mention how Campagnolo brakes widen by pushing a button at the brake handles.
If you aren’t familiar with that, you’ll never find it (at least I did until my bike shop told me about it)
Great site!
grtz from the Netherlands
Just curious what kind of hub you have in the front of your demonstration bike.
Hugh
That front hub is a Shimano Nexus generator hub. I think it cost about $200 several years ago, but it was well worth it. It has very little friction and provides a nice steady light while riding!
Just wanted to say - your web site is incredibly helpful - please keep up the great work!
This is great but I’m afraid that this did not help me. I have a bike tire that goes through a 20mm through axle and I couldn’t tighten it after it became loose. Please help, thanks.
Does your axle have a quick release lever? I’m not sure I understand your situation… do you have a photo? You could upload it to forums.
Is the rear wheel installation on a bike with disc brakes the same process?
Ok my new bike is the first I’ve owned with disc brakes, having recently removed the front wheel to repair a puncture I’ve had some issues putting it back.
Firstly should the quick release lever be on the same side as the disc, that’s how it came but doesn’t seem right.
Secondly when I tighten the wheel in place it drags against the disc. The tighter I go the heavier the drag. For there to be no drag at all would mean the wheel would sit fairly loose. I should point out the wheel is true, and the brake is off. What am I doing wrong here?
Yours, mechanically challenged
The procedure for installing disc brake wheels should be the same. The quick release lever should be on the left side of the bike (same as your disc.
As far as the disc rubbing, as long as the axles are firmly mounted up in the dropouts, you’ll have to adjust the brake unit until it no longer rubs on the disc.
If the video were to be re-done, it might be worth it to clarify what is meant by “evenly” (starting 0:43 in) when reinstalling a wheel I found on one of my bikes that one side of the axle must be about 6mm from the end of the groove for it to be parallel with the frame (or fork). Great videos on site and great job!
I’ve got a major problem. I bought this road bike. I use this for going to work. The back tire got flat and I need to take out the wheel. (this bike doesn’t have quick release). I used an adjustable wrench but it kind of rounded the nut. how do I get it out?
Thanks Alex, with your lessons I’m becoming more independent with my bike
Anyone have a clue/technique to set the rear wheel well aligned so the brake pads don’t rub? or the only way to get it correct is by trial and error?
Thanks again, and congratulations
@M.R - Try using a set of vice-grip pliers. They’ll grip well but cause more damage on the nut, but since it’s already rounded you’ll have to replace it anyways.
@Nucci - Just make sure the wheel is true and centered in the frame. If so, you’ll have to adjust the brake pads themselves so they line up with the rim. Check the videos on sidepulls, cantilevers, or v-brakes for pad alignment tips.
Alex I just viewed your video on changing wheels, I have ridden bikes for over 30 years and have never been able to center a wheel when the bike is upright, I think it works a lot better when you let gravity do the work, turn you bike upside down.
How do you remove a 20mm axle? I have one on my Boxxers but it is not a quick release one and I was wondering how you get it off to do some repairs.
There should be allen bolts or nuts on either side that you can loosen (counter-clockwise) to remove the wheel.
Hi, I recently had to remove my Bianchi’s front wheel. Upon reinsertion, one of the V-brake pads rubs against the rim. Shouldn’t the quick release lever and nut keep the wheel centered within the fork?
P.S.: congrats on the best bike site ever.
Thanks Andrea,
Strange, your axle should slide in to the fork dropouts in the same position it was. The quick release and nut don’t center the wheel, they just keep it in place. Is it possible the wheel was re-installed the other way around. Try flipping it and see if that helps.