8. How to Remove and Install Your Wheels

Demonstrates how to release brake cables and operate front and rear quick release axles.

IMPORTANT: Nuts and bolts on your bike should always be tightened to the manufacturer's specifications.

DVD Volume 1
This video is available on DVD

After 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

Quick Release Skewer

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.

Discuss this topic in the Wheel Forums

05/12 Skipping chain

commuter 10 miles a day round trip.2006 specialized hardrock sport.skips when torqued, (stop and starts, traffic lights). replaced chain, sprocket, and had deralieurs adjusted, at the shop. still skips not as bad as before, what else can it be? do i need a new hub? can i rebuild my hub? what else can i do?... Read more >>

04/29 Bent axle?

Hi guys! Please view this short video: http://youtu.be/shjAlSvR_Ek Why my gears rotate like that and what can i do to fix them?... Read more >>

04/28 Rear hub problems

I just got a bike and there is quite a bit of play in the rear wheel and a clicking noise when I pedal backwards. I assume this means I need to overhaul the rear hub. My question is how detrimental is it to ride in this condition, and how do I know if my hub is fixable or I need to replace it? Thanks. Paul... Read more >>

04/23 What type of wheel do I need?

Hello chaps I'm just an ordinary guy. I don't know anything about bike repair but I'm reasonably intelligent. So why am I finding it so hard to fix my bike? Nothing else in life seems to be this unnecessarily complicated. I am trying to fix up my old Marin Kentfield (2006) hybrid bike. It has a bent rear axle. I figured I would buy a new wheel as well in case something in there is broken too. I checked to see what sort of wheel the Marin Kentfield uses but nothing on the Marin website or anywhere else on the internet seems to know. I checked the existing wheel to see if there were any us... Read more >>

04/17 Rear Wheel Rubs on Brakes When Pedaling Hard

Whenever I stand and pedal - say up a hill (or crank up the pedaling leverage in some way) my rear wheel rubs against the brakes. I had originally thought it was my lower bracket, but a repair there has eliminated that as the problem. I also believe I have confirmed that it is the wheel "twisting" a bit by opening the brake a bit so as to increase the distance the brake pads are from the wheel when not braking. I also can "wiggle" the wheel back and forth when the bike is at rest and make it touch the brake pads. This is without the wheel spinning in any way and while I am leaning on the bike... Read more >>

04/14 Skewer seems to long for rear dropouts

okay so just recently i bought an old road bike. My friend gave me this extra wheel for it but it didn't fit on my bike.i have heard of there being spaces from the dropouts and the rear tire where you need to add spacers. but on my bike the skewer seemed to be a little bit to long for my rear dropouts. like i cant fit the rear wheel in at all. Also the gaps in the dropouts where you screw the wheel on seem to be to small to fit the skewer in. so do you think that the wheel is just to big for my bike? sorry for my lack of bike terminology, and sorry if this is a dumb questions... Read more >>

03/26 Skewer broken inside hub

Through a non-profit bike group I work for I acquired a used 700c Mavic wheel with a Shimano 105 fixed-gear hub. It seems that a small part of the old quick release skewer rod is lodged inside the axle. What is a safe way to remove it, if it is at all possible? I attempted tapping a skewer rod against it with a hammer but with no luck. Besides this the hub and wheel are in excellent shape.... Read more >>

03/23 Sturmey S2C cone adjustment

Hi All, I just got a Sturmey Archer 2 speed "kickback" hub. I love the concept and everything about it, except that it's very rough. When in low gear I get all kinds of pops and clicks, and sometimes it'll jump momentarily into high gear and back to low on every revolution... very hard to ride. The coaster brake is weak too, but that's doesn't really bother me (even with all my 185 lbs on the brake it gradually slows to a stop). I've read that people have eliminated noises and shifting problems by adjusting the cones. Can some of you experts coach me on how to do this? Any help will be gr... Read more >>

03/11 3 or 8 speed conversion Trek pure aluminum trike

I have a single speed trek pure aluminum trike and know some previous models were sturmey archer 3 speed. I really want to add a 8 speed and if not possible 3 speed. am also considering the nuvinchi N360. Wish someone could tell me which model # will work. I have 5.75" inside diameter to work with. I want something durable and reliable. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.... Read more >>

02/28 Cyclocross Rims?

Is it possible to swap out a 25 mm tire for a 29 or 32 mm CX tire and use the same rim? I've been thinking about venturing into CX riding but I can't justify spending a ton of money.... Read more >>

02/12 Back pedaling

hello I have a child's bike if you pedal forward it goes for ward however if you pedal backwards it "locks" My bike if do that ...the chain goes backwards bike stays still can I "fix" hers to do the same as its frustrating her... Read more >>

02/07 700c front + 26" rear?

I have a hybrid bike frame which was designed for 700c wheels and I also have a 26" rear wheel with 8 speed hub gears and roller brake, which I was thinking of putting on it However, the front forks have fittings for V brakes for the 700c wheels, so I was thinking of sticking with the 700 c wheel for the front. I have heard that putting odd wheel sizes on bikes may not be a good idea due to changing the frame geometry/handling/steering etc. My main use of the bike is for commuting and I prefer comfort over performance. Does anyone have any input, please? Thank you very much.... Read more >>

01/24 Need More Help !

Yes ya all were right that my problem was a blown or bad freewheel. It is under warranty and today I received a new rear wheel assembly. Does not look too hard but I am asking for any advice that can help me from here. So after I put my tire on the wheel , what is next ? Thanks for any help. Oscar... Read more >>

01/24 Wheel Building?

Looking for a book that covers wheel building for beginners, I have no experience but would like to give it a try just for fun. Any suggestions?... Read more >>

01/14 Single Speed Free Wheel

Ok all you BMX'ers, pro mechanics, and such I really need some help on figuring out what to replace this with? It is a Chinese made Single Speed BMX 20" freewheel. It has 18 teeth and I am assuming that it is the standard chain size. Anyways I was looking at something like this..... http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-18-tooth-freewheel-x1/dp/B001GSOJB6/ . Is that the size I am needing? Here are some pictures of how I took the freewheel off of the 20" wheel using what some call the "destructive method"! Can tell you the 1/8" bearings in the bottom and the front literally fall out when it is taken ap... Read more >>

Bicycle Tutor

8. How to Remove and Install Your Wheels