SAFETY FIRST: Protective gloves and eyewear are recommended at this point.
Remove the rear wheel. See the Rear Wheel Removal topic for more information.
Check the wheel bearings by inserting your finger and rotating the bearing. If the bearings don’t turn freely or make a grinding noise-replace them.
See the Rear Wheel Bearing Replacement topic for more information.
Rear Axle Runout
Check the rear axle runout using a magnetic stand with a dial indicator. Place the rear axle into a set of V-blocks with the tip of the dial indicator onto the axle. Rotate the axle slowly record your reading. If the measurement is out of specification replace the axle.
rear axle runout is no more than 0.25 mm or 0.010 in.)
Rear Wheel Runout
Remove the rear tire and tube. See Tire Removal topic for more information.
Place the rear wheel into a wheel truing stand. Use a magnetic stand with a dial indicator and measure the radial and axial runout of the rear rim.
rear wheel axial runout is no more than 2 mm)
rear wheel radial runout is no more than 2 mm)
If the rear wheel is out of specification see the Wheel Truing topic for more information.