How to Rebuild a Bicycle Front Wheel Hub Using Simple Tools

This instructable is intended to help you learn how to rebuild a front wheel hub on any bicycle. Any avid cyclist should know how to rebuild a wheel hub. Rebuilding the hub on your own also saves the time and money that many people spend at bike stores, when they can do the maintenance themselves. Rebuilding a wheel is a very simple procedure, and it can be done with very simple tools. If you can turn a wrench, you can rebuild a bike wheel hub. Plus, it takes no more than 30 minutes.

All modern bicycle wheel hubs are the same. One can use the same tools on a mountain bike wheel hub just as he/she can on a road bike wheel hub. In this demonstration, I will show you how to rebuild the front wheel hub on a road bike. There are many ways to rebuild a wheel hub. I discovered this method on my own, using simple, nonspecialized tools.

Step 1 Understand component of a Front Wheel Hub

It is important to understand the components of the bicycle before attempting to take it apart.


Axle : Runs through hub and rotates

Bearings : Orbits around the axle on both sides of the hub

Cone : Secures the bearings in place

Hub shell : Encloses the axle

Locknut : Secures the cone nut in place

Comments

[jdoggy]

I'm sorry, but this is not a good way to adjust your bearings or to tighten the locknuts. Cone wrenches are not so you don't have to disassemble the hub, they are so you can properly adjust the bearings and tighten the locknuts. The cones need to be tighten against the locknuts. If you try to tighten the locknuts without holding the cones, the cone will rotate, making bearing adjustment impossible.

This is a good way to destroy either the cones or the hubs. Proper bearing adjustment is needed to ensure long life of the cones and hub. Overhauling and bearing adjustment is not difficult with the proper tools, it is nearly impossible with out them. There are many websites that will explain the proper way to do it. Check out Sheldon Brown's site.

[megapix]

Thanks for the Instructable, especially the use of common tools and ordinary grease. My front bike wheel just started squeeking so the timing is perfect!