How to Change Bicycle Wheels

There are a multitude of reasons that would cause you to change out the wheels on your mountain bike. If you have bent a rim, wish to change to a heavier duty setup as conditions necessitate or are seeking to upgrade the performance of your bike by adding a lighter wheel set, you will need to know how to properly change your wheels. Knowing the steps of the process and the necessary safety precautions can make this process an easy one that can take as little as five minutes.

Instructions

  1. Changing the Front Wheel

    • 1

      Use one hand to grab your front brake caliper and squeeze it in as if the brake was being applied to the rim. With your other hand pull the brake cable out of the latchpin to which it is secured. This will leave the cable connected to one side of the actual braking mechanism, with the other side is free to move about.

    • 2

      Locate the quick release mechanism located at the center of your bicycle's front wheel. Pull the handle away from the bicycle so that is is now in the open position and no longer has tension applied to it.

    • 3

      Twist the loosened skewer a few revolutions in a counter-clockwise motion.

    • 4

      Lift the bicycle's front end up with one hand placed on either the handlebar or stem while simultaneously gripping the front wheel with your free hand.

    • 5

      Place your new wheel below your bicycle's front fork and place the forks dropouts around the hub of the new wheel.

    • 6

      Push down on the front of the bicycle firmly, yet gently and eyeball it to ensure that the new wheel is seated solidly and evenly in the fork's dropouts.

    • 7

      Twist the new wheel's quick release skewer in a clockwise motion till it grips the fork's dropouts. Push the quick release lever to a closed position using the palm of your hand. If the lever has a hard time closing, loosen the skewer by twisting it a half-turn. Conversely, if it does not have the tension to grip the drop out, tighten as needed.

    Changing the Rear Wheel

    • 8

      Shift into your smallest rear cog and your smallest front chainring. By shifting into your smallest rear cog, you ensure that the chain is as far right as possible on the wheel, making it easier to remove. Having the chain on the smallest front chainring relieves tension on the chain, making the wheel easier to remove as well.

    • 9

      Flip your bike upside down so that it's weight rests on the handlebars and seat. Undo the rear brake just as you undid the front brake.

    • 10

      Loosen the rear skewer just as you did for the front wheel, by pulling the handle toward you and twisting the bolt as needed.

    • 11

      Use one hand to pull on the derailleur cage while using the other hand to pull the wheel out of the drop out. Once the wheel is free from the dropout, pull on the chain as needed to free the wheel from the driveline.

    • 12

      Insert your new wheel into the chain stay opening on the rear of the bicycle frame, and loop the chain around the smallest rear cog so that it sits on it as it did on the previous wheel.

    • 13

      Push the wheel firmly into the dropout, and ensure that it is seated all the way into place. Give the wheel a light spin to ensure that it spins evenly and is seated properly in the dropout.

    • 14

      Tighten the quick release just as you did for the front wheel.

    • 15

      Turn your bike back upright, and roll it along the floor to make sure that both wheels move in the same track. Give both wheels a firm push and pull to make sure that they are firmly seated into the frame and fork.