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How to Remove Rear Bike Wheel No Quick Release in 6 Surprisingly Easy Steps


Written by Gary Johnson / Fact checked by Henry Speciale

how to remove rear bike wheel no quick release

There may come a time when your bike must do away with a punctured tire, or maintenance is desired. Whatever the reason might be, removing the rear bicycle wheel is necessary when that time comes.

Some bikes come with a quick-release axle that you can pull up the lever, turn a few times, and remove in a jiffy. Others don’t have this feature and instead rely on the good ol’ nuts. However, the technique is just as simple in this case. By loosening the rear wheel nuts, you can detach the brake cable and derailleur gear. And voilà, your rear wheel is now ready to come off. Let find out how to remove rear bike wheel no quick release right now!

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What You Will Need

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First, let’s go over a few tools for this tutorial. Only one of them is mandatory to loosen up the solid wheel axle of your bike, and that is a 15mm wrench. You can now carry on to the next section of the article and will be doing just fine.

However, if you want extra maneuverability, consider a bike work stand. This apparatus serves to hold your bike while you do your work. No more neck and back strain, and no more damages to your bike frame. Another optional tool is a WD-40 spray. If you find yourself unable to loosen the nuts, this lubricant will come in handy because it loosens rusted parts.

In brief, these are the things you will need:

Steps to Remove Rear Bike Wheel without Quick Release

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Step 1: Positioning

The chain side of the bicycle, also known as the driving side to cyclists, should not be damaged at all costs. But since removing a tire will topple the bike over, it’s wise to lay your bicycle down on its side with the chain facing up.

That’s what I personally would do, but many others prefer to turn their bike upside down, letting it rest on the handlebars. I tend to avoid this as it would result in damages to my seat and handlebars.

The pro tip here is to invest in a bike work stand, which ensures optimal working angle and convenience while you work on your bike.

Step 2: Gear adjustment

Once you’ve had your bike set up, this next step is done by shifting your gear to the smallest cog, which typically is the outermost gear. Having your chain on the smallest cog allows for more chain slack, and makes it easier to drop the wheel.

Step 3: Disengage brakes

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How you do the third step entirely depends on what type of brake your bike is using.

  • For caliper rim brakes, flip the quick-release lever at the caliper arm to release the brake pads.
  • For cantilever brakes, squeeze calipers together and disconnect the brake cable.
  • For linear-pull brakes, squeeze the calipers together and remove the piece of tubing known as the noodle.
  • There is no need for disengagement to remove the rear bike wheel with disc brakes.

Step 4: Loosen the wheel nuts

Pick up the 15mm wrench, hook it onto the nut of the chain side, and turn it a few degrees to loosen without removing it. Move on to unscrew the nut on the other side, and then return to loosen the first nut.

If a nut doesn’t seem to budge and you think rust is the cause, spray a little WD-40 on it to reduce friction. This lubricant is also known as Liquid Wrench after all.

Step 5: Detach the derailleur

With the chain, brake, and nuts loosened, the derailleur is now ready to be removed. Simply stand behind the bike. Stabilize the frame with your left hand. Place your right thumb on the wheel nut. Then, use your right fingers to pivot the derailleur all the way back. At this point, the rear wheel should be detached from its derailleur and drop to the ground.

Step 6: Lift the rear wheel off the chain

With your right hand holding the derailleur, carefully unhook the chain and use your left hand to lift up the frame. The rear wheel is now completely removed from the bike.

Conclusion

This step-by-step tutorial on how to remove the rear bike tire is easy to follow, isn’t it? I do hope that you’ve picked up the skill you came here for. Knowing how to remove rear bike wheel no quick release on your own would prove so useful as a bike owner. What’s more, the same technique is immediately applicable if you want to remove the front bike wheel without quick release. Just skip steps 5 and 6 and you are good to go!

Should you have any queries, opinions, or suggestions, please let us know in the comment section below. And if you know anyone who would benefit from this article, kindly share it with them so we can help them as well.

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