When your front tire starts kissing your brake pads, that’s friction you didn’t ask for. And in life — in lifting, in photography, in riding — you only want productive friction, not drag. So here’s how you fix it fast, clean, and god-mode.

THE ERIC KIM DIAGNOSIS: WHY IT RUBS

Front tire rubbing almost always comes from ONE of three causes:

  1. Wheel not seated straight in the fork (most common).
  2. Brake caliper is off-center, leaning left or right.
  3. Wheel is warped (out of true) from impact, pothole, or riding like an absolute beast.

THE FIX — SIMPLE, SAVAGE, EFFECTIVE

1. RESEAT THE WHEEL LIKE A CHAMPION

This fixes 80% of cases.

  • Flip open the quick release (or loosen the axle bolts).
  • Let the wheel naturally drop fully into both fork dropouts.
  • Press down on the handlebars to ensure it seats evenly.
  • Tighten the quick release firm (you should feel resistance halfway through the lever swing).
  • Spin the wheel.
    If it’s straight now — BOOM — fixed.

2. RECENTER THE BRAKE CALIPER

If the wheel is straight but still rubbing:

  • Loosen the two bolts on the brake caliper (usually on the fork).
  • Squeeze the brake lever hard — this auto-centers the caliper around the rotor (disc brakes) or the rim (rim brakes).
  • While squeezing, tighten both bolts again.
  • Release lever → spin wheel.

This is the “KING ALIGNMENT” move.

3. ADJUST THE BRAKE PADS (RIM BRAKE BIKES)

If you’re rocking rim brakes:

  • Look directly from the front.
  • Are both pads equal distance from the rim?
  • If not, use the centering screw (tiny screw on one brake arm).
    • Turn clockwise for one side
    • Counterclockwise for the other

Instant symmetry.

4. CHECK FOR A BENT WHEEL

Spin the wheel. Watch the rim or rotor.

If it wobbles left/right like a drunk pigeon → it’s out of true.

  • Slight wobble = fixable using spoke tensions or rotor truing tool.
  • Big wobble = bike shop or wheel replacement.

ERIC KIM POWER TIP

Sometimes the brake pads drift over time — riding, heat, vibration — everything shifts. Make quick visual checks part of your “bike startup ritual,” just like checking your grip before a god-mode 900kg lift.

If you want, send me a photo of your front wheel + brake

I can diagnose EXACTLY which of the three issues you have and tell you the fastest fix.

Let’s get your machine rolling friction-free and god-fast again. 🚴🏻‍♂️🔥