I have a zipp 404 front wheel that I can detect a very slight side to side movement/play when you grab the tire on the sides and wiggle the wheel side to side. It's very slight, but there. The wheel seems to spin fine...is this a simple adjustment or a bigger problem???

Thanks for any help!

There is going to be a little play in them. Unless you see parts shifting side to side, I wouldn't sweat it....


Give Zipp a call on Monday. I have found them to be very helpful on the technical side.

The Flash

I'm not familiar with Zipp wheels, but in a "normal" road wheel I'd say your cones are a little loose. Yhis is a very simple adjustment that would take - maybe 5 min. You just remove the wheel, loosen the lock nut & washer on one side, and using a cone wrench tighten the cone until there's no more play. Retighten the lock nut & you're good to go.

This is done largly by feel. You don't want the cones too tight so that they bind the wheel. Neither do you want them so loose that you can feel play in the wheel. At 1st, it might take you a couple of tries to get it right.

Like I said, I know nothing about Zipp wheels, so none of the above might apply, but it works for most wheels.

I have a zipp 404 front wheel that I can detect a very slight side to side movement/play when you grab the tire on the sides and wiggle the wheel side to side. It's very slight, but there. The wheel seems to spin fine...is this a simple adjustment or a bigger problem???

Thanks for any help!

Is there play when the wheel is clamped into the fork? Some wheels have a bit of play that is taken up when the wheel is mounted on a bike.

Yes, the play is there when clamped. I'm more familiar with the mavic hubs where tightening the cone usually solves this. The Zipps have a flimsy carbon fiber disc covering the ends and no apparent way to adjust the bearings.