Stair Axles
About Stair Axles
Axles are rods that hold the wheel in place. Simple, isn’t it? But it might be baffling for some to know that there are many different types of bike axles . For a seemingly insignificant part of a bike like an axle, it is amazing how impactful it can be to the riding experience.
The wheel was among the inventions that changed the course of human history. But wheels on their own are not any good. You need a way to make it useful. That was when people found out that two or three wheels are better than a single wheel. Then axles came along as a means to hold the wheel in place yet allow it to rotate freely. After the creation of the first cycle in the eighteenth century, the cycle axles have also evolved many times. Today, you will find a variety of axles that offer an array of features. Before you are shopping for an axle for your bike, it will be useful to have a basic understanding of them.
Introduction to bike axles
Earlier, when options weren’t as many, it wouldn’t be as confusing to choose an axle. Yes, there is still the solid axle which is an old standard. But apart from that, there are a couple or two more. Which one of them do you need? Is it possible to switch one type of bike axle for another? This article will answer all your questions regarding the axles. Although this is not an exhaustive list of wheel axles, this article will tell you about all the major types of axles available for bikes. Remember that for each type of axles listed here, there will be a few variations, as well.
Solid axle
In all bikes that came out more than a couple of decades ago, solid axles with axle nuts were the default. This worked similar to a nut and bolt combination. To install this type of axle, you have to put the screw-type axle through the wheel hub and tighten the bolt at the other end. They were indeed robust and durable. But they have a few downsides. First of all, they made it difficult to change the wheels. Secondly, solid axles are heavy. Therefore, racers prefer something that is lighter. The amount of time required for changing a solid axle is also not fit for a high-intensity sport like cycling.
Quick-release bike axle
Also called skewers, these axles are becoming more common these days. The QR axles were invented by a cyclist in the early twentieth century. At that time, there weren’t bikes with switchable gears as today. So, in order to change gears, cyclists had to replace the tyres with a different cog diameter. Quick-release axles changed the process of changing the bike wheels in a matter of less than a minute. But these axles have made their way into consumer bikes as well. Quick releases are lightweight and are better looking than solid axles.
Thru-axles
Even Though quick-release axles are faster and lighter, they also have a few downsides. If you tighten the QR axles too loose or too tight, it can damage your hubs or even cause an accident. But with a thru-axle, it is nearly impossible to make a mistake. They are also beefier and much stiffer. The stiffness of thru-axles is beneficial for mountain bikes that need precise handling. But the axles do make a few compromises in their design. They are about 100 grams heavier than QR axles and take double as much time to replace a wheel that uses thru-axles.
Different types of thru-axles
There are many different variations, even among thru-axles. You will find thru-axles that have lever and others that do not. Sometimes they are bolt-on types with detachable levers. The thread pitch of different thru-axles also varies. That means the axle of one bike need not fit another. So, if you happened to lose the original thru-axle that came with the bike, you will have a tough time finding a replacement. Recently, there has been some improvement in the design of thru-axles. This has helped to reduce the time it takes to change a wheel. This was developed by Mavic and is called SpeedRelease Thru-Axles.
Tips on how to buy Bicycle Axles
It can be confusing to put your finger on the right kind of axle for your bike. But it will be easier if you look for the specification one by one and rule out the ones that do not fit. Following these tips will help you find the right axle when you shop.
- Choose the type of axle – Apart from the main three types of axles, there are other niche types as well. You should decide the type of axle depending on your budget and style of riding. While solid axles are the cheapest, you have many options if you want to go for the high-end ones.
- Length of the axle – You should choose an axle that is suitable for the frame width. In the case of solid axles and quick-release axles, you can use one that is slightly longer than the hub. But the length of a thru-axle should match exactly the width of the frame.
- Hub diameter – In order to get the perfect fit, the diameter of the axle and the wheel hub should match. If the axle is smaller than the hub, the rear wheel will wobble and damages the frame when you ride it. And if the axle is bigger, you wouldn’t be able to install it.
- Pitch of the axle – This only applies to thru-axles. The pitch of the frame and axle should be exactly the same for thru-axles to work. You may manage to insert a thru-axle to the wrong frame using brute force, but that will destroy the screw thread and will come after a while.
It is important to maintain the axles properly to ensure their durability. Also, regularly greasing them and washing the dirt off will help prevent rusting and makes your ride smoother. You can browse our product search engine to find products for your bike’s maintenance. Some of the leading brands of bike parts you can consider include Shimano, MTB, Banggood, Lixada, and Reynolds.
Question & Answer
How to replace a bike axle?
The method of replacing the axle depends on the type of the axle. In the case of quick-release axles and thru-axles, it will take less than a minute to replace the axle. But it will take you at least five minutes to replace a solid axle. In order to insert a new axle, you have to remove the existing one. You will need a cone wrench and an adjustable wrench for that. Remove the bolts using the wrench. If it is the rear wheel, you should also remove the freewheel before that. Once it’s done, get the old axle out of the hub and insert the new one. Finally, you can place the freewheel on the tip of the axle and fasten the bolts using the wrenches.
Can you replace a solid axle with a quick release or thru-axle?
Theoretically, yes, you can replace a solid bolt axle with any other kind of axle that you want. All you have to do is to remove the existing nuts from the hub and use a QR or thru-axle of the appropriate dimension. But the trickiest part is getting the axles that are of appropriate dimensions. It will be easier to find a QR axle that will go with your bike as it does allow for a little bit of tolerance. But you can only use a thru-axle if it is an exact fit. Even for a bike that comes with thru-axles, it is difficult to find a replacement, although it is not impossible. So, it will take a lot of searching to find a matching thru-axle that will go well with your solid axle bike.
What is the difference between a thru-axle and a QR axle?
Both thru-axles and QR axles are an improvement over the old solid axles. While thru-axles are threaded into the bike frame, the latter makes use of a camming mechanism to fix the wheel to the fork dropouts. If you do it right, quick-release axles are better than thru-axles. But the problem is it is easy to overtighten the QR axles. An improperly installed axle can damage the frame. Not only that. In worst cases, the wheel can pop off when you are riding the bike and cause accidents. Thru-axles are a solution to this problem. You can only use thru-axles if the frame width and pitch are exactly the same as that of the axle, and you cannot over tighten them.