Through-axle versus nutted or wing-nutted axles?
02-13-16, 09:05 AM
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Through-axle versus nutted or wing-nutted axles?
Is a through-axle the same as a REALLY old-school (so old I can't use "skool") nutted axle or wing-nutted axle?
If "through" is a significant key word, then QR axles go all the way through a hub, too.
If "through" is a significant key word, then QR axles go all the way through a hub, too.
02-13-16, 09:17 AM
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No.
You're right that a QR does go through, but the frame and fork dropouts rest on the [hollow] hub axle extending past the locknuts. On a through axle hub, the locknuts are the widest point of the hub and the axle (which also serves securing duty like a skewer) is what the frame rests on. AFAIK, the benefit here is that frames and forks can be made without slots in their dropouts, so not only can the wheel be located with better precision and repeatability- a HUGE benefit for the relatively tiny tolerances disc brakes operate at compared to rim brakes' wider spread (ever clamp a QR with the wheel slightly askew? Can't do that with thru axle), but the clamping load securing load can be better spread making the whole shebang stiffer.
That said, wheel changes are much slower than a slotted dropout system, but as tubeless schemes get better, and flats become rarer, the trade offs are tilting towards thru axles.
Also, in lieu of a LMTGFY link- https://www.bikeradar.com/us/road/gea...u-axles-40005/
You're right that a QR does go through, but the frame and fork dropouts rest on the [hollow] hub axle extending past the locknuts. On a through axle hub, the locknuts are the widest point of the hub and the axle (which also serves securing duty like a skewer) is what the frame rests on. AFAIK, the benefit here is that frames and forks can be made without slots in their dropouts, so not only can the wheel be located with better precision and repeatability- a HUGE benefit for the relatively tiny tolerances disc brakes operate at compared to rim brakes' wider spread (ever clamp a QR with the wheel slightly askew? Can't do that with thru axle), but the clamping load securing load can be better spread making the whole shebang stiffer.
That said, wheel changes are much slower than a slotted dropout system, but as tubeless schemes get better, and flats become rarer, the trade offs are tilting towards thru axles.
Also, in lieu of a LMTGFY link- https://www.bikeradar.com/us/road/gea...u-axles-40005/
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Last edited by IthaDan; 02-13-16 at 09:25 AM.
02-13-16, 09:22 AM
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I see, the fork end is a ring rather than, well, a fork. So when the wheel is attached you have the whole axle sitting out, and it gets inserted through both fork end rings and the entire hub/bearing assembly?
Do you need one wrench to properly torque it, or two?
Do you need one wrench to properly torque it, or two?
02-13-16, 09:31 AM
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It's basically a fat qr skewer that instead of a nut, has threads on the non lever end. Most of the time, the threads thread into the opposite dropout. Because of this, a lot of the levers can rotate relative to the shaft.
No wrenches needed.
No wrenches needed.
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02-13-16, 11:07 AM
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No Its more akin to Motorcycles .. They have had thru axles for Decades
My old Beemer You loosened a Nut on the left end and pulled the whole axle out from the other side .
which was smooth but for the small bit of thread for the Nut.
Threaded axles Come out when the Mechanic dismantles the Hub, but you dont do that when you pull the wheel to mend a flat tire .
QR is a thin rod thru a Hollow axle.
Maybe you want the Hair -Splitting argument room down the hall , from this the Mechanics Room ..
My old Beemer You loosened a Nut on the left end and pulled the whole axle out from the other side .
which was smooth but for the small bit of thread for the Nut.
Threaded axles Come out when the Mechanic dismantles the Hub, but you dont do that when you pull the wheel to mend a flat tire .
QR is a thin rod thru a Hollow axle.
Maybe you want the Hair -Splitting argument room down the hall , from this the Mechanics Room ..
Last edited by fietsbob; 02-13-16 at 11:11 AM.
