Thru Axles?

[grellboy]

Afternoon. I am hoping to buy some wheels from ebay. On closer look, the advert describes them as "thru axle". The photographs supplied with the advert don't show any kind of skewers - in the same way you might see a QR skewer for example, so just seeking from advice before I ask the vendor and make myself look like an idiot,! 🤦‍♂️ What does this thru axle look like?

 

[fossyant]

It's a separate axel that threads in and locks. Needs a specific frame/fork, so if you need QR, then you can't use these.

 

[grellboy]

It's a separate axel that threads in and locks. Needs a specific frame/fork, so if you need QR, then you can't use these.

My bike uses QRs. I assumed these would be a straight forward swap (my knackered wheels are Cannondale Maddox 3.0, these were 2.0) but I guess it's a non starter then?

 

[Broadside]

Correct. If your bike uses QR then thru axle wheels are not an option for you.

 

[steveindenmark]

The forks on your bike need to be designed to take through axles. They look like this. Nothing lije Qrs.

 

[grellboy]

Ok, thank you everyone. Good ol' Cycle Chat, was definitely gonna buy them too. Back to the drawing board.

 

[fossyant]

You'll also see the rear axel will be 142mm rather than 135mm. QR are 100 fromt, 135 rear. Stick with the same.

 

[robgul]

Just to add to the confusion - there are several types of "thru axle" - all of which have same type of fork requirement ... not the traditional open slot dropout but a "round hole in the fork end"

1 - simply screws in to a thread in one side of the fork with a modest amount of torque (with an Allen key)
2 - screws part way into the thread and then has an over-centre cam lever (like a tradiitonal QR skewer) to take up the tension
3 - an axle with and expanding centre at one end, similar in style to #2 but with out the threaded end (IIRC these are only found on a couple of brands - and are the work of Satan to adjust/use . . . IIRC some of the Voodoo MTBs use these.

Rob

 

[boydj]

You'll also see the rear axel will be 142mm rather than 135mm. QR are 100 fromt, 135 rear. Stick with the same.

QR rear on a rim-brake bike is 130mm. 135 or 142 is for disc brake rear.

 

[fossyant]

QR rear on a rim-brake bike is 130mm. 135 or 142 is for disc brake rear.

Not on an MTB - 135mm for rim - OP didn't specify though !!

 

[Pale Rider]

3 - an axle with and expanding centre at one end, similar in style to #2 but with out the threaded end (IIRC these are only found on a couple of brands - and are the work of Satan to adjust/use . . . IIRC some of the Voodoo MTBs use these.

Rob

Suntour Q Loc, which I have on the front of my bike.

Fiddly, over-complicated, and the stupid thing rusts in the fork if left for more than a month or two.

This is the party line:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8IqJD34Ky0

 

[vickster]

QR rear on a rim-brake bike is 130mm. 135 or 142 is for disc brake rear.

Presumably the OP needs disc brake wheels if he even cane upon the thru axle option?

 

[robgul]

Suntour Q Loc, which I have on the front of my bike.

Fiddly, over-complicated, and the stupid thing rusts in the fork if left for more than a month or two.

This is the party line:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8IqJD34Ky0

Yep - that's the one, and agree with your summary .... AND from experience having to replace one (about £40 for the part IIRC) for a customer they don't like kids doing wheelies and jumping off 12" high steps!

Rob

 

[silva]

Related question, I've a bike with frames front wheel mounting holes in de middle of recesses sized the circumference of M12 (rough guess) large diameter washers (as used for fixing on materials than cannot withstand larger pressures alike plastic plates)
The wheel is fixed into place along screwed on nuts, so the recesses look like as there without reason / unused. Could it be that the frame was designed for QR but unused like that?