How To Use A Thru Axle On A Bike

Let's have a look at how to use a thru axle on a bike.
The axle is the rod that goes through the hub of the wheel and allows the wheel to spin. Up until 2005, wheels were secured to the frame and forks with a nut each side or a quick release skewer going through the axle. There are still many bikes that are using one of these two systems, but increasingly we are seeing a different system for attaching wheels to a bike - the thru axle.

The thru axle was developed for the U.S. market originally so that's why we use the American spelling of "through". There are different ways that the thru axle is loosened and tightened. The most common one is the one we are going to be looking at today. It has a handle that looks like a quick release lever. If you're not sure if you have a thru axle or a quick release lever, then have a look at the opposite side to the handle. If the end of the axle is flush with the drop out then it is a thru axle. If there is a piece protruding then it is quick release lever.

The advantages of a thru axle are:

There is no chance of the wheel pulling out, even with the force of a disc brake, because the wheel is bolted into one side of the frame.
The front wheel is more stable because of the thicker axle. This stability helps to stop the disc brake rubbing.
Because the thru axle locates exactly in position in the dropout, putting the wheel on is easy and you don't have to turn the bike upside down.
The disadvantages are:
If you remove your front wheel to fit it onto a car rack you will have to buy an adapter as most car racks are designed around the "u" shaped dropouts.
If your axle gets damaged, you can only replace it with another through axle of the same diameter, length and thread.

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[FreeRadicalX]

FYI "thru" is only used as a space-saving abbreviated spelling in the USA, for situations like road signs. We do still spell it "through" in most circumstances. TY for showing me how to use my thru axle!