How to tighten a Fox Thru Axle, Cam Lever/QR Skewer?

Asked by: John Patnaik

How do you tighten a fox axle?

Quote from video: So it doesn't seize up in there tighten your bolt through axle to the torque specifications etched on the side of the axle. For us that's nine newton meters.

How do you tighten a quick-release through an axle?

Quote from video: Next open the quick-release. And unscrew it a few turns push on the lever to move out the nut. You can turn the nut to make small adjustments until the lever closes tightly in the desired.

Can you use skewer on thru axle?

YES. Thru axles provide a stiffer ride, which can be beneficial in both the front and rear of a bike. In mountain bikes in particular, this allows for more torque and less flex for your whip. So, if you have a thin, 5mm rod, then you have a skewer.

What is a QR axle?

Quick-release axles are hollow tubes that slot into the drop outs. The front wheel is 9mm in diameter and 100mm wide. The rear wheel is 10mm in diameter and 135mm wide. The axle is held in place by a 5mm diameter quick-release skewer that slides through the hole in the axle.

How much does it cost to tighten axle?

12-15Nm

How tight should my thru axle be? Typically, thru axles should be tightened to 12-15Nm (Newton Meters) of torque. This is just enough torque to secure the axle so it does not come loose while riding. You should never tighten your axle as tight as possible.

What do the numbers on Fox forks mean?

Roughly summed up, the 32 series of forks are made for cross-country and light trail use, the 34 forks are meant for all-around trail use, the 36 is for heavy-duty trail/all-mountain use, the 38 is for enduro riding and racing while the dual crown 40 is made for downhill and extreme gravity riding.

Should you grease your thru axle?

Although it is not required, it is recommended that you apply a light amount of grease to your Mountain Bike axles. You can apply it to the threads, and also on the base of the axles themselves. This not only makes them easier to install and remove, it also helps prevent rust and corrosion.

What is the difference between through axle and quick release?

The main difference between the thru-axle and quick release is that with the quick release, the axle can be easily removed from the bike without using any tool. And the thru-axle is a removable axle that is inserted through a hole in one fork leg, through the hub, and then screwed into the other fork leg.

What is a switch lever thru axle?

Switch Thru Axles can be used as standalone axles or paired with a removeable Switch Lever. Thru axles are available in a wide range of sizes to fit almost any bike. The Switch Thru Axle is a standard thru axle machined from 7075 aluminum and is available with two drilling option – hollow or LITE.

Can you put a QR wheel on a thru axle fork?

If you’re fortunate enough to have a newer hub though, it’s simply a matter of popping off the QR end caps and installing the correct thru axle end caps for the fork you’re using. This adapter from Problem Solvers will allow you to mount a 12mm thru axle hub in a QR fork, but not the other way around.

Can I use thru axle to QR?

Yes, it’ll work fine. DT swiss has lots of conversion adapters so you can quickly throw a QR on that wheelset and use it in your new frame. Alternative, consider a thru-bolt instead of a QR. Benefits of a thru-axle, convenience of a QR.

What is the difference between QR and thru axle?

Quick release axles are lighter– On average, a quick release axles weigh around 20 grams less than a thru axle. Quick release frames are lighter as well because the dropouts contain less material. You might save 60-100 grams by using quick release axles instead of thru axles.

Can you over tighten a thru-axle?

Keeping the axle under-torqued is dangerous, and over-torquing it might damage the fork/frame dropouts. A proper solution would be to adjust the position of the brake caliper itself relative to the disc.

How tight should wheel skewers be?

It should be tight enough that it requires some force to get it closed, but not so much that you feel like you’re giving birth. The closed QR lever should come be positioned before or after the fork in the front and between the chain stay and seat stay of the rear triangle, or just below the chain stay.

How tight should axle nuts be bike?

You want your rear axle very tight. 150 in/lb is about standard. If it is not tight it will allow the rear wheel to move around and it ties your rear triangle together. Basically the whole back of the bike will feel sloppy.

Can you use a quick release to thru axle?

Instead of threads, RAT thru-axles have a T-shaped head that slots into the dropout. It’s twisted through 90 degrees to secure it in place then tightened using a quick-release lever.

Can you use quick release on disc brakes?

In the case of the mechanical disc brake you don’t need to worry about anything. You can open the quick release and remove the wheel with no other issues. For hydraulic disc brakes, you only need to take care not to squeeze the brake lever if the wheel is not in place in the bikes caliper.

Can you have quick release wheels with disc brakes?

If you have a disc brake older than 2019, you may have a quick release skewer, but disc brake road bikes made today are generally thru axle. Gravel bikes are pretty much using thru axle as the standard these days. Just like road bikes, older versions may have quick release skewers.

Can you fit quick release wheels on any bike?

No, not all bikes have quick-release wheels. Some still require you to use tools to remove the wheels. In this guide, we’ll be looking at how you can tell the difference between the axles, how to convert your wheels to a quick-release set-up, and plenty of other factors. So, let’s dive right in.

How do I install QR skewers?

Quote from video: From the left-hand. Side then put the spring on the smaller side towards the wheel the larger side towards the nut and tighten a few turns. And that's how to install a quick-release skewer.

Are all quick release skewers the same size?

Not all skewers are compatible with all quick release wheels. There are different diameters and widths of skewers. Notably, many downhill bikes have beefier skewers that are built with a much larger diameter to be more durable. Bikes with wider and narrower axles will have less standard skewers too.