Axle nuts secure wheels to axles and come in various lug configurations. Bicycles use two axle nuts per wheel, while cars use multiple lug nuts. Axle nuts are usually made of steel for durability and heat resistance.
Axle nuts are pieces of hardware used to help secure a wheel to an axle. The axle is a swivel axle that helps secure the wheels to the rest of the vehicle and makes movement easier, and the axle nuts will secure to the lugs that are attached to each end of the axle. Lug configuration will vary depending on the type of vehicle the wheel is secured to; some vehicles will only have one lug, while others may have six, eight or more.
On a bicycle, for example, the front wheel can be secured to the fork with two axle nuts. These nuts will thread directly onto the wheel axle, which runs through the hub of that wheel. The rear wheel can work the same way, meaning the entire bike will feature four axle nuts. Many modern bikes will not have any lug nuts; instead, a quick release system is used. This system features a hollow shaft through which a quick release skewer runs. On one side of the skewer, a threaded cap secures the shaft. On the other side, a lever can be turned to tighten or loosen the skewer, thus securing the wheel, or loosening it for removal.
On cars, each wheel is likely to have multiple axle nuts. Most cars have at least four lug nuts per wheel, while larger vehicles may have eight or more per wheel. These nuts are sometimes referred to as lug nuts as they thread into the lugs that hold the wheel in place. There is another type of axle nut, which is usually much larger than lug nuts. This nut will sit in the center of the axle to help secure the components on each end of the axle shaft in place. When this axle nut is removed, components at the ends of the axle can be removed for repair, maintenance, or replacement.
The materials used to make axle nuts can vary, although the most common material is steel. Higher grades of steel are generally used for durability and heat resistance. Steel tends to be exceptionally strong and when galvanized it will be resistant to rust and corrosion from exposure to moisture or other corrosive materials. Steel also has some slack, which means that when it is impacted or squeezed, it will bend slightly, preventing axle nuts or other steel components from breaking or failing.
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