A bicycle axle is a solid metal component that allows the wheel hub to rotate and is threaded to lock in place. There are two types: solid and hollow, with the latter accommodating quick-release skewers. The hub contains bearings and can be designed to accept sealed bearings.
A bicycle axle is a component on a bicycle that allows the wheel hub to rotate. It is usually a solid piece of metal that is round and threaded. The threads allow the axle bolts and bearing crown races to be locked in place. Sometimes the axle is hollow to allow the use of a quick release system, although traditionally solid metal axles have been used for their strength and rigidity. A bike is likely to have two of these components, one for the front wheel and one for the rear.
The hub is the set of bearings inside the housing in the center of the wheel. This component is primarily responsible for allowing the wheel to spin. A bicycle axle is a component inside the hub, and is the center point around which the hub’s bearings rotate. To allow freer rotation, the bearing cones are screwed onto the bike’s threaded spindle on either side of the hub. The bearings are seated in a bearing race inside the hub, and the cones will press against the other side of the bearings to lock them in place. The lock nuts will thread onto the bike axle to help lock the cones into position.
There are two main types of bicycle axle: solid axles and hollow axles. Hollow versions are used to accommodate quick-release skewers, which are metal bars that slide through the center of the spindle. A lever is attached to one end of the skewer, and a specially designed bolt to the other. When the lever is flipped up, the skewer will squeeze in, securing the wheel in the dropouts of the bike frame or fork. This ensures that the wheel does not move or otherwise displace while driving. A solid bicycle axle, by contrast, does not have a hollow center. The wheel is secured in the dropouts or fork of the frame by using bolts screwed into each end of the axle.
Sometimes the hub will be specially designed to accept sealed bearings instead of loose ball bearings. If this is the case, a specially designed shaft will be used instead of the more traditional threaded versions. Sealed bearings are often a press fit into the hub shell, and the unthreaded axle unit will slide into place inside the bearing. The metal shaft is likely to be slotted or otherwise cut to ensure it presses the bearings correctly.
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