wheel/hub/axle stiffness? - QR to bolt-thru and everything in between?

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wheel/hub/axle stiffness? - QR to bolt-thru and everything in between?

9 posts & 4 voices | Started 1 year ago by james | Latest reply from james

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james - Member

Just curious how much difference there is between different axle 'fixings'. More specifically those in between conventional QRs and thru-axle standards
ie:
external cam QR - eg generic QR
internal cam QR - eg shimano deore and above
Hex skewer 5mm - eg Halo Hex skewer
Ratchet skewer 5mm - eg DT Swiss RWS
Nutted 9/10mm axle
Ratchet 9/10mm axle - eg DT Swiss RWS thru bolt - as used on at least the front of Specialized Stumpjumper FSRs
QR15/20mm thru-axle front
maxle/syntace X12 rear

Am trying to work out if what may be worthwhile on current bikes and what hubs to choose on a new wheelset (specifically the rear)

Posted 1 year ago #
nicko74 - Member

I'll start.

I have no scientific evidence whatsoever, but hex 5mm skewer felt to me to be slightly stiffer at the front than my Shimano QRs. Thinking about it, I'm not sure why that should be, if the QRs done up properly, but the placebo effect was enough for me. Plus they provided a modicum more piece of mind about my wheels not getting nicked.

Posted 1 year ago #
james - Member

Thats my thinking too, being able to tighten with an allen key you 'ought' to be able to go tighter than even a decent QR, how much difference it makes given the lack of stiffness with a QR dropout/axle I'm unsure of?

Posted 1 year ago #
b r - Member

I'm 20mm maxle on the fronts, but still 9mm QR on the rear - and Hope Pro2's mean any combination will fit.

Posted 1 year ago #
takisawa2 - Member

Pro2 10mm bolt-up rear is quite a bit stiffer than qr. Not massively so though. Bolt-thru at front makes a bigger difference though, steering wise. Depends what bike its on though. FS yes, stiffer should = better, but more xc biased nice steel ht, no, I prefer a bit of flex built in, especially at the rear.

Posted 1 year ago #
nicko74 - Member

At the rear, if it's a hardtail, I'm guessing the different is less noticeable than on a FS, between QR and bolt-thru?

I'm tempted to go for a 9mm bolt up at the front, but tbh it's not actually that cheap - even if you get secondhand 9mm adaptors for Pro 2, you're looking at £50-60 for the QR and adaptors.

Posted 1 year ago #
james - Member

4-bar (so pivot in the chainstay) skinnyish chainstayed 5" FS I'm thinking about (though play HT as well)

"Hope Pro2's mean any combination will fit"
They don't fit with me though. Noise, 24 point engagement, price rule them out for me
Looking at for eg the internals of '08-> XT's (~£50, 36point engagement) they have screw on QR adapters to fit on the oversize axle, I wonder how possible it would be to get some made up with nutted/bolted ends?

Posted 1 year ago #
nicko74 - Member

I wonder how possible it would be to get some made up with nutted/bolted ends?

Well it should be really easy! If you look at Halo Hex Skewers, they're basically that but on a 5mm rod. I want the same for a 9mm axle, but it seems not to be widely available as an option.

Posted 1 year ago #
james - Member

Not to go onto a conventional 9/10mm shimano threaded axle (as per XT 6-bolt) but for 2008-> XT with the oversize axle and end caps like this:

ie, getting/making up an end cap without the hole for the 5mm QR skewer, but having a 9/10mm extrusion onto that end, to extend beyond the frame, and a threaded nut hold it all in place

Posted 1 year ago #

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