How tight should I screw my thru-axles?












3














I have a new road bike with thru axle and disc brakes (Ultegra). I noticed that depending on the how tight I screw the axle in the frame, the brake disc will be closer to either side of the brake pads. I didn't pay attention at first, so now the rear left pad is much more worn that the right one.



Is there a way to find the perfect torque to make sure that the disc is perfectly centered?






disc-brake hydraulic-disc-brake thru-axle







share|improve this question
























  • Do your axles have recommended torque values printed on? I'd also contact the shop that sold your bike about torque affecting the alignment, that's not supposed to happen and might be a warranty/service case.
    – Klaster_1
    6 hours ago








  • 1




    I don’t think they are mentioned, anyway, the axles come with a handle to easily remove a wheel on the side of the road, i couldn’t check the exact torque if I have a puncture during a ride.
    – Rwanou
    1 hour ago
















3














I have a new road bike with thru axle and disc brakes (Ultegra). I noticed that depending on the how tight I screw the axle in the frame, the brake disc will be closer to either side of the brake pads. I didn't pay attention at first, so now the rear left pad is much more worn that the right one.



Is there a way to find the perfect torque to make sure that the disc is perfectly centered?






disc-brake hydraulic-disc-brake thru-axle







share|improve this question
























  • Do your axles have recommended torque values printed on? I'd also contact the shop that sold your bike about torque affecting the alignment, that's not supposed to happen and might be a warranty/service case.
    – Klaster_1
    6 hours ago








  • 1




    I don’t think they are mentioned, anyway, the axles come with a handle to easily remove a wheel on the side of the road, i couldn’t check the exact torque if I have a puncture during a ride.
    – Rwanou
    1 hour ago














3












3








3







I have a new road bike with thru axle and disc brakes (Ultegra). I noticed that depending on the how tight I screw the axle in the frame, the brake disc will be closer to either side of the brake pads. I didn't pay attention at first, so now the rear left pad is much more worn that the right one.



Is there a way to find the perfect torque to make sure that the disc is perfectly centered?






disc-brake hydraulic-disc-brake thru-axle







share|improve this question















I have a new road bike with thru axle and disc brakes (Ultegra). I noticed that depending on the how tight I screw the axle in the frame, the brake disc will be closer to either side of the brake pads. I didn't pay attention at first, so now the rear left pad is much more worn that the right one.



Is there a way to find the perfect torque to make sure that the disc is perfectly centered?






disc-brake hydraulic-disc-brake thru-axle




disc-brake hydraulic-disc-brake thru-axle






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 1 hour ago









Argenti Apparatus

32.9k23483




32.9k23483










asked 6 hours ago









Rwanou

737




737












  • Do your axles have recommended torque values printed on? I'd also contact the shop that sold your bike about torque affecting the alignment, that's not supposed to happen and might be a warranty/service case.
    – Klaster_1
    6 hours ago








  • 1




    I don’t think they are mentioned, anyway, the axles come with a handle to easily remove a wheel on the side of the road, i couldn’t check the exact torque if I have a puncture during a ride.
    – Rwanou
    1 hour ago


















  • Do your axles have recommended torque values printed on? I'd also contact the shop that sold your bike about torque affecting the alignment, that's not supposed to happen and might be a warranty/service case.
    – Klaster_1
    6 hours ago








  • 1




    I don’t think they are mentioned, anyway, the axles come with a handle to easily remove a wheel on the side of the road, i couldn’t check the exact torque if I have a puncture during a ride.
    – Rwanou
    1 hour ago
















Do your axles have recommended torque values printed on? I'd also contact the shop that sold your bike about torque affecting the alignment, that's not supposed to happen and might be a warranty/service case.
– Klaster_1
6 hours ago






Do your axles have recommended torque values printed on? I'd also contact the shop that sold your bike about torque affecting the alignment, that's not supposed to happen and might be a warranty/service case.
– Klaster_1
6 hours ago






1




1




I don’t think they are mentioned, anyway, the axles come with a handle to easily remove a wheel on the side of the road, i couldn’t check the exact torque if I have a puncture during a ride.
– Rwanou
1 hour ago




I don’t think they are mentioned, anyway, the axles come with a handle to easily remove a wheel on the side of the road, i couldn’t check the exact torque if I have a puncture during a ride.
– Rwanou
1 hour ago










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















4














You should screw your through axle according to the manufacturer's specified torque value range. The torque applied to the axle is not meant to be used for adjusting relative brake/disc position, even if you observe such effect. 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. One possible way to achieve that:




  1. Screw the wheel's axle to manufacturer's recommended torque.

  2. Loosen both bolts that attach the caliper to the fork/frame. Do not unscrew them too much; you should just be able to wobble the caliper by hand.

  3. Squeeze the brake lever so that both pads hug the disc. If the pads were symmetric, then the caliper would become centered relative to the disc. In your case, you should probably do this with a new pair of pads.

  4. Keeping the lever pressed (by using a rubber band, rope etc.), tighten the caliper bolts so that the caliper will stay in the new position. Make sure to tighten these bolts to a proper torque as well (typically in a range 7-9 N×m, but it may be different)


Now, when you release the brake lever, the distance between pads and disc surfaces will be equal (given that both pads move at the same rate, of course).






share|improve this answer





















  • You can also use some pair of spacers between pads and the disc (like thick paper bits), loosen the caliper bolts, squeeze and release the brake lever, then re-tighten the caliper.
    – Grigory Rechistov
    5 hours ago










  • What is the purpose of the paper? It should bring the calliper in the exact same position as the first method.
    – Carel
    4 hours ago










  • I don’t really want to start readjusting my flat mounts hydrolic disc brakes every time I remove the back wheel for cleaning. I’m not even sure Ultegra brakes allow any travel prior to tighting them.
    – Rwanou
    59 mins ago










  • If there were a torque specified for the through axle, how would one measure it while closing it? Improvise some kind of key that fits over the handle of the through axle? Or just fashion some similar lever to a torque driver and learn how it feels when tightening the through axles lever?
    – gschenk
    30 mins ago










  • @gschenk - I was wondering the same thing, my bike's axles have traditional quick release levers, I have no torque wrench that would fit them. I just made it about as hard to close as a regular skewer based QR lever.
    – Johnny
    3 mins ago











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1 Answer
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active

oldest

votes








1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









4














You should screw your through axle according to the manufacturer's specified torque value range. The torque applied to the axle is not meant to be used for adjusting relative brake/disc position, even if you observe such effect. 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. One possible way to achieve that:




  1. Screw the wheel's axle to manufacturer's recommended torque.

  2. Loosen both bolts that attach the caliper to the fork/frame. Do not unscrew them too much; you should just be able to wobble the caliper by hand.

  3. Squeeze the brake lever so that both pads hug the disc. If the pads were symmetric, then the caliper would become centered relative to the disc. In your case, you should probably do this with a new pair of pads.

  4. Keeping the lever pressed (by using a rubber band, rope etc.), tighten the caliper bolts so that the caliper will stay in the new position. Make sure to tighten these bolts to a proper torque as well (typically in a range 7-9 N×m, but it may be different)


Now, when you release the brake lever, the distance between pads and disc surfaces will be equal (given that both pads move at the same rate, of course).






share|improve this answer





















  • You can also use some pair of spacers between pads and the disc (like thick paper bits), loosen the caliper bolts, squeeze and release the brake lever, then re-tighten the caliper.
    – Grigory Rechistov
    5 hours ago










  • What is the purpose of the paper? It should bring the calliper in the exact same position as the first method.
    – Carel
    4 hours ago










  • I don’t really want to start readjusting my flat mounts hydrolic disc brakes every time I remove the back wheel for cleaning. I’m not even sure Ultegra brakes allow any travel prior to tighting them.
    – Rwanou
    59 mins ago










  • If there were a torque specified for the through axle, how would one measure it while closing it? Improvise some kind of key that fits over the handle of the through axle? Or just fashion some similar lever to a torque driver and learn how it feels when tightening the through axles lever?
    – gschenk
    30 mins ago










  • @gschenk - I was wondering the same thing, my bike's axles have traditional quick release levers, I have no torque wrench that would fit them. I just made it about as hard to close as a regular skewer based QR lever.
    – Johnny
    3 mins ago
















4














You should screw your through axle according to the manufacturer's specified torque value range. The torque applied to the axle is not meant to be used for adjusting relative brake/disc position, even if you observe such effect. 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. One possible way to achieve that:




  1. Screw the wheel's axle to manufacturer's recommended torque.

  2. Loosen both bolts that attach the caliper to the fork/frame. Do not unscrew them too much; you should just be able to wobble the caliper by hand.

  3. Squeeze the brake lever so that both pads hug the disc. If the pads were symmetric, then the caliper would become centered relative to the disc. In your case, you should probably do this with a new pair of pads.

  4. Keeping the lever pressed (by using a rubber band, rope etc.), tighten the caliper bolts so that the caliper will stay in the new position. Make sure to tighten these bolts to a proper torque as well (typically in a range 7-9 N×m, but it may be different)


Now, when you release the brake lever, the distance between pads and disc surfaces will be equal (given that both pads move at the same rate, of course).






share|improve this answer





















  • You can also use some pair of spacers between pads and the disc (like thick paper bits), loosen the caliper bolts, squeeze and release the brake lever, then re-tighten the caliper.
    – Grigory Rechistov
    5 hours ago










  • What is the purpose of the paper? It should bring the calliper in the exact same position as the first method.
    – Carel
    4 hours ago










  • I don’t really want to start readjusting my flat mounts hydrolic disc brakes every time I remove the back wheel for cleaning. I’m not even sure Ultegra brakes allow any travel prior to tighting them.
    – Rwanou
    59 mins ago










  • If there were a torque specified for the through axle, how would one measure it while closing it? Improvise some kind of key that fits over the handle of the through axle? Or just fashion some similar lever to a torque driver and learn how it feels when tightening the through axles lever?
    – gschenk
    30 mins ago










  • @gschenk - I was wondering the same thing, my bike's axles have traditional quick release levers, I have no torque wrench that would fit them. I just made it about as hard to close as a regular skewer based QR lever.
    – Johnny
    3 mins ago














4












4








4






You should screw your through axle according to the manufacturer's specified torque value range. The torque applied to the axle is not meant to be used for adjusting relative brake/disc position, even if you observe such effect. 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. One possible way to achieve that:




  1. Screw the wheel's axle to manufacturer's recommended torque.

  2. Loosen both bolts that attach the caliper to the fork/frame. Do not unscrew them too much; you should just be able to wobble the caliper by hand.

  3. Squeeze the brake lever so that both pads hug the disc. If the pads were symmetric, then the caliper would become centered relative to the disc. In your case, you should probably do this with a new pair of pads.

  4. Keeping the lever pressed (by using a rubber band, rope etc.), tighten the caliper bolts so that the caliper will stay in the new position. Make sure to tighten these bolts to a proper torque as well (typically in a range 7-9 N×m, but it may be different)


Now, when you release the brake lever, the distance between pads and disc surfaces will be equal (given that both pads move at the same rate, of course).






share|improve this answer












You should screw your through axle according to the manufacturer's specified torque value range. The torque applied to the axle is not meant to be used for adjusting relative brake/disc position, even if you observe such effect. 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. One possible way to achieve that:




  1. Screw the wheel's axle to manufacturer's recommended torque.

  2. Loosen both bolts that attach the caliper to the fork/frame. Do not unscrew them too much; you should just be able to wobble the caliper by hand.

  3. Squeeze the brake lever so that both pads hug the disc. If the pads were symmetric, then the caliper would become centered relative to the disc. In your case, you should probably do this with a new pair of pads.

  4. Keeping the lever pressed (by using a rubber band, rope etc.), tighten the caliper bolts so that the caliper will stay in the new position. Make sure to tighten these bolts to a proper torque as well (typically in a range 7-9 N×m, but it may be different)


Now, when you release the brake lever, the distance between pads and disc surfaces will be equal (given that both pads move at the same rate, of course).







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered 6 hours ago









Grigory Rechistov

4,458829




4,458829












  • You can also use some pair of spacers between pads and the disc (like thick paper bits), loosen the caliper bolts, squeeze and release the brake lever, then re-tighten the caliper.
    – Grigory Rechistov
    5 hours ago










  • What is the purpose of the paper? It should bring the calliper in the exact same position as the first method.
    – Carel
    4 hours ago










  • I don’t really want to start readjusting my flat mounts hydrolic disc brakes every time I remove the back wheel for cleaning. I’m not even sure Ultegra brakes allow any travel prior to tighting them.
    – Rwanou
    59 mins ago










  • If there were a torque specified for the through axle, how would one measure it while closing it? Improvise some kind of key that fits over the handle of the through axle? Or just fashion some similar lever to a torque driver and learn how it feels when tightening the through axles lever?
    – gschenk
    30 mins ago










  • @gschenk - I was wondering the same thing, my bike's axles have traditional quick release levers, I have no torque wrench that would fit them. I just made it about as hard to close as a regular skewer based QR lever.
    – Johnny
    3 mins ago


















  • You can also use some pair of spacers between pads and the disc (like thick paper bits), loosen the caliper bolts, squeeze and release the brake lever, then re-tighten the caliper.
    – Grigory Rechistov
    5 hours ago










  • What is the purpose of the paper? It should bring the calliper in the exact same position as the first method.
    – Carel
    4 hours ago










  • I don’t really want to start readjusting my flat mounts hydrolic disc brakes every time I remove the back wheel for cleaning. I’m not even sure Ultegra brakes allow any travel prior to tighting them.
    – Rwanou
    59 mins ago










  • If there were a torque specified for the through axle, how would one measure it while closing it? Improvise some kind of key that fits over the handle of the through axle? Or just fashion some similar lever to a torque driver and learn how it feels when tightening the through axles lever?
    – gschenk
    30 mins ago










  • @gschenk - I was wondering the same thing, my bike's axles have traditional quick release levers, I have no torque wrench that would fit them. I just made it about as hard to close as a regular skewer based QR lever.
    – Johnny
    3 mins ago
















You can also use some pair of spacers between pads and the disc (like thick paper bits), loosen the caliper bolts, squeeze and release the brake lever, then re-tighten the caliper.
– Grigory Rechistov
5 hours ago




You can also use some pair of spacers between pads and the disc (like thick paper bits), loosen the caliper bolts, squeeze and release the brake lever, then re-tighten the caliper.
– Grigory Rechistov
5 hours ago












What is the purpose of the paper? It should bring the calliper in the exact same position as the first method.
– Carel
4 hours ago




What is the purpose of the paper? It should bring the calliper in the exact same position as the first method.
– Carel
4 hours ago












I don’t really want to start readjusting my flat mounts hydrolic disc brakes every time I remove the back wheel for cleaning. I’m not even sure Ultegra brakes allow any travel prior to tighting them.
– Rwanou
59 mins ago




I don’t really want to start readjusting my flat mounts hydrolic disc brakes every time I remove the back wheel for cleaning. I’m not even sure Ultegra brakes allow any travel prior to tighting them.
– Rwanou
59 mins ago












If there were a torque specified for the through axle, how would one measure it while closing it? Improvise some kind of key that fits over the handle of the through axle? Or just fashion some similar lever to a torque driver and learn how it feels when tightening the through axles lever?
– gschenk
30 mins ago




If there were a torque specified for the through axle, how would one measure it while closing it? Improvise some kind of key that fits over the handle of the through axle? Or just fashion some similar lever to a torque driver and learn how it feels when tightening the through axles lever?
– gschenk
30 mins ago












@gschenk - I was wondering the same thing, my bike's axles have traditional quick release levers, I have no torque wrench that would fit them. I just made it about as hard to close as a regular skewer based QR lever.
– Johnny
3 mins ago




@gschenk - I was wondering the same thing, my bike's axles have traditional quick release levers, I have no torque wrench that would fit them. I just made it about as hard to close as a regular skewer based QR lever.
– Johnny
3 mins ago


















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