Rear wheel, through axle and hanger instructions
Your Sturdy frame uses a 12 mm through axle that screws into the bronze retaining bolt of the derailleur hanger. This page explains how to take the rear wheel out and refit it, and how to fit or replace the derailleur hanger.
Before you start
Important
If you are not confident doing this work, have it done by a qualified bicycle mechanic.
The hanger retaining bolt has a LEFT-HAND thread. It tightens anticlockwise and undoes clockwise.
Put anti-seize on every thread before fitting.
Don’t squeeze the brake lever while the wheel is out.
Fits: rear hubs for a 142 × 12 mm through axle. The frame is fully SRAM UDH compatible, including SRAM Transmission derailleurs.
Tools and torque settings
- Torque wrench covering 6–15 Nm
- T25 Torx bit (through axle)
- 8 mm hex bit (hanger retaining bolt)
- Anti-seize, for all threads
| Fastener | Tool | Torque |
|---|---|---|
| Through axle (M12 × 1) | T25 Torx | 6–8 Nm |
| Hanger retaining bolt (LEFT-HAND thread) | 8 mm hex | 12–15 Nm |
How it goes together
Section through the rear axle, seen from behind. The middle of the hub and axle is cut out to show both ends. The hub is shown for illustration only.
| Part | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Through axle, 12 mm | 1 | T25 head. M12 × 1 thread: screws into the retaining bolt |
| Bronze axle head washer | 1 | Sits under the axle head in the non-drive dropout. It stops the axle head galling |
| Derailleur hanger | 1 | Our titanium UDH-type hanger. Fits on the inside of the drive-side dropout |
| Retaining bolt washer | 1 | Fits radiused face out. The bolt flange sits in its recess |
| Bronze retaining bolt | 1 | 8 mm hex, LEFT-HAND thread. The through axle screws into it |
Hanger assembly: the hanger, the retaining bolt washer and the bronze retaining bolt work together as one assembly. If you replace one, see Replacement hangers.
Taking the rear wheel out
- Shift onto the smallest sprocket.
- Undo the through axle with a T25 key, turning it anticlockwise, and pull it out from the non-drive side.
- Keep the bronze axle head washer safe. It can stay on the axle or in the dropout, as long as it is under the axle head when you refit the axle.
- Lower the wheel out of the dropouts, guiding the rotor out of the brake caliper and the cassette away from the chain.
Fitting the rear wheel
- Check. Make sure the hanger assembly is fitted and the bronze axle head washer is in place, either in the non-drive dropout or on the axle under its head.
- Wheel in. Lift the wheel into the dropouts, with the rotor in the brake caliper and the chain on the smallest sprocket. The hub end caps sit in the recesses on the inside of the dropouts.
- Through axle. Put anti-seize on the axle thread. Slide the axle in from the non-drive side, through the hub.
- Screw it in. Screw the axle into the bronze retaining bolt, turning it clockwise. It is a normal right-hand thread.
- Tighten. Tighten with a T25 key to 6–8 Nm.
- Check. Spin the wheel: it should turn freely, without the brake rubbing. Check the gears shift cleanly.
Labelled drawing: through axle and bronze washer
Fitting or replacing the derailleur hanger
Left-hand thread
The bronze retaining bolt has a left-hand thread. Turn it anticlockwise to tighten and clockwise to undo.
Do this with the rear wheel out. If a derailleur is fitted, take it off the hanger first, following its maker’s instructions.
- Remove the old hanger. Undo the retaining bolt with an 8 mm hex key, turning it clockwise. Take off the bolt, the washer and the hanger.
- Clean. Clean both faces of the dropout and the threads.
- Hanger. Fit the hanger on the inside of the drive-side dropout, with its boss through the hole in the dropout.
- Washer. Fit the retaining bolt washer on the outside of the dropout, radiused face out.
- Retaining bolt. Put anti-seize on the bolt thread. From the outside, screw it into the hanger, turning it anticlockwise.
- Tighten. Tighten with an 8 mm hex key to 12–15 Nm.
- Derailleur. Refit the derailleur and check the gear adjustment, following its maker’s instructions.
Labelled drawing: hanger assembly
Replacement hangers
- Our titanium hanger: contact us.
- A standard SRAM UDH hanger also fits. Replace the whole hanger assembly with SRAM’s parts: hanger, retaining bolt and washer, not just the part the derailleur bolts to. Our through axle has the same thread as SRAM’s, so it screws into a SRAM retaining bolt.
- If your hanger is bent or damaged, replace it.
SRAM Transmission derailleurs
Your frame is fully UDH compatible, so it takes SRAM Transmission derailleurs. These mount directly to the frame without a hanger: take off the hanger assembly and fit the derailleur following SRAM’s instructions.
Looking after it
- Check the through axle is at 6–8 Nm after your first few rides, and regularly after that.
- Put fresh anti-seize on the threads whenever you take them apart.
- After a crash, check the hanger and derailleur for damage before riding.
Questions? Contact us. Changing the rear brake mount between 140 and 160 mm rotors is covered in our brake mount instructions.
Warranty
Everything we make is guaranteed for the lifetime of the original owner against defects in design, materials and workmanship. If a part we made fails because of a defect, we will repair or replace it.
Parts we buy in, including SRAM hangers and derailleurs, are covered by their makers’ warranties.
Fasteners and wear parts: bolts, washers and threads, the bronze retaining bolt and axle head washer, and the derailleur hanger are wear parts. They are covered against defects in materials and workmanship, but not against wear, thread damage, galling or bending. Replacements are available: contact us.
Not covered:
- crash or impact damage, including bent hangers
- damage from fitting or use that doesn’t follow these instructions
- modified parts
- normal wear and cosmetic marks
To make a claim, contact us with your order number (your order confirmation email is your proof of purchase) and photos of the problem. Stop riding a part you think is damaged.
This guarantee is given by Sturdy Cycles Ltd, The Old Tannery, Lower Keyford, Frome, BA11 4AR, United Kingdom. It applies worldwide to products bought from us or an authorised dealer. It is in addition to your legal rights as a consumer and does not affect them. See also our terms of service.
Revision history
| Rev | Date | Change |
|---|---|---|
| A | October 2026 | First issue |
This page is document SC-IP-FR-002 revision A. The PDF version has the same content.