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I took off my rear wheel, and this fell out on the floor:

enter image description here

Is this a "rear wheel axle"?

It looks like it should indeed be in one piece instead of two. I would like to order a replacement for this part(s) without having to replace the entire rear wheel.

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    What you have there is a broken axle.
    – Daniel R Hicks
    Oct 30, 2016 at 12:25
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    I'll add that this is not a terribly unusual failure, and may not be terribly expensive to fix. The cups, spacers, and locknuts can be removed from the broken axle and a new axle (purchased at a modest cost or "borrowed" from a spare bike) substituted. And of course you should get new ball bearings. What gets messy is if the mating "cones" in the hub have been damaged -- then it's usually cheaper to replace the entire wheel.
    – Daniel R Hicks
    Oct 30, 2016 at 12:43
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    I found it was cheaper to buy an axle +cones +locknuts +wheel nuts in a blister pack, than it was to buy an axle and a single cone separately. Shop around, or rescue one from a dumpster bike's rear wheel. Your city might have a bike co-op who can assist too.
    – Criggie ♦
    Oct 31, 2016 at 0:00
  • @DanielRHicks It's hard to say while the cones aren't clean, but the driveside cone looks very worn.
    – Alexander
    Nov 2, 2016 at 6:53
  • @Alexander - Yeah, what I meant to say was "cups". The cones are visible in the picture but grease-covered, and would need a close inspection anyway. The cups are in the hub.
    – Daniel R Hicks
    Nov 2, 2016 at 11:46

1 Answer 1

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It is indeed a broken rear axle.
If you nave no proper tools (freewheel/cassette remover, cone wrench 15mm, wrench 17mm, new QR axle, 2 rings of new bearings), get it to an LBS to replace it.
It's also recommended to check the wheel bearings cups for defects, it maybe a good time to replace the wheel - all depends on the shape of other parts, and the cost to bring it to proper state.

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  • If all you're doing is replacing the axle, there's no need to remove the cassette.
    – Mike Baranczak
    Oct 30, 2016 at 15:49
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    If the axle has got to this state I'd put bets on the cassette being worn to a point where it looks like a shoal of sharks.
    – Chris
    Oct 30, 2016 at 21:24
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    @MikeBaranczak you're assuming it is a cassette. A freewheel generally must come off to get to the drive-side cup.
    – Criggie ♦
    Oct 30, 2016 at 23:57
  • Although it can be done with cassette in place, its usually a lot easier to remove the cassette to replace the axle.
    – mattnz
    Oct 31, 2016 at 7:47
  • Actually this axle is for a freewheel, not cassette. They all brakes in the same place. It can be done putting the bearing balls through the freewheel gap, greased (so they will stick to place). The cones looks pretty worn thou, so i'll prefer to remove the freewheel and check the cups.
    – Alexander
    Oct 31, 2016 at 14:10

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