End caps fit on both the right and left side of the hub axle and these have an accurate size of threads same as that of their hubs and axles, these are the necessary accessories of hub axles, but many times these would not fit exactly with the hubs and these are of smaller or larger size from the hubs, it mostly happens when you have bought random end caps from online stores without knowing their size and the size of your hub axles, the difference in their sizes would cause many problems, because your hub has different size related to these end caps, now even online stores would not know about the exact formula and exact size of your hub axle, this is the main thing which irritates and cause a problem when buying new end caps for hub axles.
From Where I Can Find Compatible End Caps?
Bike wheels are differentiated into many categories which are boost and un-boost, these would also matter for new end caps and the frame of the bike also is non-compatible with these new end caps. there are many companies and online stores and many bike manufacturing factories which are making all of these accessories and parts of bikes, you have to contact them online or send them an email, you can tell and inform them about the size and formula of your hub axle, and these will manufacture and make the same size for your hub axle, and you will receive on your doorstep.
If you have also the same exact problem you can find the same sized end caps from the nearer mechanic shops and also you can contact all of your biker friends who have gone through this situation, maybe these will give you the exact size of end cap whose threads would fit exactly on freehub of your wheels. the difference in the size of these end caps would constantly rub and notch with the inner cone bearings of the hub, that why their proper size same as that of the wheel axle is most important so that they do not move on the round surface of the hub axles, and these should be held tightly on their place within the hub axles.
These small end caps have many advantages, these can give enough power and consistency to the axle of the wheel so that it can hold the wheel in its place and does not shake when the wheel rotates on the trails. they need their proper p[laces on both left and right sides of the axle so that the right cap should not be extended from the left cap and vice versa. these can give extra safety to the wheel and hub axle from wobbling and the wheel remains tensioned fully on the trails which does not allow the wheel to lose handling and distract from its actual way.
Always check the tensioning of both end caps of front and rear tires to prevent crashes and sudden hits on the trails. these will work smoothly and accurately for a long time as far as if the threads of these caps would be eaten all the way, then these would expire and not be able to hold the whole wheel and give a smooth ride, further you have to replace the axle with the same sized end caps or you have to send the formula of your axle to manufacture end caps for hub axle of your wheels. if a single end cap is not tightened on the front and rear wheel, it will loosen up all of your wheels including the hub, axle, cassette, and drivetrain.
These end caps are necessary in holding bike wheels in a specific position, a single loose end cap on any side of the wheel may be its left or on the right side, and your wheel would start rattling and hitting the hub axle with the frame tube, and if any cap has been fallen on the trails as a result of riding your bike on the trails with higher speed, the other side end cap would not be able to hold the wheel in rotating position and immediately the wheel will come out from the frame, any serious case or injury might happen in such cases.
What Happens If End Caps Are Tightened Too Much On Both Sides Of Wheels?
It is necessary that these caps would need tightness on both sides to support the wheel, but it has a limit and range in which torque force is applied with the help of tools and hex keys, but if you have applied a large torque force, these caps will directly go into disaster stage, because these would tightly come in front of the hub edges on both sides of the wheel, and these are attached with the hub axles and now when you rotate the wheel these will constantly notch and rub with the hub axles, clearly you will hear a voice coming from the front and rear wheels whose end caps have been tightened too much. On every rotation of the bike wheel, you will clearly identify the noise of touching these caps with the hub axles of wheelsets.
Inner View Of Bike End Caps:
All end caps are perfectly made and their inward section does not support a high torque force and highly rotating force by applying any heavy tools when tightening the wheel from both sides. these caps need their proper maintenance and properly installing and uninstalling because if they have slipped from their place within the hub and axle and frame, these are also metals, these will also bend and deform the same as that other metals.
What Are The Chances Of Loose Installation Of End Caps With In The Axle?
If the axle is smaller or larger in size than the end caps or if the ends are of different sized from the axle and hubs, these are easily recognized when you are installing end caps on both sides of the axles and notice if these axles are freely moving which means these are skidding and slipping instead of mounting tightly, then these are loose and the diameter of the end caps and axles would not exactly match and compatible with each other, you need to change or replace the axle or end caps.
You have to attain knowledge fully about the diameter of the axle and the diameter of the end caps before inserting them into each other, this is an extra safety measure and all of your work will become much easier after studying both of these wheels parts thoroughly.
Do End Caps Come With Friction Or Without Friction?
It is the most important thing which differentiates the better quality end caps from cheap end caps. mostly top branded caps are frictionless with no movement after fitting and adjusting with the axles hubs, these would not cause any friction as result the inner bearings could stay in their places and do not come outward towards the edges of the caps because there is zero play recorded on the better quality end caps but if you have no quality and loosely mounted caps this will constantly hit with the inner bearing and it stops the inner bearings working capacitance, as a result, all the wheel will cause play with hub axle and drive train.
Non-compatible end caps will cause friction and compatible end caps are frictionless.
How To Check The Normal Range Of Tightening Of End Caps On Wheels?
It is also important to remember mind, that it is the point at which the tightening power of these caps would allow the wheel to rotate freely without rubbing and nothing with the inner parts of the wheel. you can rotate the wheel by hanging it on a truing stand or simply in upside down position, slowly tight these ends caps with the hex key as far as when these are fully tightened and the wheel is also freely rotating then it is the limit and range which is alarming you to quite the job of tightening of these end caps, further tightening of these caps would make bike wheel immovable and heavier and cause resistance force and drag force when you have crossed the limit.
Difference In End Caps For Front And Rear Hub Axles:
The threads and diameter of the rear hub axle are greater than that of the front hub axle, which shows their ends would also be different in width for both front and rear hubs. it is the reason mostly the exact threaded-sized end caps are rare which should match the same as that of your bike hub axle. The difference in their size would not be inserted within the frame clamp holes and hub axles.
And the other major difference is that end caps have different reaches, some have short reach and these would not align near the inner bearings of the wheel, it also has a disadvantage because long reachable end caps would screw totally on the axle and its forward edge would cover the inner bearings thoroughly, this is the main difference which you have to look for when you are going to buy end caps for your bike wheel.