How to Change Wheel Skewers on Bicycles

The skewer on a bicycle wheel is analogous to the axle on a car wheel. The wheel rotates around the skewer, and the skewer provides the point of attachment for the bicycle wheel to the bike frame. Skewers may need to be replaced occasionally, if, for example, one is bent, or they may be replaced as part of an upgrade in components or rebuilding work done on the bicycle wheel.

Things You'll Need

  • Bicycle wheel
  • Skewer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the wheel from the bike. Loosen the brakes to provide clearance by flipping the adjustment lever to the "up" position. Open the quick-release lever, and pull the wheel away from the fork.

    • 2

      Grasp the quick-release lever on the skewer in your right hand and the knob on the other side of the wheel hub in your left hand. Turn the knob in your left hand counter-clockwise to loosen until the knob comes off.

    • 3

      Pull the spring on the left-hand side off of the skewer (this is revealed when you remove the knob).

    • 4

      Pull the skewer out of the wheel hub by pulling on the right side of the skewer. Place the parts of the original skewer aside.

    • 5

      Take the knob and left-hand spring off of the new skewer. Slide the end of the skewer into the wheel hub, starting on the right side. Push it all the way through until the end of the skewer appears on the left-hand side of the hub.

    • 6

      Slide the spring onto the left side of the skewer, and then twist on the knob until the skewer is secured into the wheel's hub.