Originally Posted by
Retro Grouch
I understand that the big reason for the thru-axle is to keep the front wheel from self-ejecting.
That IS a consequence, which the bike industry would never admit to.
Originally Posted by
Retro Grouch
I guess you should put that on the negative list for disc brakes.
No, you should put that on the list of poor engineering decisions that the bike industry has accepted as standard.
It is not an unavoidable feature of disc brakes as such.
Putting the caliper on the front of the fork leg would have been a far better solution, not only to avoid wheel ejection but also for thru-axles.
As it is, you still have ride forces pushing the axle up, and brake forces pushing the axle down.
And as thru-axles aren't press-fit, the design still allows the axle to shift around and become self-loosening if the lever is ever not sufficiently tightened.