Carbonda 696 thru axle

[skjemp]

Hey, bought the carbonda 696 without thru axles due to some tax limits. Figured out its not so straightforward to find thru axles with right length, thread specs, thread lengths etc 

Tried to search around for an aliexpress alternative, but so far no luck. Please let me know if you are aware of any. I will post pics of reference thru axle specs, when I receive from carbonda. I asked but only received for rear, will post when I have both.

The sizing (without other details) are:
F:12*100mm
R:12*142mm

[SillyMochi]

Those two measurements are - as you probably discovered by yourself by now - only half of the truth. Or maybe even less than that. They only tell you the diameter and length between the mounting points. You still need the *actual* length of the axles and they can be all over the place. Only reliable way to find out is either have the metric in the data sheet, measuring it yourself from an actual axle, or asking the manufacturer. The other important metric is the thread pitch; the distance of the coils on the thread. Again gotta measure or get it from a data sheet.

[kbernstein]

I also bought my 696 without tru axles because I heard the stock ones were shit.
I got those: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000493053597.html
12x121LxM12(P1.5)x17 and 12x171LxM12(P1.5)x19
The front one sticks out maybe 5mm but the thread is good. I've had them for 2 years and took them on and off probably 50 times, no issue

[skjemp]

I got the two reference pictures.I see the P value (thread distance/pattern?) is different on one of the axles you got. Is it much of a problem?

See pictures:

[SillyMochi]

P stands for pitch. I'd be surprised if a frame manufacturer decides for different pitches for their front and rear axle. But then again, in the bike world you find all kinds of weird things and almost nothing is really standardized. Not even the standards ...

Anyway, I would ask the manufacturer again if they are sure they used different pitches on front and rear or maybe just confused on of the pictures.

[kbernstein]

I got the two reference pictures.I see the P value (thread distance/pattern?) is different on one of the axles you got. Is it much of a problem?

See pictures:

Yes that is a big problem. 1.0 pitch is what specialized uses. Before I bought those ZTTO axles I tried specialized axles and they didn't fit
I'm not sure what your contact at carbonda is smoking. Funnily enough Adam gave me thru axle sizes back then when I asked for something else:


Here is my axle:

[skjemp]

Thanks for the feedback. I wrote to Adam to confirm since I had gotten some contradicting information (I have the UDH version). This was the reply:

Hi，
What's your rear hanger version?
The normal rear hanger use 12mm dia. 171 length, 1.5p
The UDH use 12mm dia. 172mm length, 1.0p
The front fork axle is 12mm dia. 121mm length, 1.5p


The best regards!
 
Carbonda Sports Equipment Co.,Ltd
 Adam Zhong
 Manager
 CELL:+86 13510582337
www.carbonda.com
 A2，B2 building yifa industrial Zone Qiubao Road,Qiuchang Town,Huiyang Dist,Huizhou City516221,Guangdong,China

[skjemp]

Ended up getting these for Carbonda 696 UDH version:

Front (L121 M12x1.5 TL17):
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006778954376.html

Rear (L173 M12x1.0 TL18):
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006015697723.html

Front seems to be 100% match spec wise
Rear is 1mm longer in length, but also has 1.5mm longer thread length. So seems to be close to 100% match as well

[kbernstein]

I guess Adam knows best, and the 696 has had a couple "stealth" revisions, but I also have the UDH one with 1.5P...
I don't understand why they would randomly change the pitch on newer models when 1.5 worked fine with the first UDH models
Wonder if somebody who has received one in the past year and a half can chime in. I got mine in december 2022

[skjemp]

Does headset parts like bearings etc. usually come included? Received my frame, but only with seat tube clamp and some bolts

[kbernstein]

Does headset parts like bearings etc. usually come included? Received my frame, but only with seat tube clamp and some bolts

No, it's an option but it's usually included in the original quote
The base for frame, fork, seatpost and seatpost clamp is 480. You then have to add 12 for headset, 5 for hangers, and like 20 for axles

Check the proforma invoice they should have sent you

[skjemp]

Thanks, I seemed to have forgotten to include that. Not really aware I needed to get it tho 
This is one of the parts I am really not familiar with.

Is this something what I would need? https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006382461947.html
Plenty of versions like external cup, zero stack, integrated etc. Not sure what would be suitable.

Also, would I need any tools to install these small parts? 

[kbernstein]

You might have picked the better option as I'm not sure the bearings they provide are the best quality. If I were to order again I would skip the headset and the seatpost too. I'd also get a 707 but that's another story.
The one you posted is for mountain bikes as it has a star nut only usable in alloy(steel?) steerers, not for carbon
You need something with no external cups as bearings just sit inside the frame, no external cups but an expandable plug
The 696 sizes are 1 1/8th 1 1/2 inches. Translated from barbarian that should be these: https://aliexpress.com/item/1005007181089579.html HS-001
Can't vouch for the quality of these, and if you are running more than a cm of spacers you should replace the expander plug with a longer one like 50mm
Best cross check with Adam though, bearings are a nightmare to navigate