I have a new Canyon Endurace and it has thru axle wheels. I was having trouble getting the wheel back on the other day and the cassette just kinda…fell off.
I put it back on and got the wheel back on just fine…but should that happen with thru axle wheels…?
Depends on the hub / freehub body design, but yes… some will simply slide off. It’s surprising if you don’t know it can happen. Most seem to have some level of snap or press fit into the hub, but they still can be removed by hand in most cases.
Lockring hasn’t really got anything to do with it if the whole freehub comes off. Yes, this can happen and is more prevalent with some hub designs than others.
You are right, based on the specific wording in the OP, that the lock ring is what retains the cassette on the freehub body.
Based on the description, I think the FHB came off with the cassette still properly installed and retained with the lock ring.
Yes, it fell off all together. I just slipped it back on, but wasn’t sure wtf happened. It is just different than my old bike with a quick release rear wheel.
Regardless of whether a thru-axle or QR some freehub bodies come off very easily.
I am used to DT hubs and their freehubs will come off with the cassette attached if you give a good pull.
Serviced a friend’s Zipps (QR) and the body near enough fell off in my hand as removed the wheel from the bike.
Some free hubs are just held on by friction so they can sometimes just slide off like you describe. Others are held onto the wheel by a bearing dust cap that screws onto the axle. Its inside the hole in the middle of the free hub. If that is your hub that may have come loose.
For example DTSwiss freehubs just slide on and off, which makes it super easy to mix and match cassettes between wheelsets and bikes since they all use the same freehub design and ratcheting system. Endcaps also just pop on and off
