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Caster Axles and Lock Nuts

These caster axle bolts and lock nuts rebuild shopping cart wheels, hand truck wheels, and plate caster forks when the axle wears out. Hardware on this page covers axle diameters from 5/16 to 3/4 in and lengths from about 2-1/4 to 4-3/4 in. The common shopping cart size is 5/16 x 2-1/4 in. Choose plain steel for dry indoor carts, stainless when the axle sees washdown, or a zerk grease fitting axle when the wheel needs periodic lube. Each listing is one axle or nut size, so match diameter and length to the old bolt before you order. These parts are sized hardware, not load-rated casters, so pound capacity is not printed on the titles. Read the listing for thread style and overall length. Keep a spare axle of the same size on the shelf if the cart sees daily abuse. Capacities below are not claimed for axle bolts. For complete cart wheels see shopping cart wheels. For other rebuild hardware see caster parts and accessories.

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2 types

Wheel = wheel diameter · capacity is per caster.

Caster Axles and Lock Nuts: buying guide

Caster axles and nuts for replacing a bent or worn wheel axle. 5/16, 3/8, 1/2 and 3/4 in diameters from 2-1/4 to 4-3/4 in long, zerk or plain, in zinc-plated or stainless steel.

5/16 to 3/4 in2-1/4 to 4-3/4 in longZerk and plainNut included

Shop Caster Axles & Lock Nuts

Sizes in stock

Diameter Lengths Finish / style Common use
5/16 in 2-1/4 in Zinc, lock nut Shopping cart caster axles
3/8 in 2-1/4 in Zinc zerk; stainless zerk Light industrial forks
1/2 in 2-7/8, 3, 3-3/8, 4 in Zinc zerk; stainless zerk; plain zinc Standard plate casters
3/4 in 4-1/4, 4-3/4 in Zinc zerk Heavy dual-wheel and wide hubs

Active titles only (10 ACTIVE) [S1].

How to measure a caster axle

  • Diameter: measure the smooth shank that passes through the wheel bore, not the hex head.
  • Length: measure overall from under the head to the tip, or match the old axle end to end.
  • Style: zerk axles take a grease fitting; plain axles do not.
  • Finish: zinc for dry shops; stainless when washdown or salt air attacks plated steel.

Axle bolt questions

What size axle do shopping carts use?

Most retail cart casters here use a 5/16 x 2-1/4 in axle with a lock nut. Confirm bore and fork width on your cart before ordering.

Is each listing one axle or a pack?

Each listing is one axle and one nut. Order four if you are refreshing a four-caster cart.

Zerk or plain?

Use zerk when the fork and axle are drilled for grease. Use plain when there is no grease path or you are matching a non-greaseable OEM axle.

Sources

  • [S1] CasterHQ Admin products for axles-nuts, pulled October 26, 2026 (10 ACTIVE).
  • [S2] Service Caster axle kit category; shopping-cart axle common size practice.
  • [S3] GSC 28d (audit 2026-10-19): axle bolt / caster bolt query cluster on this URL.

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