One of the most popular modifications out there for the Ender 3 is installing a dual Z axis, so your prints will have more stability. This can potentially give higher quality 3D prints.
I decided to write this article to teach you how to upgrade to a dual Z axis on your Ender 3 and everything that comes with the installation.
Keep reading to find out more about it.
Is the Ender 3 Dual Z Axis Worth It?
Yes, the Ender 3 dual Z axis upgrade is worth it for getting better quality models. This upgrade helps to make your Ender 3 more stable and have fewer vibrations. A common issue with the Ender 3 is having an unstable bed since the horizontal axis doesn’t move parallel on both sides.
One user who 3D prints and sells models professionally said they were trying to get their Ender 3 V2 print quality close to that of their Ultimaker 2 Connect for around 6 months. The main factor they said that helped was doing the dual Z axis upgrade.
They matched the performance of a $2,500 Ultimaker for a $250 Ender 3 V2.
Some users don’t think it makes a difference, but other users say it works really well. You can even decide to add on another motor to the second Z axis leadscrew for more control over the movements.
There have been complaints about the dual Z axis lead screws coming out of sync when you power off the stepper motors, which can cause issues such as binding since the X axis would no longer be square.
If you don’t have the knowledge, it could actually cause more issues than benefits as some users have experienced.
Another user said he has the dual Z axis with two motors setup and it has never gone out of alignment, unless someone purposely turned one of the Z screws independently. They’ve used it for hundreds of hours over months and had no issues printing.
Using an auto-levelling sensor can also correct any misalignment in the levelling before starting prints.
Many Ender 3’s can create high quality prints without this upgrade, but you can see some significant improvements if things are done correctly.
If you want to install a second leadscrew with a motor, check whether your motherboard supports it. The upgrade for the motor might require another wire connection that some motherboards don’t have.
One user said it’s the single best upgrade they’ve done to their Ender 3 since it stabilizes the X axis much better than having a single lead screw. They recommended that you follow the instructions carefully.
Another user said he was seeing a lot of sag with his Ender 3 V2 and this upgrade worked great and was easy to install. They didn’t have to do much with their 4.2.2 mainboard other than switching the cable.
A user that had some weird Z artifacts said this upgrade helped fix it even after trying many fixes.
How to Upgrade Ender 3 to Dual Z Axis
Here’s how to upgrade your Ender 3 to dual Z axis:
Unplug the printer
Add new metal bracket
Install the stepper motor
Install the vertical rod
Connect all the cables
Install the bearing blocks
Unplug the Printer
Before working on any sort of modification or upgrade to your Ender 3, you should unplug your printer from any power source to avoid the possibility of anything dangerous happening to you or your printer.
That’s the first step for installing a dual Z axis on your Ender 3, so don’t forget to always unplug your printer before messing around with its parts.
These are all the parts that come with dual Z axis upgrade kits, which you’ll be using to make this upgrade:
Bag of screws
Screwdriver and tools
Y splitter cable
Metal bracket
Bearing blocks
Vertical rod
Stepper motor
Coupler
Extra hardware
Add New Metal Bracket
After unplugging your printer, you’ll want to add the new metal bracket that came with your dual Z axis kit. This bracket will be responsible for holding the new Z axis which you’ll install on the opposite side of your original Z axis.
Loosen the back screws that secure the already existing bracket to the gantry, then just loosen the nuts and bolts that hold the three roller wheels onto the vertical extrusion bar.
One user recommends to not lose this parts as the kit he got did not come with extra roller wheels. Other users recommend buying new roller wheels, especially if your printer is a bit older, to improve the quality of your prints.
Next you’ll need to replace the bolts that hold the roller wheels with the longer bolts provided by the kit, you can find them in the bag of screws and bolts.
Using the longer bolts, you can install the roller wheels and the new metal bracket. After that, you should do the final tightening of all bolts and nuts.
Reviewers for that kit found it super easy to install and is compatible with the Ender 3, Pro and V2.
Other users who got the kit mentioned above also stated that this upgrade helped to eliminate droop from the Z axis and made the Ender 3 a lot more stable, being able to produce better end results.
Install the Stepper Motor
After properly installing the new metal bracket, you’ll need to install the stepper motor.
You’ll find a bag with a little metal bracket and some bolts, you will need to connect this bracket to the stepper motor with the connector facing to the right. Use the screws and bolts provided in the same bag, the little bracket came in.
You’ll need to insert the motor at the base of the vertical frame and tighten it properly.
The instructions will tell you to leave a five millimeter gap between the coupler and the stepper motor, so it will be able to spin freely.
To do this, use some t-nuts to create a five-millimeter gap, insert the coupler into the stepper motor, tighten it and then remove the t-nuts you used as spacers.
In case you don’t know, the coupler is the part of the Z axis that connects the base of the Z axis to the vertical rod that will be spinning, making the print head go up and down.
Install the Vertical Rod
The next step in order to install the dual Z axis upgrade on your Ender 3 is installing the new vertical rod.
To do this, insert the threaded rod into the brass insert within the metal bracket, and it should go down into the coupler.
Be aware you need to make sure your threaded rod did drop into the coupler, so you can tighten the top screw.
It’s a good idea to mark a line going from the threaded rod to the coupler that it goes into so you can see if they move out of place in the future.
Users recommend making a line with a permanent marker from the threaded rod to the coupler, so you can check if the two connections are slipping at all, as the line you made may change position over time.
Connect all the Cables
Now that you installed most of the mechanical part, next is the electrical part of the installation. It’s a simple process that won’t take long to get it done.
Just get your Y splitter cable, that comes with the upgrade kit, and use it to replace the original wire on the stepper motor.
Then you’ll take the short end of the Y splitter cable and plug into the original stepper motor and the long side of it into the newly installed stepper motor.
Users recommend you take some time to clean the wires as there are a lot of moving parts in the Ender 3 and you don’t want these wires getting caught up with anything.
Install the Bearing Blocks
The last step in order to successfully install the Dual Z axis upgrade on your Ender 3 is to install the bearing blocks.
The bearing blocks are little plastic pieces that will go on top of your leadscrew to prevent it from excess wobbling as the gantry moves up and down.
To install them, just slide the bearing block onto the top of the threaded rod and tighten its screws. You’ll want to repeat the same process to install the other bearing block on the original Z axis.
A lot of users just refrain from using the bearing blocks at all when installing dual Z axis upgrades. They say that if the threaded rod is warped, then the bearing block can decrease your print quality.
Check out this great video by Desktop Inventions for further instructions on how to install this upgrade.
Ender 3 Leadscrew (Z Rod) Replacement Options
If you’re in need to replace your Z axis leadscrew, also known as Z rod, then check out these great options:
The HAWKUNG Stainless Steel Leadscrew is a great option for replacement Z rod in case you’re looking for one.
Here are some basic properties of this leadscrew:
Material: Stainless Steel Lead Screw + Copper Nut
Lead Screw Length: 350mm
Lead Screw Diameter: 8mm
One user who got these leadscrews said they were a major upgrade from their original threaded rods. He installed these and had to change the motor steps, but after he did it, the quality was much better and cleaner.
He did a simple test to make sure the leadscrews were not bent by rolling it over a slab of marle and they passed.
Some users did have issues with shipping such as not being in the best packaging that can provide protection though.
Another user said the machine quality of these leadscrews were above average and he would definitely purchase some a second time. For upgrading to dual Z axis on an Ender 3, many people said these worked great for that.
A user said they came in a sturdy cardboard tube and worked well, though they mentioned it wasn’t perfectly straight but still didn’t seem to affect quality.
This kit comes with two threaded rod pieces and two T8 nuts for installation and works great with other versions of the Ender 3 such as the V2.
Another great option for replacement leadscrew for your Ender 3 is the Redrex leadscrew. It is made of a durable material, rustproof stainless steel.
Here are some basic properties of this leadscrew:
Material: Rustproof 304 Stainless Steel Lead
Lead Screw Length: 365mm
Lead Screw Diameter: 8mm
This kit only comes with one leadscrew and one T8 nut.
One user who used this to build a CNC milling machine said it worked very well for them. They mentioned it was a high quality leadscrew that done its job.
Unfortunately, one user received a delivery of this leadscrew in really bad condition and sent it back. Their replacement wasn’t too great either because it wobbled, so not all experienced were positive.
Another user said it fit perfectly for their Ender 3. I think they may have improved their quality control and now send the leadscrews in better packaging that protects them.
The VICHSAMWY Leadscrew is another good option when the time comes to get a Z rod replacement. This one comes with two rods and two T8 nuts.
Here are some basic properties of this leadscrew:
Material: SUS304 Stainless Steel Lead Screw + Copper Nut
Lead Screw Length: 400mm
Lead Screw Diameter: 8mm
One user who purchased this said it came well packaged and straight, being a simple drop-in for the Ender 3 V2. One downside it that the leadscrew was slightly longer than the stock one, but still worked without needing to modify it.
They mentioned that there was more play in the Z axis compared to the stock leadscrew so they added an anti-backlash nut.
Another user said it fit the leadscrew of their Ender 3 Pro, but not the mounting hardware so they had to do some modification/grinding to get it to fit.
One user said that this leadscrew was better than the one that came with a dual Z axis upgrade kit.
Michael Dwamena is the founder of 3D Printerly, a platform dedicated to simplifying 3D printing for hobbyists and professionals alike. Owns over 20 3D printers (filament and resin) and has plenty experience 3D printing. Michael has authored over 900 articles, helping millions navigate the exciting world of 3D printing.
Reading Time: 10 minutes 
