How To Check & Tighten Your Headset

Before we start slappin’ tools around, let’s talk about what it is we’re doing here. The top of your stem houses the top cap, with the headset preload bolt at the center. This bolt usually fits a 5 mm Allen key, although it can be a 4 mm. The preload bolt and top cap apply the proper amount of preload to the headset bearings. If this bolt is too tight, your bars will not turn freely, and this will damage your headset bearings over time. If the preload bolt is too loose, the headset will have play and knock back and forth. On top of being dangerous to ride, a loose headset causes damage to the frame, steerer, and headset components.

Tools Needed: Depending on your bike’s setup you may need 4mm, 5mm, & 6mm Allen Keys & a Torque Wrench. If you’re unsure of the size or tools you need, please check in with a local shop before proceeding.

1. CHECK YOUR HEADSET ADJUSTMENT

First things first, your headset may already be dialed, so let’s give it a checkover before we loosen any bolts.

How to Check Your Headset Adjustment:

1. Place one hand over where your lower headset cup meets your fork crown. Use your other hand to apply your front brake, and hold down the brake lever.
   
   

2. Next, gently rock the bike back and forth, front to back.

1. If your headset is loose you'll feel a knocking through the hand that you're holding over the lower headset cup

2. Feel movement, but not sure where it’s coming from? Try turning your handlebars 90 degrees in either direction and then continue to rock your bike back and forth with the front brake squeezed. This should help isolate any headset movement to help determine where the movement is coming from.

3. No knocking or play? Let’s see if your headset is too tight. Lift the front wheel of your bike off the ground an inch or two by holding on to the top tube. With the front tire off the ground check to be sure that the wheel flops freely from side to side. A headset that's too tight will hold the steering in place or slow it down as it flops side to side.
   
   
   

One hand on the fork crown and lower headset cup with one hand applying the brake lever

2. ADJUST YOUR HEADSET

Once you have figured out whether your headset preload is either dialed, too loose, or too tight, you can begin using tools.

How to Adjust a Loose Headset:

1. With the bike on the ground, NOT in a mechanic stand, stand over the bike, and loosen the stem steerer clamp bolts a few turns each.
   (Bikes with a double crown fork will require you to loosen all of the upper crown bolts)
   
   

2. Once the stem is loose on the steerer tube, you can now adjust the headset preload bolt. Turn it clockwise a half turn at a time, stopping to check if it is still loose by placing one hand over the lower headset cup and one on the break lever – checking for knocking as you rock the bike back and forth. When the excess play is corrected, lift the front end off the ground a few inches and to be sure the wheel still turns freely side to side
   
   

How to Adjust an Overly Tight Headset:

1. With the bike on the ground, NOT in a mechanic stand, stand over the bike, and loosen the stem clamp bolts a few turns each.
   (Bikes with a double crown fork will require you to loosen all of the upper crown bolts)
   
   

2. Turn the headset preload bolt counterclockwise a half turn at a time.

1. After each time be sure to check if you've loosened it too much by putting your hand over the crown and lower headset cup and rocking the bike back and forth.

2. If you feel knocking, you'll have to turn the headset preload bolt clockwise until it goes away.