A customer told me I was over-torquing their carbon steerer, and they were 100% right

I had been using 6 Nm on everything carbon until they showed me the frame sticker that said 4 Nm max, so now I actually check each bike's specs before I touch it with a torque wrench; anyone else ever get called out like that and realize you'd been doing it wrong for years?

2 comments

2 Comments

evaperez29d ago

I know you're just being thorough, but 6 Nm is still totally fine for most carbon parts.

jessefoster29d ago

That 6 Nm figure works until it doesnt though. I snapped a Ritchey stem bolt on a brand new WCS bar at exactly 5 Nm because the torque wrench was slightly off from the factory. Have you actually checked YOUR torque wrench against a known standard lately or are you just going by what the tool reads? Most people never calibrate their click type wrenches and they drift like crazy after a season of use. I bet half the guys claiming they run 6 Nm are actually crushing their bars at 8 or 9 Nm and just dont know it. The carbon layup on different brands varies so much that one companies "fine" is another companies warranty denial.