Integrated Headsets Explained (continued)
March 2002
The "Integrated"
Headset:
Now lets apply this knowledge to the "integrated"
system (shown at right). Notice how there are no headset
cups. Instead of a positive connection between the bearings
and the head tube, this design allows the bearings to
"float". Without any press fit, the bearings
are free to move about on those ledges because, unlike
a normal headset, they are not actually attached to
anything. Because the bearings are not securely pressed
into anything, they will move around even if your headset
is properly adjusted. The amount of movement (in an
integrated system) will be much larger than a conventional
headset would experience. In addition to the two dynamic
surfaces that you have in a conventional headset, you
add two more: the two interfaces between the bearings
and the frame.
Now the wear that you see in our Bearing
Cap Picture is not only going to happen to an inexpensive
part, it is also going to be your expensive frame taking
the abuse. (See the Appendix
for a good picture of this).
OK, enough techno-babble, what can you do to really see what
is going on? Try this: You know how you can see your fork
flex backward when you are braking really hard? Under this
kind of braking, the front of the lower "integrated"
bearing is moving down and the rear is moving up, like an
airplane in a nosedive. When you let off the brake, the front
comes back up and "levels off" to where it started.
Enough repetitions of this and your headset will creak and
click. Replacing the bearings will maybe help for a little
while, but that creak will be back, louder than before. Add
a little dirt and water into the bearing area (on your first
wet ride, guaranteed), and that inevitable bearing movement
is going to have some abrasives to help grind away your frame.
This is going to be considered "normal wear and tear"
by your frame maker. When your headset starts to creak, you
will need to start regularly packing your "easy to service"
integrated headset area with grease just to keep it quiet.
This will not be a permanent solution though. Pretty soon,
no amount of grease will allow you to silence the creaking
and a perfectly good frame will be ruined.
