Troubleshooting › Steering & suspension

Steering feels loose, tight or notchy: causes and fixes

Hold the front brake and rock the bike: a knock means a loose headset. Lift the front: the bar should swing freely.

Check it on your own bike

1. Loose headset · Most likely

   Knock when you rock the bike with the front brake on: re-set the headset preload. A loose brake caliper or worn suspension-fork bushings can knock the same way, so check those too.

   Fix: Adjust headset play · Adjust a threaded headset

2. Headset too tight · Sometimes

   Bar does not drop to the side on its own when you lift the front: loosen the stem clamp bolts, back off the top cap a little, then re-tighten the stem bolts to spec.

   Fix: Adjust headset play · Adjust a threaded headset

3. Dry or pitted headset bearings · Sometimes

   Notchy steering that stops in the straight-ahead spot means worn bearings.

   Fix: Clean and grease headset bearings

4. Wheel not straight in the fork · Sometimes

   Pulls to one side: check the wheel is centered in the fork.

   Fix: Fork straightness and mount check · Fork and thru-axle check