6.1 cockpit

Stem Removal & Installation (Standard Threadless)

Stem Removal & Installation (Standard Threadless). Step-by-step procedure for bike maintenance — tools, time, and what to watch out for.

Difficulty ★★☆ moderate
Time ~10 min
Applies to All bikes

Tools

  • Hex keys (4–6mm)
  • torque wrench

Procedure

  1. Remove the top cap

    (5mm hex) — the bolt at the very top of the steerer.

  2. Loosen the stem clamp bolts

    (the two or four bolts on the side of the stem clamping the steerer).

  3. Lift the stem off

    the steerer. Note the order of any spacers above and below.

Removal:

  1. Remove the top cap (5mm hex) — the bolt at the very top of the steerer.
  2. Loosen the stem clamp bolts (the two or four bolts on the side of the stem clamping the steerer).
  3. Lift the stem off the steerer. Note the order of any spacers above and below.

Installation:

  1. Position spacers on the steerer in the desired order. The total stack of stem + spacers must extend slightly above the top of the steerer’s compression cap so the top cap can preload the headset properly.
  2. Slide the stem onto the steerer. Verify alignment with the front wheel.
  3. Place the top cap and bolt through the stem into the star nut (or compression plug for carbon steerers).
  4. Tighten the top cap bolt progressively to preload the headset bearings. The right amount: no play when you rock the bike forward with the front brake locked, but the bars rotate freely with no notchy resistance. Typical torque: 5 Nm or less — this is a preload bolt, not a structural bolt.
  5. With preload set, align the stem straight with the wheel.
  6. Tighten stem clamp bolts in alternating sequence to 5 Nm (carbon steerer) or 6 Nm (alloy steerer).
  7. Re-check headset preload — sometimes tightening the stem clamp shifts things. Re-test for play and free rotation.