Quick release and carbon forks

[Nick1979]

When putting my wheel back the other day, I was a bit worried of over tightening the quick release axle and exercising too much force on my (carbon) fork. These quick release levers seem to do a lot of compression when closed.
Are the dropouts on the fork made of carbon as well (it seems to be on mine but I'm not sure)? Is there a risk of breaking them?

 

[02GF74]

dunno since I cannot see your fork!! all the carbon fokrs I have seen, and that is by no means a huge number (my own and on web) they all have had aluminium alloy drop outs.

I'd be surprised if your doesn't but like I said, I cannot see your fork nor know what brand/model it is.

Have you tried contacting manufacturer/shop ?

 

[Nick1979]

My fork is the OEM Bianchi carbon fork. I think the dropout is aluminium but it's not obvious when you look at it, maybe there is a layer of paint/lacquer on the alloy bit because it appears to be integrated with the rest of the fork.

 

[rustychisel]

The cam arrangement should give quite a bit of bite, so the answer is to do it up tight enough that it doesn't slip - not so tight that it buggers the dropout faces.
In practise, hard enough so that you leave a slight imprint in your fingers or palm, not so hard you raise a bloody great welt.

 

[spandex]

All dropouts have to be metal even if you have carbon forks because carbon can not take being comprised, twisting and side loading at the same time. But rustychisel is right you should have a imprint after you have closed your QR.

 

[rustychisel]

no Spandex, see Look HSC4, HSC5 for example. They're carbon dropouts

 

[Tim Bennet.]

because carbon can not take being comprised, twisting and side loading at the same time.

This is going to come as horrible news to lots of people in the aerospace, automotive, defense and marine worlds! As well as owners of some brands of bicycle forks.