Bicycle Mechanics - Quick Release loosening up.

I read the whole discussion on disc brakes and quick release on Monsieur Brown's website and resolved to check every so often and see if my quick release was loosening up.


It does not seem to be as of yet, but was wondering if there might be several different things happening.


A. Deformation of the nut on the quick release. Over time of this nut being tightened down by the stopping force the nut deforms and does not allow the fastener system to provide the correct clamping force. You tighten it as usual, but it works it self loose on a ride.

B. The amount of force applied to the skewer exceeds the elastic range and will not provide the correct clamping force anymore. E.g. Think of a spring overstreched.


I am not a metallurgist, fastener engineer, or Jobst Brandt.

These are just issues that we were 'taught' about in a recent safety meeting on fasteners.

Thoughts?

Are you having this problem with the front, or rear wheel? This is important.

Is this QR original equipment with the bike, or did you install it?

It does not seem to be as of yet . . .

Let's assume the front, (theoretically, of course, as my fellow Idaho rider astutely noticed) as that is the wheel that receives the most braking.

Sorry, I did not understand your original post correctly. What I was driving at was a common problem where rear QRs are installed with the axles too long on one side. This results in the wheel pulling out and "looks like" the QR is loosening.

I'd say that unless you have an actual crack in your skewer, any plastic deformations over time won't limit its ability to apply maximum spring force.