Mountain Biking - How do I fix a slipping seatpost

On my Trek, I crank my quick release seat post clamp pretty tight but it still slips lower after frustratingly few hits. Is there some sort of wrap to put on it or an after market clamp that works better. I put a little light grease on it before putting the post in.

Any ideas?

On my Trek, I crank my quick release seat post clamp pretty tight but it still slips lower after frustratingly few hits. Is there some sort of wrap to put on it or an after market clamp that works better. I put a little light grease on it before putting the post in.

Any ideas?

Wipe off the grease.

I was told to get a Salsa seat clamp when mine was slipping but before I made the purchase one of my friends told me to try grease and that has worked for me. So, go out and get a better clamp.

i had a squeaky seatpost problem and was told to grease the seatpost. then it was quiet but slipped a lot. then i wiped 1/2 the grease off and now it doesn't slip but maybe 1" every 60 miles. i usually adjust it for different types of riding pretty often so it's working out great, though now it does squeak a little again. :rolleyes:

on my old bike my seatpost was slipping a LOT. i ended up getting a different seatpost for cheap off ebay that was too small, then i got a shim that made it like .1mm too big, then it fit great, no squeaking and no slippage after hours of riding. since it was a tad too big i had to undo the qr and unscrew it way out to be able to move the post though

I actually just read in MTB Action magazine that rubbing some dirt on the post keeps it from slipping. Haven't tried it yet (as I don't have a mtb yet) but it might be worth a shot..

It is possible your seat post is too small. If that's the case you'll be hard pressed to solve the problem until you get one that fits better.

Its worth checking.

That's Peyton Manning's advice in the commercial- rub some dirt on it.

Wipe your seatpost clean, and dust some sandy dirt or baby powder onto it. This is most common with newer bikes.

Tighten it. Sometimes it can tighten more than 1 way.

I run an automotiive wheel cylinder hone( leaves a nice "cross hatch" pattern) in the post tube then ****** it out with a rag doused in alcohol.
I never have bothered with lubing up post,i stick it in dry.

wrap your seat post with a thin strip of aluminun foil so it fits tight with out the clamp then clamp it shut as tight as you can

buy a clamp that is not flip lock

hmmm putting dirt on it?? I take mine out to remove the dirt.

I have heard about dinging up seat post, but have never tried it.

I have heard about dinging up seat post, but have never tried it.
Ya!!!!!!! That sounds like a great idea!!!!!!

Ya!!!!!!! That sounds like a great idea!!!!!!
:beer:

Wipe the grease off.

I had this problem on a road bike (allen wrench bolt instead of a quick-release). What worked for me was (1) a better seat post bolt and (2) replacing the grease on the seat post with rubber cement. There is a product called "Friction Paste" that is designed for exactly this problem, but its maker (Syntace, I think) didn;t have it easily available in the US as of six months ago or so.

Do not, however, just remove the gease from the post and not replace it with something - you need it to keep a metal post from siezing up in a metal frame.

yeah maybe try thread locker or loc-tite or whatever they call it

Do not, however, just remove the gease from the post and not replace it with something - you need it to keep a metal post from siezing up in a metal frame.
Odd you you bring this up here...
I myself have never had that problem in 30+ years of not using a "barrier" .Although, i have come across ancient frames/posts that have been seized.

I never have bothered with lubing up post,i stick it in dry. :D

Buy a Thompson.

I'm a 255lb guy, in my experience 3 other brands slipped, Thompson has a texture that prevents it.

Dude, wipe all the stuff, grease, dirt, baby powder, off the tube, and also wipe off the inside of the seat tube (frame) get yourself a soda can and a pair of tin snips, cut out a piece of the tin from the can, just like a shim/spacer that will wrap around the seat post, and just like a shim make sure that the ends bearly touch when you wrap it around the post, then insert the post with the tin wrapped around it, into the tube (just like a shim) and tighten as usual, your porblems should be over, the tin from the soda can is thinner than any shim, but just thick enough to stop the slipping, my buddy told me about that little "trail trick" some years ago, always works :) good luck

Tons of good information and suggestions here. I'm glad to see something about this issue since this is a problem that I am having on my Trek as well. Usually, it's not something that I think about muchwhen I'm not on a ride but I adjust my seat height before a ride and most times after the ride I have lost nearly an inch of height. My normal rides are less than an hour or so due to the lack of light after work.

I like the soda can idea and think I will try that for my next ride.