I have a formula fixed/fixed hub, with a 48x16 gear, and for some reason my lock ring likes to come off, taking the threads on the hub with it. I've been told by my LBS that its because my lock ring is steel and the hub is aluminum, and because steel is harder than aluminum, the threads on the hub tear out.

They way the hub is designed with opposing thread patterns, if (big if) the cog were to slip back for some reason, there's no way for it to undo the lock ring. I find it hard to believe that my legs are strong enough to force the cog to unscrew, and take the lock ring (with its opposing threads) with it.

I'm just having one of those days but really, the threads for the cog are made of the same aluminum as the threads for the lock ring.

thanks

tighten the cog. if all else fails get a nice dura ace cog/lockring. it works on all my formula hubs with zero problems

Is your hub stripped? If so, then there's nothing you can do to secure everything in place.

If your threads have been stripped already, your lockring is gonna come undone continously. First thing I did when I got my bike was get a nice steel DA cog/lockring so the stock aluminum crap cog and lockring doesnt strip my formula hubs.

It might have been installed improperly. But yeah, once your hub is stripped I'm afraid you're SOL. Time to buy a new wheel.

What's wrong with an aluminum lock ring, excluding machining quality of the cheepo ones? I just have the formula lockring that the shop threw in with my first cog and have had zero problems

Same here, I used to have the Formula lockring that came with the wheel but the notches were starting to turn round and I stop using it.

The steel lock ring will only cause the threads on your aluminum hub to shear off if it wasn't installed/tightened properly. Between my wife and I there are four sets of Formulas in this household and not one issue.

Thanks for the info guys, the hub was brand spanking new when the cog and lock ring were installed. It'd be pretty difficult to properly install a cog and lock ring on an already stripped hub. It's just frustrating wrecking one side of the hub and not being able to ride while I wait on parts.

As I said, it's possible that your lockring wasn't as tight as it could be to begin with.

True but it is possible to over-torque the lock ring when installing it and strip the hubs then, but that requires a huge amount of force that I just can't see the designers not knowing about when braking.

Formula or otherwise, aluminum hub/steel lockring is pretty standard. Unless you weigh in at 700 lbs and are as strong as a team of sasquatches on steroids, I highly doubt you torqued your lockring enough to shear off your hub's threads. On the other side of the coin, not tightening your lockring enough will cause your cog to help ruin the threads each time you apply back pressure.