How-To: Service or Replace your Headset

Reliable steering is kind of important during your rides, and that’s exactly what the headset does. The connection between the frame and the fork ensure a smooth rotation of the front fork. When the steering doesn't feel smooth anymore, or starts to feel a bit gritty, it’s time to service the headset or perhaps even replace it. Learn how to do so in this blog.

Service or replace your headset - Content

Required tools

Type of headset
Headset anatomy
Servicing the headset
Replacing the headset

Tools

To adjust an integral headset and to replace an integrated headset, you need: Allen keys (4 and/or 5), and bearing grease. To replace an integral headset you’ll need: headset cup remover, hammer, and a bearing cup press.

Type of headset

Over the years all kinds of headsets have been created. To clarify things, "SHIS" (Standard Headset Information System) was created. This is a system designed to help you find out what type of headset you’ll need.

The important thing is to know where the bearing cups and bearings are: inside or outside the frame. This blog concentrates on two kinds of bearings frequently used in road bikes and MTBs: integral and integrated headsets, or to use SHIS terms: ZS (Zero Stack) and IS (Integrated) headsets. Headsets with the bearings directly in the frame (integrated) or in bearing cups that are pressed in the frame (integral).

Headset Anatomy

An integral headset consists of  1) base plate, 2) industrial bearing, 3) bearing cup, 4) bearing cup, 5) bearing cup, 6) compression ring, 7) dust cover, 8) star nut, or in case of carbon fork pipes an expander, and a 9) top cap with bolt. (From bottom to top, 8 and 9 are not illustrated).

An integrated headset, illustration on the right, consists of 1) base plate, 2) industrial bearing, 3) bearing cup, 4) compression ring, 5) dust cover, 6) star nut or, in case of carbon fork pipes, an expander, and a 7) top cap with bolt. (Again from bottom to top, 5 and 6 are not illustrated).

Servicing a headset

Of course we could write it all down, but it’s easier to watch the video below. The Global Cycling Network people explain it in great detail. They use an integrated headset in this video. Don’t worry if you have an integral headset. Follow the same steps, the only difference is that the bearings are not directly in the frame but in pressfit bearing cups.

Replacing a headset

This video speaks for itself, if you have an integrated headset, that is. If you have an integral headset, you’ll also need to disassemble the pressfit bearing cups, see the description below. Video credits go to the Global Cycling Network.

After removing the bearings (step 4 in the video), remove the pressfit cups from the frame. You’ll need a removal tool and a hammer. Stick the narrow end of the removal tool downwards through the head tube, once the wider end of the removal tool expands in the tube, you press the removal tool against the bearing cup. Give a gentle tap on the removal tool to get the cup out. Now also stick the narrow end through the other end of the head tube to also remove the bottom bearing.

Clean the frame and add new grease. Push the cups into the frame as far as possible. If you want to have the logos in a specific place, now is the best time to position them. Stick the ‘axle’ of the press through the head tube and tighten the lower half manually, then press the cups in the frame by tightening the upper half of the press. If necessary, block the lower half. Remember: tight is tight enough.