Accident - Checking for damage

If anything is wrong with the steerer tube or headset, you'll feel it. As long as the fork is rotating smoothly without any tight spots, it should be alright. There's no need to take everything apart to inspect further.

artmichalek said:

If anything is wrong with the steerer tube or headset, you'll feel it. As long as the fork is rotating smoothly without any tight spots, it should be alright. There's no need to take everything apart to inspect further.

Agreed. If there's any bending, you'll be able to see it. Even if it seems OK, look for cracked paint around the fork and head tube area, a sure sign of damage. Steerer tubes are practically impossible to bend.

toofast said:

Hi,

I got into an accident on Saturday. I hit a car head on. Visually, there is nothing wrong. But I want to check the part of the fork that's inside the frame and also the headset. I'm going to take the fork and headset out.

Is there anything I should know about that will screw up when I put everything back? I'm just gonna unscrew the bolts and take it apart.

I second the suggestions that you don't need to disassemble the whole fork and headset to assess it. If is is smooth through its whole rotation and looks fine it is probably fine. The steerer portion of the fork is supported by both headbearings and the headtube. If the headtube shows no signs of damage, the fork steerer should be fine.

toofast said:

Hi,

I got into an accident on Saturday. I hit a car head on. Visually, there is nothing wrong. But I want to check the part of the fork that's inside the frame and also the headset. I'm going to take the fork and headset out.

Is there anything I should know about that will screw up when I put everything back? I'm just gonna unscrew the bolts and take it apart.

If you take it apart and haven't done it a few times already, getting the tension correct when tightening everything down is going to be the hardest part. It's not a difficult procedure. Just be sure you put the bearings (and everything else for that matter) back in in the same direction as they came out.

If you haven't cleaned and greased your headset bearings in a while, this would be an ideal time. If you have sealed headset bearings this is not necessary. You just replace them when they wear out.