You are reading a single comment by @Brommers and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
-
The headset preload is merely to ensure the headset bearings don't become loose. If it was enough to deal with the fore and aft stresses on the fork, the headset would be locked rigid. There's a reason headsets have two bearings, not one. And that relies on the fork steerer being strong enough and stiff enough to keep the fork legs in roughly the right place. If you don't believe it's true, try riding your bike without the top bearing in the headset, and just preloading the bottom bearing. Or don't, if you value your teeth/face.
Brommers
Glws
i don't think the above description is true at all. the headset works under permanent compression, preload if you like, and its job is to transfer loads and efforts to the actual headtube, the fork blades, etc. in fact the steerer itself is/should only be subject to the steering rotationnal efforts - if headset properly installed.