Bicycle parts tightening torque (N⋅m) specifications

This is a list of recommended bicycle parts tightening torques that have worked well for me so far. Briefly put, I’m answering the question: “how much should I tighten the bolts on my bicycle?“
A separate article explains the recommended bicycle maintenance service intervals.

Follow manufacturers’ instruction – this list is primarily for my own reference and I’ll take no responsibility for any readers using it.

Table Of Contents (T.O.C.):

TL/DR

1. What is a tightening torque?
2. Recommended bicycle part tightening torques
   2.1. Frame, seatposts, saddles, stems
   2.2. Handlebars and levers
   2.3. Wheels, cassettes, hubs
   2.4. Brakes
   2.5. Derailleurs
   2.6. Bottom brackets
   2.7. Pedals, cranks, front chainrings
3. Gates Carbon drive – belt systems

TL/DR

Here, I’ve explained how much you should tighten each bolt on your bicycle, how to measure that (before cracking your expensive carbon parts or stripping any threads), and why that is important.

– T.O.C. –

1. What is a tightening torque?

And why does it matter?

When we are pushing something, we can talk about force (force, work, and power explained – video). However, tightening nuts and bolts requires some force applied in a circular direction, so there we are talking about torque.

I’ve made a video explaining what torque is:
Torque and power – basics explained

What happens when we are tightening a bolt? It stretches, acting as a kind of a rubber band, as it presses the joined parts together, creating what’s called a preload.

Too much preaload can damage a bolt, while too little preload can lead to a bolt loosening due to vibrations and other forces. In this video I’ve explained the bolted joints, and the importance of having an optimal preload and tightening torques:
Bolted connection and tightening torque basics

Now, when we are tightening a bolt, we can’t directly measure how much preload is created, but what we can measure is the tightening torque. We can feel the torque by hand, and a precise way to measure it is using torque wrenches.

In detail video about torque wrenches:

Update, November 2023:
Most of the topics from the above-linked videos are covered and explained in my article:
Tightening torque and torque wrenches explained – 101

When we apply the same torque to a lubricated bolt, it will create more preload compared to a dry, non-lubricated bolt. In the article about mounting (anti-seize) pastes, I’ve explained how the use of mounting pastes affects the recommended tightening torque. All the tightening torques shown in this article are given for joints lubricated with mounting paste.

– T.O.C. –

2. Recommended tightening torque list

The torque list is logically sorted by the parts of a bicycle where the respective components are located. All the values are given with a consideration that mounting (anti-seize) paste is used.

Follow manufacturers’ instruction – this list is primarily for my own reference and I’ll take no responsibility for any readers using it.

The torques are provided in Newton-metres (N⋅m), and here’s an online N⋅m to inch-pound converter.
1 N⋅m = 8.851 x in-lb (N⋅m to inch-pounds)
1 N⋅m = 0.74 x ft-lb (N⋅m to foot-pounds)
1 ft-lb = 12 x in-lb (foot-pounds to inch-pounds)

– T.O.C. –

2.1. Frame, seatposts, saddles, stems

– T.O.C. –

2.2. Handlebars and levers

– T.O.C. –

2.3. Wheels, cassettes, hubs

– T.O.C. –

2.4. Brakes

– T.O.C. –

2.5. Derailleurs

– T.O.C. –

2.6. Bottom brackets

– T.O.C. –

2.7. Pedals, cranks, front chainrings

– T.O.C. –

3. Gates Carbon drive – belt systems

Here is a chart with optimal belt tensions:

This is a tool suitable for measuring the tension:

Here is where you can buy this tool (Germany, where else? 🙂 )

– T.O.C. –

Author

Relja Novović

Relja is an avid cyclist, a pretty good bike mechanic, and a professional computer systems administrator – with decades of experience in both those fields (computers and bikes 🙂 ). Relja Novović’s credentials and a short biography