10/01/2026
When a rider hears a faint rattle from a fender or rear rack, the first instinct is often to grab an allen key and tighten that bolt as hard as possible.
It feels like tighter means safer.
Most frame eyelets are made of soft aluminum, and the mounting bolts are small M5 hardware. Cranking them down with brute force can strip the internal threads or snap the bolt head off completely. What started as a small rattle turns into drilling out a broken bolt or tapping new threads into the frame.
The proper fix does not require heavy force:
A dab of blue medium strength threadlocker such as Loctite 242 on the threads
Snug the bolt to spec, around 4 to 6 Nm
The threadlocker keeps road vibrations from loosening the bolt, and the aluminum threads on your frame stay intact.
If you ever hear a rattle and want a second set of eyes on it, drop by the shop.
Sherwood E-Bikes
2008a Sherwood Dr,
Sherwood Park, AB
587-269-BIKE (2453)
sherwoodebikes.ca
The Way Forward