Longer QR Skewer (Front Suspension Low-Rider Rack)

t1mm

Hi there,

I've got a hardtail MTB I intend on touring with. I've bought the following front-rack:

http://www.wigglestatic.com/images/lifeline-front-pannier-rack.jpg

I'd rather not attach it to the suspenion forks with 2 P-Clamps or something, as if they slip down they could get caught in the front disc brake causing grievious injury!

The suspension fork doesn't have the braze-on you can see at the bottom of the image above. Do you think it would be a bad idea to get a longer QR skewer, and thread it through the holes for the bolt on the rack as well as the wheel?

I don't intend on having much weight at all on the front; I'm not sure if I'll use them at all but it would be nice to have the option.

Any thoughts would be really appreciated!

Plutonium Kun

I doubt if that pannier will work at all with front suspension with a disk brake, you just won't have the clearance. I've heard of lots of bodges for racks of that type, but I've never heard anyone attempting what you are suggesting, I just don't think it would fit on correctly.

The only racks that I'm aware of that are suitable for suspension forks are purpose built. Tubus do one:


http://www.tubus.com/product.php?xn=65

The other one, which I've used and is 'tried and tested' by many tourers are the ones made by Old Man Mountain:

http://oldmanmountain.com/Pages/RackPages/FrontRacks.html

OMM racks fit on the skewer - this system works very well, I think it makes more engineering sense than using welded eyelets.

Morgan

I don't think a front QR (9m dia) will fit through those lower bolt holes. Even if it did, I expect it would greatly increase the chances of your front wheel falling out. What do you plan on attaching the upper bolts to?

You might not even need front panniers - I've done two week tours with just two rear and a handlebar bag...

t1mm

Hi Plutonium,

Thanks for your reply. I'm aware of these purpose built racks but they're unfortunately out of my price range. What do you mean about not having the clearance?

Here is a pic of what I want to do: http://i.imgur.com/I1Avf11.jpg

A stock wheel looks like this:

Hub | Fork | Bolt

The bolt is secured to the fork and the QR skewer prevents the wheel from falling out. The only pitfall I can see is that the rack doesn't make sufficient contact with the fork. In this case, I propose the following:

Hub | Fork | Spacer | Rack | Bolt

The small spacer would make sure theres even contact on the fork, and it should result in equal pressure from tightening as if a standard setup was being used.

Any thoughts?

t1mm

@Morgan: I've just tested it and the QR skewer does fit through the bolt holes. Worst case scenario they could be widened marginally!

The upper bolts will be attached with a U-bolt (which was supplied with the rack); its perfectly solid and just serves as a "guide" really - doesn't need to be tightened to death.

Cheers for your reply!

t1mm

Hi again,

I just took the rear skewer off the bike and put it on the front (as its longer) to demonstrate what I mean. Here's a gallery:

http://imgur.com/H8OcVPq,4kMev9z,b9xokiF,6Uhw5q8

Photo 1: Overview of what it looks like
Photo 2: The upper guide/mount (this u-bolt was included with the rack)
Photo 3: Close up of the dropout
Photo 4: The rack is circled in red. The green arrow points to the gap where I think a spacer would be sufficient to make sure the pressure is being applied to the fork dropout (from skewer tightening) as opposed to the side of the fork tube where the rack comes in contact with it.

What do you think guys, am I mad?

cdaly_

Your pic 4 shows the leg of the rack bearing against the tube of the fork. You will need to make sure you have some clearance between these or you'll end up with a bending force on a QR skewer.

For a spacer, you'd need something solid all the way through with only the skewer clearance and no more. You might make that up from solid bar drilled down the centre.

Your design puts a fair bit of weight on a skewer which is not designed to take any (the wheel/fork contact is via the wheel's axle, not the skewer) so you would need to use the U-bolts at the top to carry most of the rack/pannier's weight. Now you have to consider if the U-bolt will deform the fork tube, thus affecting the suspension.

Do both forks have brake caliper mount points or just the one? If two, would you consider mounting to them instead of the axle? You'd still have to carry the weight on the U-bolts though.

t1mm

cdaly_ wrote: »

Your pic 4 shows the leg of the rack bearing against the tube of the fork. You will need to make sure you have some clearance between these or you'll end up with a bending force on a QR skewer.

For a spacer, you'd need something solid all the way through with only the skewer clearance and no more. You might make that up from solid bar drilled down the centre.

Your design puts a fair bit of weight on a skewer which is not designed to take any (the wheel/fork contact is via the wheel's axle, not the skewer) so you would need to use the U-bolts at the top to carry most of the rack/pannier's weight. Now you have to consider if the U-bolt will deform the fork tube, thus affecting the suspension.

Do both forks have brake caliper mount points or just the one? If two, would you consider mounting to them instead of the axle? You'd still have to carry the weight on the U-bolts though.

Thanks for your post cdaly! The spacer would ideally serve to seperate the rack and the fork also. Unfortunately there is only a caliper mounting point on one side of the fork.

Do you know if extra-long QR skewers are sold, or whether rear skewers are standardized (and the longest ones around) ?