CLAMPING PROBLEMS ON CARBON DROP-OUTS
In my opinion a carbon drop-out is a vulnerable and silly design for a modern frame. You might already be aware that I don’t like this design. It might keep the pros happy but we can’t chuck our frames away as readily.
Carbon is prone to abrasion. Particularly when the other half of the mating face is of a different material. The skewer will bite well into the drop-out but is VERY dependent on the amount of pressure applied to clamp it. It needs to be over-clamped (within reason) as opposed to under clamped to hold firm. Under compression the carbon drop-out is super strong as these parts are injection moulded and can withstand the pressure well enough.
Alloy drop-outs do not suffer the same degradation. Alloy is more forgiving in most respects. I assume the carbon design is to satisfy the weight saving efforts of the manufacturer even though the alternative is bleak when it fails.
If the skewer is not sufficiently clamped, the drive side face of a carbon drop-out receives excessive abrasion laterally by the pedal motion of the drive side pulling the wheel back and forth.
If it were an alloy drop-out this would not be as badly affected but with carbon drop-outs they give way to excessive wear. I will go so far as to say that ALL bikes should have removable alloy dropouts. (I hear loud cheers!) The weight increase is marginal and you don’t need to replace the whole frame!
We see many such problems. You can see how this is remedied here at CBR with an embedded alloy face 🙂
Shouldn’t this be the norm if you must have a carbon drop-out?
Carbon Bike Repair Ltd 
Carbon Bike Repair Ltd 
