Copy, thanks Jase! Any idea if it was metal or plastic or otherwise?
Thanks McCookie, I appreciate it. I had seen the forum thread (and found it unsatisfying to be honest for reasons I’ll get to in a second) but not the discord (so I’ll flip that now). My issues with the proposed solutions:
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Third party solution - partial (top only) headset replacement (via Wolftooth or Chris King). Well, first issue with any third party solution is that none are Specialized so I fear invalidating the warranty if anything goes wrong (and also that I’m spending more money after buying a $5k frame). But there are other issues. Although some online have seemingly replaced top assembly with a Chris King with no issues, Chris King told others not to do it because they want both top and bottom bearings to match for proper compression and they don’t make a matching bottom bearing. Wolftooth is similar—others have seemingly replaced with no issue, but it’s only top, so I suspect same Chris King mismatch issue applies.
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Third party solution - whole headset replacement (via Cane Creek). Cane Creek seemingly makes & sells a matching set—but folks who have installed have reported issues dialing in compression and also that the bottom bearing actually isn’t a perfect match for the existing bottom bearing. (Lastly I think their ridged setup between top cap & spacers is poor engineering).
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Shim. Seemingly folks have done this on their own with Specialized suggesting to do it, but not actually supplying it (which is mind boggling). Which leads me worried that my shop will add a metal one, it will abrade the steerer, I’ll get a ring of death and Spec won’t warranty the fork.
I actually sent this in to Geek Warning hoping Brad Copeland could opine as surely he’s dealt with this on a pro level so must have a true Specialized approved solution—hopefully it gets covered!
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Oh good - I’d love to hear Brad’s response..
I totally agree that Specialized not fixing the problem themselves or even supplying the parts to fix it is outrageous.
Hel’s Crux is so nice - I want one for myself but this sort of problem and poor support has soured the brand for me. If they ever fix this properly I might be interested.
I applied pressure to a customer to apply pressure on the local Specialized dealer for a replacement frame when this happened to his - initially 1 microshim sorted it, but then we had to add a second. When the issue reoccurred with 2 shims in it I told him about the known issue and strongly encouraged him to get it sorted. It eventually was, without too much forceful conversation, and it turns out Spesh have a stash of replacement frames ready to go to do a straight swap, and the replacement didn’t seem to have the issue.
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Yet…….
Fingers crossed for your customer. 
Candidly I’d be more likely to just sell the frame and wash my hands of this hassle. With a new aero-fied crux apparently coming out next year, value of my existing frame already dropping. Not to mention the value of my time that I’ve spent researching this, briefing my local shop on my research, and interjecting myself into the back and forth with Specialized!
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Brand new replacement frame would still be worth more to sell, though, surely?
There doesn’t seem to be a sad reaction emoji on this forum.
I get it. That sux.
What size and where is your discounted frame? 
Lol. Definitely. I thought I had largely avoided this—I have the off white speckled SWorks frame that all of the Spesh pro gravel & CX riders were using last year (so surely they had a functional solution…)—but it came ridiculously loose in the middle of my last gravel race (a chunky course with single track sections). Have now gone to Specialized and they’re sending me what seems to be the 2025 model headset. We’ll see how this works, but if it doesn’t, you can bet I’ll be raising my hand again!
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Please do report back if the 2025 headset is different / better!
I’m not plugging Cane Creek. But their headset did work for me, after (literally) years of trying to get Specialized to do something for me. I’ve ridden the bike hard for the last two months, and my first installation of the headset is still solid (knock on wood). The Crux headset issue is so sporadic and variable across the current design that a fix for one doesn’t seem to be reliable for all: some frames get by with a shim or two while others need a new headset or even a replacement. Maybe this is partly the reason for Specialized not knowing how to properly (and responsibly) address the problem. In any case, I’m still furious with this deadbeat company. But a new headset did get me going again. Just wanted to update with one success story.
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Let’s hope that Specialized don’t use the new Aethos2 headset in all their future road bikes!
As discussed in a new Discord thread - that sounds like the design from hell, with a circlip holding the compression bolt in the plug so it is insanely difficult to disassemble. 
!
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Bwahaha! Some idiot bought his own 2025 Crux!
I guess I’ll get to see if my headset is any different to Hels’ or if I need to get me some shims / new headset…
I’m not sure I have the emotional energy to extract my expander plug to confirm if it is any different. I would really like to know they bothered fixing their problematic design.
The new Crux is allegedly only days away….
THe joke’s on me…
I set myself up to fail by not learning more about Crux headsets and stems while I was dealing with Hels’ compression ring problem.
Now I can’t adjust my own stem height. 