I’ve recently got a Specalized SL8 Expert and am still dialing in the fit. I’ve swapped the stock Specalized 42cm alluiminium bars for some older FSA Omega 38cm bars I had lying around.
The SL8 stem has some detailed info in how to tighten the faceplate. Two times now from hitting holes and speed bumps the bars have slipped a bit.
Should I use some carbon paste on the bar, stem, and faceplate? Any other ideas I could try?
Carbon paste is definitely a good first step to my understanding.
Are you bottoming out the top of the stem face plate as per the instructions in the manual.
‘The SL7 stem is designed with no gap between the stem body and the faceplate at the upper bolt area. The upper bolts must be tightened such that the faceplate bottoms out against the stem body before being torqued. Failure to bottom out the faceplate against the stem body can result in structural damage to the handlebar.’
Use carbon paste as @jasedepuit said, then equally tighten the bolts to 5nm.
Some carbon pastes are less gritty than other, e.g. Motorex, some are more gritty, e.g. Finish Line Fibre Grip. I’d use a more gritty one. If you don’t have any, the shop where you purchased the bike should be happy to help and put a dab of paste on for you.
Thanks for the advice @WCS_Alex. I did read the stem instructions in the manual. It’s printined on the side of the stem too. I usally tighten faceplates in an X pattern, this is the first one I’ve encountered like this.
I have some Morgan Blue assemly paste. Not sure where that fits on the scale of grittyness but I’ll give it a shot this evening.
Sure I’ve had that Morgan Blue one before, it is more sticky than gritty from memory, with large lack particles. Worked ok but I preferred the two I now use, i.e. smoother Motorex, gritty FinishLine carbon pastes.