Review: Muc-Off Carbon Gripper
(2022) Several years ago on a smallish group ride, one of the leaders was having a unique problem. Despite his frame company mailing a solution to a slipping carbon seatpost into the carbon frame, his saddle got lower and lower as the ride progressed. The solution sent by the frame manufacturer was essentially a glorified flattened aluminum can posing as a seatpost sleeve. Needless to say, he wasn’t happy, and I was thankful to be hammering on an aluminum frame with an aluminum seatpost.
As years have progressed, I joined the sinking carbon seatpost crew, though my issue was a bit more self-inflicted. Having to disconnect the Di2 battery from the seatpost, I managed to stress sweat all over the carbon paste and hoped enough remained for the bike to act professional. There were dreadful considerations that spent Coca-Cola cans would come into the mix at some point.
Instead a remedy came in the form of a tiny black and pink bottle from Muc-Off. Muc-Off, the leader in bike cleaning solutions offers Carbon Gripper, a pink solution to carbon slippage needs. One comment stood out regarding Carbon Gripper- the ooze worked so well, it reduced the likelihood of overtightening carbon parts. With considerably less stress sweat, the seatpost expansion bolt was cracked and the post pulled out.
Muc-Off Carbon Gripper is a thick paste meant to lower the clamping force needed for carbon-on-carbon parts or even carbon-on-metal parts.
Muc-Off’s Carbon Gripper compound is thick. Its gritty texture is apparent from the moment it is squeezed from the bottle. An easy application on the seatpost and the next attribute could be detected- the expansion bolt felt secure once tightened to the factory recommended torque. Muc-Off calls this ‘mating force’.
Bucks County farm roads are perfect for testing carbon paste, particularly with seatposts. There are jolting imperfections in the roads that caused the slippage in the first place, or at least expedited it. After weeks of bouncing around the antithesis of flat roads, a follow-up measurement showed the seat height was the same as the day it was reinstalled with Muc-Off Carbon Gripper. I’m not saying I was surprised, but surely there would have been some movement. Nope. I was wrong, and Carbon Gripper was holding strong.
Muc-Off has produced a product that lowers clamping forces with the intention of elongating component life. For those wrenching on carbon-on-carbon parts, carbon paste is a must have in the service course. The cost of Carbon Gripper compared to its role on the bike is hardly comparable. Like some of the classic tubes of grease that have resided in the shop drawer, Muc-Off Carbon Gripper is a purchase that will last a long time. Curiously, so will the components because of the pink paste.
