rusty/corroded fasteners- should I care?
 

Screws around the stem, headset, levers etc. I seldom get caught in the rain, and when I do, I immediately dry & clean everything off. Still, some fasteners deteriorate. sup?

We don't know without seeing photos of your bike.

Many people purchase stainless water bottle cage screws, rack & fender screws, etc.

The higher the quality of components, the less likely they'll rust. The cheaper the component, the more rust.

Many screws, bolts, & etc can take a fair amount of rust without seizing. Or, perhaps you'll see rust on the outside, but the threads will be free of rust, or cones will be rusted on the outside, but have clean races.

Of course, I've also seen bearings, races, etc all rusted up. :P

Surface rust is mostly a cosmetic/aesthetic issue. If it doesn't bother you, it's unlikely to bother anyone else that pass you on the road.

If it gets to the point of pitting or eroding away the shape of the fastener, then you need to deal with it.

Sometimes, corrosion happens, no matter what you do, for brake, With brakes (levers and the brake themseleves) I have found that it will take years of daily use to get Shimano ones to have any sign of corrosion, but with SRAM if it's overcast outside, you know rust is comming on the steel hardware.

even with in tiers of brands, some will hold up better than others, if it's just surface corrosions, it's not really an issue, it's if the part need to be removed, and the corrosion is on the threads/you unable to remove it, that it becomes an issue.

FWIW: It's good practice to grease every nut, every bolt, every threaded everything, every time.

Stainless fasteners are a bit pricier than not, but at a $ or 2, at a time it's a managable expense when it comes to maintenance time. I'd put them in the "luxury" category of bike accessories.

I wouldn't care if surface rust developes. I'd care greatly if the fastener didn't work as intended because of rust.

Stainless and grease are cheap insurance for down the road.

https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-m...e-fixable.html

Stock is chrome over steel you can paint them once they are tight,
if you put a wrench on , touch the paint up..

It’s your sweat that’s causing it. Worse than rain.