The Wolf Tooth Performance EC44/40 Lower is the bottom half of an external cup headset for frames with a 44 mm lower head tube bore. It comes with the bearing and crown race.

What it's for

This is the lower headset assembly only. It presses into the bottom of a 44 mm head tube and carries the bearing outside the frame, which is what lets a tapered fork steerer run in a straight 44 mm head tube. Wolf Tooth sells uppers and lowers separately, so you pair this with the upper that matches the top of your head tube.

How it works

External cup (EC): The cup presses into the frame and the bearing sits below the head tube instead of inside it.

Sealing: Wolf Tooth describes three levels of sealing across the headset. On the lower, a molded dual lip seal on the crown race protects the bearing from spray off the front tire.

Bearing: Enduro sealed bearing in black oxide coated chromium steel, with 36 x 45 degree bevels.

Compatibility

• Head tube: 44 mm inner diameter at the bottom (EC44)
• Crown race seat: 40 mm, which is the size on a tapered 1 1/2 in fork crown
• Pairs with: a separate upper assembly sized for the top of your head tube
• How to check yours: Headset sizes follow the S.H.I.S. code. EC44/40 means external cup, 44 mm frame bore, 40 mm crown race seat. Measure the inside of the lower head tube and the crown race seat on the fork.

Setup and installation

• Cup: press in with a headset press. Do not hammer it in.
• Crown race: Wolf Tooth recommends its crown race installation adapter, sold separately.

Specs

• Size: EC44/40 lower
• Stack height: 12.25 mm
• Weight: 45 g
• Cup material: 6061 aluminum
• Bearing: Enduro black oxide chromium steel, 36 x 45 degrees
• Color: black
• Warranty: 1 year
• Made in: USA (machined in Minnesota)

In the box

• Lower cup
• Sealed bearing
• Crown race with seal