Shimano Quality just aint what it used to be

[C.P.]

PITA shimano XT Hub ...

I've been having problems with my M765 XT Rear disc hub, constant loosening of axle cones...well apparently they loosened so much mon night (epic full moon night ride) that I busted the freehub body right off the hub...crazy thing is, It was still rideable, I just hand tightened the cones and slapped the wheel back on the bike to get home...only, a forthcoming kitchen reno will prevent the CKing upgrade I so badly want...so its back to the LBS for another XT freehub body >:(

I still have some older shimano MtBk stuff that has got to have 5000+ miles on it, and it's still working as it was designed to...
It sure is bothersome to me that I laced this hub like a year ago, and it's been off the bike for cone adjustments more times then I care to count...what's up with shimano quality? ???


And it looks like I'm not alone: I searched the forum for rants just like mine...


I've had it w/shimano XT hubs! Mine lasted 3 months, the woman of the house blew her's up in just under a year. It's funny because I have an XTR hub (non disc) that's been fine for 5 years now. What's the difference?!

XT hubs are cheap, and you can warranty the free hub bodies but then you still have your ride cut short because of a broken rear wheel. This "work-around" enabled me to ride fixed gear 6 miles back to the car. :-)



I stripped the freehub out of an XT hub after only a few months of riding it. Almost broke my foot when it let go. I would stay away from XT hubs, at least the rear.



Agreed, the new XT hubs are severely lacking in quality. In addition to blowing freehubs I've had a couple of the freehubs gunk up in record time (like 6 months). This makes the freehub utterly worthless as it seizes up.

I've also been having trouble with the axle cones loosening on EVERY new Shimano rear disk hub I own w/in the 1st month of so. In fact it happened yesterday on the tandem.

What the hell is going on in Japan?

I'm tempted to start getting King hubs but really hate to spend that kind of cabbage. Oh well.

-Couch

[splat]

Simple -- No Compitition --

I know there are other vendors out there , but not as a Whole Groupo.
and the Big money is on New bikes.

ON the road side , they have Campy pushing them to keep Dura Ace/Ultegra on the up and up.

but who is ther eon the Mt bike side ? ever since the demise of Sun Tour ther ehas been nothing, Maybe Sram is up and comer to try and take them on , lets hope so.

[C.P.]

Good point - competition...GO sram GO! - GET THOSE OEM'S!

As far as this specific hub thing goes...comparing my older XT hubs internals(that have tons of uneventful, abusive miles on them) to these, it seems like the rear hub design (axle/freehub specifically) didn't change THAT much from like 96/97 era to now...maybe they are using a different source for materials or something...bah! ...Again - PITA

[splat]

From Back when I used to work In Manufacturing, even if the design hasn't changed at all, there are still some Manufacturing engineers who are tring to do what ever they can to lower the cost to build , usually that means multiple venders and the lowest bid get it. and it just rolls down hill from there venders tring to lower there cost and corners will get cut.

[steve_b]

what's up with shimano quality?

What's everyone's take on Hope and Hugi? I have never used either companies hubs, but have seen them for sale and I know some of the RM people run them. ???

[C.P.]

What's everyone's take on Hope and Hugi?

I personally don't know very much about both Hope and Hugi especially as far as quality vs price paid, and whether they actually are items like Chris King products or some of my old Shimano XT stuff where you bolt'd them on the bike, and forgot about 'em for a season or more....
Both are expensive - like 3 times the cost of a Shimano or SRAM hub.
A few years back, I was on a large group ride and some poor guy's hugi rear hub freehub body blew apart.