Solid Axle Rear Hubs

[Dean W]

I have heard conflicting stories about XT hubs with the solid rear axle retrofit.

I am thinking of getting a new XT rear hub on a Double Track or Mavic 729 and fitting the solid axle to go on my Bullit. (I would like to stiffen the rear end of the bike).

Does anyone have any experience with putting a solid axle in an XT hub? If so were there any issues. I have heard of these hubs binding and other bad things happening to the hubs. Is this common/true, or were these problems just the result of a poor retrofit (loose cones).

I am trying to gather information to decide what type of rear hub to buy. I would like a 135mm 9mm solid axle. I would prefer not to spend more than $200 on the hub so a Gucci Chris King or Hadley are not options. Besides Formula, any other suggestions (excluding XT)?

Please list pros and cons of your recommendations.

Thanks in advance.

[corey@nsmb.com]

I have found XT freehubs to wear out rather quickly.

I'm a fan of Formula hubs. Cheap and solid performers. They work well and are easy to service.

I wish I could help more...The RMX I tested had a XT with a through axle kit, but I never had to touch it. Sorry!

[TheGiggler]

There's the new "Woodman"(sp) which are pretty cheap and supposedly burly. Also new Synchros hubs.

i would personally stay away from Solid axle XTs. i've just heard of too many people having issues with them. but obviously it all depends on your weight and riding style. from an engineering standpoint it's really no surprise that they'd fail, as obviously they were never designed to handle a solid axle.

[Wayne P]

I went through 3 XT rear hubs on solid axles in 2001. Never again.

[Rusty]

Originally posted by thedude
Does anyone have any experience with putting a solid axle in an XT hub?

My buddy and I refit a new XT hub with the solid axle for my Banshee Morphine. The hardest part was initially getting the threaded axle centered. My buddy knew how to set the hub quite well by putting the wheel in the frame and checking for any play from a loose cone.

There were no binding problems but one of the dust seals came loose at some point and one side of the hub dried out. No damage was done to any components. This was also after about a year of hard riding though mud, rain, etc. My buddy did the rebuild and there are no problems to date.

[slider32]

I put a 10mm solid axle on an XT hub this summer, It has caused no problems after most of a season dirt jumping and street riding.

People complaining about cones binding or loosening off didn't tighten the lock nuts enough.

Even though I have a formula rear hub that has held up well, I tend to stay away from them after the 2001 fiasco with their hubs exploding on peoples first rides.

[Ed Anger]

Originally posted by thedude
...I am trying to gather information to decide what type of rear hub to buy. I would like a 135mm 9mm solid axle... Besides Formula, any other suggestions (excluding XT)?

Please list pros and cons of your recommendations.

...

I've been fairly well impressed by my experience with the Dirty hubs.

Pros: Inexpensive -I got mine for around $90, I think.
10mm thru-axle quick-release - no nuts to mess with.
Sealed bearings.

Cons: Few (16) engagement points - but, so have XT and Formula.
Requires some attention - no lockring/locknut arrangement means that you have to keep an eye on the tension on the bearings.

[peachy-B]

why would changing the axle into something solid change the durability of the XT? or why would any binding happen just coz u changed into solid? way back when, we never had quick release.... they were all solid.

[M13]

Give it a shot for the cartridge bearing hubs as well.

the Dirty's 10x135mm Hustler hubs come with solid steel axle and have cartridge bearings to sweeten things up.

http://www.dirtyparts.ca/hustler.html

[ArrowRacer]

I put a solid axle in my xt a little more than a year ago, have had no problems. Like Peachy-B, I don't see how changing the axle is going to make your hub wear any faster... =/ unless you tighten it down wrong or put it back together wrong some how...

[TheGiggler]

the stock shimano axles flex... witness bent QRs.

so the whole hub body is actually designed around the axle flexing somewhat.

then when you drop in a rigid thru axle, the axle is way, way stiffer. and that will actually place more load and force on the hub shell on big hits as the axle no longer flexs.

basically the XT hubs just were not designed to run thru axles.

i'm not saying it can't be done and even work... it's just not going to work for everyone trouble free.

[ArrowRacer]

Thanks for the explination, clears things up a bit.

[Keefer]

I've ran a Formula 10mm thru axle rear hub for the past 3 years and had little to no problems with it other than servicing every once in awhile. I singlespeeded it for about a year and a half as well as using gears. Once I ran the chain too tight and screwed up the freehub, but it was a pretty easy fix.

[sanrensho]

Originally posted by statix
so the whole hub body is actually designed around the axle flexing somewhat.

Specifically, which parts of the XT hub body are designed around the axle flexing? And how are they designed differently to work with the axle flexing?

[Millstone]

I think they last longer on hardtails.

[TheGiggler]

Originally posted by sanrensho
Specifically, which parts of the XT hub body are designed around the axle flexing? And how are they designed differently to work with the axle flexing?

you know that i haven't spoken with Shimano's engineers.

but i stand by what i said. i've bent so many QR skewers, i know how flexy the hubs are.

imagine hitting a big drop and the hub/qr flexes enough that your QR skewer has a nice bend in it. now do the same thing with a solid axle that does not flex. the hub sees the exact same load, but now it is entirely dissapated in the hub shell.

it's like any system: only as good as the weakest link. and when you put in those thru axles the hub shell becomes the weak link causing all sorts of issues.

that's just my take.

even disgregarding this, the quality of the XT and lower freewheels is an absolute joke and enough reason for me to stay away.

[peachy-B]

i guess my take on this is the statement that the hub is designed around the fact that it flex. i'm not disputing that it flexes. i believe u, but to say it was designed that way... a stretch. i would say that with the load you're giving it (myb you're going big) it can't handle the load and so it flexes. any hub will flex given the right load.

also, XT aren't meant for hard (drops) riding anyways, it's from the days of when mtn bikes were now what we call XC bikes. that's what the saint is for.

for the ones who wanted to use a solid axle, depending on use and set-up, it should work no problem.... as some have testified. if u give me a solid axle for instance, i'll probably use it for 10 yrs and have no problem w/ it. :D coz the biggest drop i do is just around my height.

[peachy-B]

http://http://www.dirtyparts.ca/images/components/hubs/hub_photo_hustler.gif

btw, is this axle hollow or solid. must be a real heavy one if it's solid.

(dirty hustler pix refuse to show up)

can this axle/hub be used on the saint derailluer w/o modification?

[sanrensho]

Originally posted by statix
you know that i haven't spoken with Shimano's engineers.


Sorry if my post sounded sarcastic, it sure wasn't meant to. I am genuinely curious why some people report problems with this setup, while others don't.

According to your description, the hub shell should crack/fail using a solid axle. Is this a consistent pattern among those who have had problems with this setup?

If there isn't a consistent pattern of failure, then I would suspect reasons that are not necessarily related to the hub design.

[TheGiggler]

sorry, i didn't have to be so defensive :)

yup, my understanding is the problems people have is because of things other than the axle bending/cracking/failing :)

and that's what i've had...

[King of Fasia]

Check out www.dirtyparts.ca and take a look at their hubs, it's a local guy who builds quality skookum parts (especially hubs which use their own freehub body design) which might be able to help you with your concern. i own a rear and a front 20mm and they are very nice plus they are realtively cheap $120 for the rear and $100 for the front? i don't know the exact prices but check them out, they are definately better than formula.:)

[Shmoe]

I must be different, Ive trashed a pair of fomulas but my bolt on xt is on its third season now. Its been excellent. Very simple, not much can go wrong really.

[sanrensho]

Originally posted by statix
yup, my understanding is the problems people have is because of things other than the axle bending/cracking/failing :)

and that's what i've had...

You mean the shell broke on your XT hub? Approximately where on the shell?

[Hepcat]

I'm thinking the flex thing is made up nonsense? :lol: Sorry. :(

People are toasting intenal parts on their hubs, like bearings. Not external parts like shells or whatever.

I think the probem is that XT's are not really the best choice for really hard riding, regardles of axle choice. At the time they were originally designed they probably weren't slated for North Shore abuse?

I toasted the bearings in an XT with within 6 months, since then I've switched to a through axle and have been riding it problem free for a year and a half now. So who knows.