Mountain Biking - Should it be replaced?

Hey guys, well, lets start with my predicament. I have a derailleur that is 3 years old, its a Shimano XT and it seems to be ghost shifting, or just not shifting at all. It shifts when i'm walking my bike...So i'm wondering, should i replace it with a SRAM X.9? or should i try to adjust it. And how often should a derailleur be replaced because i have no clue?

try adjusting your bike or if its totally screwed up and you got no patience in adjusting it, find some more problems from your bike and send it to your LBS to deal with it. And I have no clue when to change my derailleur, for me, if its broken then I will replace it or if I got extra money to burn with

It sounds like it needs an adjustment if it is ghost shifting. Should be about $10 at your lbs. They should also check the hanger, if that is tweeked, no matter how dialed you set up the derailleur, it's not going to be perfect. If it is not shifting at all, that might be a problem with your shifter. Over the years, the pawls in the shifter become brittle, and the shift just won't catch.

If you were to replace the XT w/ X.9, you'll have to replace the shifters as well.

In short, take it your lbs, they'll be able to tell you if it needs an adjustment, or if it time for some new components.

Yeah, i know that if i replace with X.9 i'll need to get new shifters, if i end up doing that, which i'm pretty sure i will, i'm just going to go with X.0 gripshifts

good for you, I always wanted to use gripshifts just that when I got my Anthem, my dealer doesnt have em anymore :(

Get the shop to try to tune it up. If they can't then let me just tell you this...you won't be dissapointed with the X-9. Best of luck with getting it worked out!

I love my new LX shifter :D, 2 way release rocks

I went with X.7 and Attack Trigger shifter, saved some money and they work great.

somehow I like the looks of the New Shimano LX RD rather then XT, it looks cleaner

Its almost definitely not the rd. Most likely its an adjustment issue.

I went with X.7 and Attack Trigger shifter, saved some money and they work great.

Correct me if I'm wrong, X.7 is 1:1, and Attack is 2:1, is it not?

yeah

How old are your cables and housing?

How old are your cables and housing?
Probably 3 years old... ;)

I was going to say your cables probably need to be replaced, but never beat me to it!

It probably just needs a good tune-up. www.parktool.com and go to the repair guide for DIY.

If it shifts fine in 'lets say' the bottom half of the gear range, but not the top, then your derailleur hanger is probably bent. You can usually straighten them up if not too bad of shape, but I always buy two at a time. That way I always have (and carry) a spare with me.

Get the shop to try to tune it up. If they can't then let me just tell you this...you won't be dissapointed with the X-9. Best of luck with getting it worked out!

I'm dissapointed with mine. (slightly) I don't fall on mine or bang it on rocks. Mine has developed a little bit of lateral play in the bushing that is on the mounting bolt/shaft.

My XT has definately outlasted the X.9

new shimano LX, XT, XTR pulleys are both bearings

Probably 3 years old... ;)

Your cables and housings may be holding the RD, don't condemn you RD on an older bike like this until you check your cables and housings!:beer: