Bicycle Mechanics - Top swing vs. bottom swing FDs

Will a bike equipped with a top pull/top swing front derailleur be able to swap out with a top pull/bottom swing one?

ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, NOT, PERIOD.

Ok.

What kind of bikes use the bottom swing styles?

[edit - i should try reading the question :crash:]

Ok, maybe I'm not being clear ... here's a couple of FDs that are different:

Bottom swing design:

http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/400/50_0049.jpg

Top swing design:

http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/400/50_0042.jpg

They're both top-pull, meaning that the cable is routed from the top tube, not the down tube. Now, what I want to know is whether these two components can be used interchangeably?

I think it matters on how your cable is routed, its length and your frame. The top fd will obviously sit higher on the tube and the lower fd will sit lower on the tube.

Thats all I know.

ok.

buh-bye.

If the der. is designed to handle the chain ring tooth size and the cable pulls the right direction and the clamp size is correct it will work.
Usually top swings are for compact chain rings(42t) so they mostly work on newer mountian bikes and some hybrids.
I would just get one similar to the one that broke off.

Mr. Chi..........on your top photo, described as 'bottom swing' by you, the cable is routed from the bottom and pulls the cable arm DOWN. This is a bottom pull FD. Derailleur cable arm is pulled UP on top pull FDs. They are two different animals.

designed to clear chainrings and fit on seat tube. top swing for compact, bottom swing for traditional. bottom swing clamps higher on the seat tube, which may or may not be an problem/benefit for different FS frame designs.

Ah, much clearer now. Thanks everyone for your reponses! :D