Bicycle Mechanics - Newbie Question. Compatibility?

I have read quite a bit of the info on ParkTools and Sheldon Brown etc. but I am still a little fuzzy on what works with what? Where can a person go to learn about things like...

1. What deraillers work with what deraillers? If i have an 8 speed can i just buy any 8 speed rear derailler?

2. If I want to upgrade shifters can i just upgrade the shifter or does the derailler have to be upgraded as well?

3. Will any 8 speed casette work with my existing drive train?

4. Will any crankset work with my existing drive train?

Bump.

Is this just too dumb of a question or does nobody know. Maybe nobody wants to say? To keep it simple..... Will any 8 speed rear derailler work on any 8 speed drive train?

1. Im pretty sure thats how it works.

2. Shimano shifters are compatible with each other. EX. I had XTR shifters w/XT rear derailleur.

3. Some SRAM shifters work only with SRAM "ESP" deraulleurs. All shimano stuf is interchangeable.

4. some cranksets need specific BB. EX. is the truvativ ISIS crankset. They claim it needs the ISIS BB also.

If you keep brand to brand(Shimano-Shimano, Sram-Sram) and gearing matched (8-8, 9-9) You will have no problems.

The question can get complicated however, For instance, Some Sram der willnot work with Shimano shifters, that would be the ESP models but others will. Nine speed Shimano REAR der will work with just about anything but a Sram ESP shifter. The front Shimano nine speed der will often rub the chain on a eight speed chain. The eight speed chain will work on just about anything eight cogs or lower. And on and on.

SO:
1. You don't say what shifters you have but if they are not Sram ESP then any shimano der will work, eight, nine doesn't matter.
2.If you want to upgrade shifters you are pretty much looking at nine speed stuff. At a minimum you will need shifters, cassette, chain, chainrings. I have known some guys running an old eight rear der, but I would still get a new nine rear der. You might be able to get away with your old front der, the difference between eight and nine front der. is the width of the gate. So with the eight you will probably get slow shifting or need to overshift.
3. If you have eight speed shifting, any eight speed cassette will work.
4. No. If it comes with chainrings you need to get one set up eight speed, the spacing of the chainrings is a little different. If you just get cranks, you can get the correct rings seperate. You also need to match your cranks and BB spacing/spindle type.

2.If you want to upgrade shifters you are pretty much looking at nine speed stuff. At a minimum you will need shifters, cassette, chain, chainrings. I have known some guys running an old eight rear der, but I would still get a new nine rear der.


Why do you say I would pretty much be looking at 9 speed stuff? Is that because that is really all that is available? Couldn't i stick a set of 8 speed Deore shifters in place of my cheap EF29's? (Shimano) I have an Alivio derailler.

If you keep brand to brand(Shimano-Shimano, Sram-Sram) and gearing matched (8-8, 9-9) You will have no problems.

I thought that Dura-ace 8-speed was not compatible with all other Shimano 8-speed.