jimx200

I almost completely tore off my rear derailer on my Hardrock.....it's toast. I think it's a good time to upgrade from Alievo to deore. Questions: do I need to change front derailer to match the deore on rear? What's difference between XT and XR? Best place/price to get these components? Any other components like SRAM work to? Opinions on SRAM. Assume Shimano Deore will fit on my Aleivo cassette?
Many thanks for the help!

MadMan2k

I think just about any derrailuer would work, as long as it's the same number of gears... Maybe even a different one. The Sram X.7 seems to be pretty popular, and it's like $45.

phantomcow2

Deore is 9 speed, alivio is 8 speed. So you will want to change out your cassette to a 9 speed also. However this will require new shifters. by XR i think you mean XTR. XTR is shimanos "race" level stuff, if you ask me its way overpriced and most likely less durable than XT. There comes in a point in cycling products where as you go higher on the great totem poll of cycling products, things actually get weaker to get lighter. The front derailleur will be fine. The best deal you will find is....
https://www.pricepoint.com/detail/128...leur-COMBO.htm
SRAM stuff is fantastic. X.7 is their best group in my opinion. Its lightish, strong and very cheap! Replacement derailleurs are under 40 bucks

swifferman

So if I previously had an Acera RD, then I could just replace it with an SRAM X.7? Acera would've been 8 gears...

jimx200

madman, phantom, thanks for the info., the sram combo looks great. Is this a fairly easy bolt on?

phantomcow2

Do you mean is the sram stuff easy to put together? I would say so, its no different than putting together any other shifter/derailleur setup except hte 1:1 ratio means it isnt so picky so if you ask me setting up shifting takes less time. You have to get used to the fact that you wont have a barrel adjuster on the derailleur itself, its on the shifter. I used to dislike this but now i dont becuase i can adjust while on the ride

troie

That is incorrect. You can use a 9 speed derailer with an 8 speed cassette and 8 speed shifters. Ask me how I know this. Go on, ask me.

phantomcow2

I know you can use 9 speed derailleurs with 8 speed cassettes with enough tinkering but if your using a 9 speed cassette i would not want 8 speed shifters.

troie

Well yeah, no one wouldnt.

Tinkering? What tinkering? I bought my Deore XT Mega 9 rear derailer back in 2003. I had been riding for a month, complete newb to mtb's. I slapped it on, attached the cable and it was ready to go. Took me about 20 minutes with no "tinkering". Have you ever tried it?

phantomcow2

I used a 9 speed derailleur with 7 speed shifters+cassette. Does that count?

troie

Not really because he has 8 speed shifters. My point is that he doesnt need a new cassette and new shifters. 9 speed is a waste anyway.

phantomcow2

he doesnt need a new cassette+shifters but if he wants to upgrade to 9 speed which i thought he was considering, then he obviosuly will. I dont know why you say 9 speeds a waste, it very nice i think. Its just one extra cog, and readily available. SRAM 9 speed cassetts can be found for under 30 bucks

troie

But he doesnt mention 9 speed anywhere in his post.

Besides, how many cogs in a 9 speed does an average rider use. 4 maybe 5? Id be willing to bet that those are roughly the same sized cogs on an 8 speed cassette. Thats what makes it a waste. More weight + less advantages = bad idea. But thats just my opinion.

MadMan2k

I'd like a 4 speed cassette or so... 30, 24, 18 and 12.

Sp@eder

How do you know this?

Maelstrom 

I run that setup on my gf's bike. deore rear deraileur and 8 spd cassette and shifters. Works wonderfully ...

It came stock on the bike and I have left it as is, even buying an 8spd cassette to replace it.

troie

Because I run a 9 speed derailer on an 8 speed cassette with 8 speed shifters.

Drunken Chicken

jimx200

Thanks a bunch guys....I am ready to place an order with Pricepoint....should I go with the sram 7 combo (shifters/derailer) at $79. or Shimano LX rear derailer at $56., or the Shimano XT rear at $65. (both shimano's are derailer only). Guess I'm just not familiar at all with SRAM. And yes, my 8sp. cassette is in good shape and see no reason to change it.
BTW, my rear derailer is ACERA and not Alevio as I first posted. Assume everything will bolt on ok?
Thanks again.

Maelstrom 

Eveyrthing will fit fine and I would go lx. Will be fine.

troie

Which SRAM x.7 combo? Because most of them are 9 speed shifters which wont work for your 8 speed cassette.

willtsmith_nwi

A derailleur is an analog device. It does not index. It simply moves propotionally to cable pull over a given spacing.

The size of a 8 and 9 speed cassette is EXACTLY the same. The difference is that a 9 speed cassette has an extra gear, thus the spacers are thinner as are the cogs.

Indexing over the cassette is performed by the index shifter.


In response to the original poster. If you have an Alivio derailleur stock, chances are your shifters are low end as well. Those Alivio pods ... they're junk and they WILL break.

Do yourself a favor and upgrade to SRAM. The 1:1 cable actuation ratio makes the system more robust. It's "set it and forget it". Shimano 2:1 ratio is flaky and very senstive to cable slop.

https://www.pricepoint.com/detail/128...leur-COMBO.htm

An X.7 derailleur/shifter set will cost about $80. Add a pair of Avid Levers and you'll be set. You may even wish to consider the greater shifting capabilities of Grip Shifters ;-)

Once you've gone SRAM, you'll never go back.

willtsmith_nwi

There is no such thing as a 9 speed vs 8 speed derailleur. Derailleurs index over a range. All the current mountain bike derailleurs are 8/9 speed compatible. If Shimano squeezed an extra cog into an existing freewheel and made a 10 speed shifter, all Shimano derailleurs would be compatible.

willtsmith_nwi

Careful ... I'm not sure that Pricepoint's combos include 8 speed shifters. You may want to call them.

If you're a lightweight, a 9 speed upgrade may be a good move. If you're a heavyweight, you should probably stick with eight speed (stronger chain and cogs).

Added SRAM 8 speed

https://www.bikeparts.com/search_resu...997_191%2E7165
https://www.bikeparts.com/search_results.asp?ID=GS200984
https://www.bikeparts.com/search_results.asp?ID=GS200167
https://www.bikeparts.com/search_results.asp?ID=GS200317


Eight speed parts are becoming harder to come by. Last year Pricepoint had 8 speed combos in X.7. The irony is that SRAM added 8 speed in X.9 this year. Some people just prefer 8 speed since it requires less precision in indexing and it's tougher. A pair of X.9 8 speed grip shifters is in my future.

jimx200

Problem solved...went down to Precision and they had a big sale going on, found a XT and got it for $49., also got my 10% off for members. Bolted right on, new cable and this thing shifts smooooooth. I never thought about 9 speed, my cassette is fine, scarred by ok. Last thing I need is a smaller chain...at 215-220lbs., I don't want to power stroke and snap it....and my nads too.
Thanks everybody, I appreciate all the good info.