Originally Posted by
garage sale GT
I doubt they have any 7 speed freehubs in stock which will be compatible with your shifters. I am not sure whether they'll work when using only 7 sprockets of an 8-speed cassette, but I think they may.
A 7 speed cassette will work no problem on an 8/9/10 speed Freehub with a spacer.
IMO based on the OP's rate of axle breakage a chromoly axle is just a band aid of the real problem which is the freewheel design itself, once the dropout squareness is checked. Every wheel I've torn apart with a 7-speed freewheel has a bent axle, but these were wheels with solid axles from crappy x-mart bikes. In addition, my friend (130lb) recently broke the axle on his Giant Yukon with a 7S freewheel, and he does not ride hard. I've never seen a broken axle from a Freehub, although I'm sure it's possible.