Originally Posted by
cyccommute
The load path isn't to the hub shell, it's to the axle ends and the frame.
The load path is between the spokes and the dropouts; it kinda has to go through the hub shell... Otherwise you wouldn't need a hub shell, would you. I dunno what you're doing with those arrows; it just looks like hand-waving to me. Why can't you draw some lines showing me how forces from/to the spokes get to/from the axle
via your magical ratchet bearings? Don't just point at them and make an unsubstantiated assertion.
As for the preload adjustment, any that is needed is taken care of by the end caps. As there is little need in doing any "adjustment" to the bearings, there is very little adjustment available.
And, finally, I've not seen a bent axle on a Shimano freehub hub. They are far superior to freewheel hubs. But, on the other hand, I've never seen a bent axle on a cartridge bearing hub either.
Um, end caps don't transfer wheel clamping force to cartridge bearings, because preloading radial bearings is a dirty hack. Just like using wheel clamping force to do it would be another dirty hack. Much like giving folks hubs with no bearing preload and passing them off as durable is a dirty hack.
And I just told you I've come across a (through-axle, no less) non Shimano hub (Focus branded) with a broken axle, that looked just like my diagram above,
because the axle is the only thing holding the freehub body in place.