Replacing Shimano Freehub
 

Hi! First post, been lurking and reading for a while.

I need to replace my Shimano Freehub on my GT Tachyon. Its hanging up and grinding and probably about to fail. I've got about 3000 miles on it.

I've looked on Amazon and some other places on-line and see there are different Shimano hubs available.

How can I identify mine to get the right one? I don't see any numbers or markings on mine.

Can I upgrade to a better one like a Tiagra or Ultegra?

I can handle the repair but just want to get the right part.

Thanks for any help!

You need the correct freehub for the hub, you can't upgrade this component on it's own, it need to fit with the rest of the parts to make the whole hub.

For the part number needed, you first need to ID the hub, what we don't know from the info supplied is what hub you have, is it a Shimano? (not just Shimano compatible?) If it is a Shimano hub, find the part number of the freehub via Shimano the number of the hub is printed on the center of the hub, either directly or on a metallic sticker. If it is another brand, the chance of getting spares is limited, and complete wheel replacement would probably be a cheaper option.

Regardless, for this issue, have you tried a LBS, they will be able to assist you rather than Amazon, who can't ID anything or give advise.

shimano hubs are marked with brand and model number. are you sure you have a shimano branded hub? for an unbranded hub it is easier to get a new wheel than find parts

I took a quick look at Bikepedia and it if is a Tachyon 1 or 1 likely a Shimano hub, it it is a 3 then generic hub.

The part that sounds like you need is called a "freehub body". It's about a $30.00 part. Removal usually takes a 10mm Allen key. They come in 7-speed and 8+speed versions so, if you have a 7-speed now, it will simplify your life to replace it with the same. I've replaced a bunch of them but none for probably a decade. I never paid any attention to the group set the replacement came from and they all fit and worked.

There's some newer ones (FH-RM30 is one) that have very different "splines" where they mount to the hub.

Older Shimano freehub bodies were pretty much interchangeable with one problem. The bodies would fit on almost any hub but the cones, spacers and dust covers/ seals were often model specific. So if you get a different model replacement body, the current seals, etc, may not line up properly so you may have to improvise.

Yes, Its a 2012 model Tachyon 3 with 8 speed rear cassette bought in February 2013.

I've cleaned and lubed the bearings several times and am familiar with the disassembly.
Nothing on the hub shows Shimano or any numbers, but the bike shop says its a "Shimano" type. They have a whole replacement wheel set, less cassette, for $90. I may go that route but thought I could just get a replacement hub body if I could ID it since there's nothing wrong with the rest of it.

I'm not cheap but just getting the hub body will save me about $60.

Thanks.

Sounds like it's a Shimano compatible hub not an actual Shimano hub. Probably a cheap one (that's why it's breaking.) If you can even find parts for this they will eventually fail too. I've never had a Shimano cassette hub fail, though I've heard of it happening before.

I'd recommend a wheel with a Shimano hub or rebuild your current wheel with a Shimano hub if the rim is worthwhile and the cost of rebuilding isn't too high (it might be if you pay a shop to do it.)

+1. Shimano hubs will last forever (or at least close enough) with semi-regular maintenance. :thumb:

If the hub doesn't have Shimano's name and model number on it I would interpret that to mean it isn't a real Shimano hub but one that takes Shimano (or SRAM) cassettes, not replacement parts.

good luck finding parts, because you cant. get a new wheel/hub and be done

It is often cheaper to upgrade a built wheel by purchasing a new hub and swapping the freehub body as well as the matching axle hardware... the hub body by itself is over-priced.