I have a Specialized Hard Rock that is about 20 years old. So it's built for a 130mm rear hub rather than the 135 mm rear hubs that are apparently in use today. The rear wheel needs replacement. The bearing races are pitted and the rim is getting to eccentric.

The local bike stores seem to draw a blank on where I can get a high quality hub and rim, as the only ones their suppliers seem to have are real generic ones. Some have suggested using a road hub, which would be 130 mm, and lacing on a good quality mountain bike rim.

Has anyone else faced this situation? What solutions did you find? The rim is a 26x150 Araya rim. Cost is not as important as getting a really solid wheel. It's got a 7 gear cluster, but I'm not anticipating a problem there.

Thanks.

I would go the custom route, probably with a hub marketed for cyclocross and a quality rim. 7speed cassettes are available and should work on the new hub if needed.

I can't believe a shop couldn't come up with a quality 130mm hub suggestion! Like frankenmike says, nothing wrong with a road or cyclocross hub for 130mm spacing. Another idea is at this time consider upgrading to a 135mm hub setup and spread your frame dropouts (assuming it's steel, some thoughts here https://www.sheldonbrown.com/frame-spacing.html). For a rim maybe a Mavic XC717 or for less $ a WTB dual duty. OTOH might be time to consider a new bike rather than putting too much into that one...

I'm not trying to be facetious in asking this (I know, not my usual style); but with a steel frame and only 5mm difference, wouldn't some judicious splaying of the stays yield the newer 135 hub spacing and not mess up chainlain unduly?

It looks like Shimano offered their 7 speed mountain freehubs in both a 130 and 135mm spacing. According to the parts diagrams, the only differences are an extra 5mm spacer in the 135mm hubs, and different axle lengths. So - try hunting down a NewOldStock 7 speed mountain freehub of either width. If all you can find are 135's, you can narrow those. Or you can do as mentioned here and spread the frame.

Geez, these 130mm rear wheels are all over the place. I recycle the axles from them when I build an 8 speed road wheel otherwise I'd be lousy with them. Find a bike flipper in your area and they can set you up. If you're near me, I might be able to set you up.
If you're still stuck, contact All Star Bikes in Cary, NC. I KNOW they carry that rim with that hub. They still sell 27 inch road wheels with freewheel hubs. A MTB wheel is no sweat.

go 135mm
whatz 5mm ? hardly 2.5 per side...
spread those stays and don;t look back...