just thought i'd share this as i don't think it happens very often. a few days ago i camped in the uwharrie forest and in the morning i left to ride to morrseville, nc. i was about half way, near gold hill, nc, when i stopped at a stop sign and as i stepped down on the crank to get going again, i hear a loud pop. i looked down and thought i threw the chain but it was still on. i got off the bike and looked at the chain and it was fine. i then grabbed the crank realized that it was spinning both ways. the freehub exploded, for lack of a better word. had to hitch a ride to salisbury, nc to a bike shop (windsong bike shop). the mechanic took the hub apart and figured out the spindles inside the up broke. less than 3000 miles on that hub. anyway, the wrench at the shop was able to replace the part of the hub without building a new wheel. he took the part off a new mt bike in the shop and replaced it. got back on the road a couple of hours after making it to the shop.

Sorry, I don't think anybody here wants to hear horror stories about XT hubs. Either they have them and their brain is going La La La La La, or they want them and their brain is going La La La La La.

Which model hub? Newer M770 or older model?

Moreover: what seemed to be the cause ?
This is a very rare occurrence indeed.

Model: XT M760 36H Silver
Cause: No clue.

The guys at the bike shop said it's a rare occurrence for this to happen. Anyone else have this happen?

Do a google search for shimano XT hub failure, you're not alone.

Yeah, Mine started to go on the tour I just finished, about 750 miles in. 36h, high flange silver XT. The wrench at Absolute Bikes in Salida, CO said it's a known problem, that the hubs came from the factory with the wrong torque spec on the nuts.

A quick rebuild, a 10-spot, and I was on my way. Lucky. Damn few shops along my route could have turned it around that quick.

The new XT has a fat aluminium axle. Something has to get thinner so they reduced the drive-size bearings and possibly the splined freehub wall thickness. All in the cause of "improving" axle stiffness.
At least you dont have to worry about the dreaded "Jelly Axle" syndome anymore.

I went downmarket to the LX for my new hub. Lets hope.....

I'm touring with this hub right now. It has around 5000km so far. Let's hope it holds out.

Yan, if you've gotten that far, I'd guess you're fine. Still, in your place, I'd consider having it rebuilt whenever it's convenient for my peace of mind.

Captain Dondo who wrote for one of the magazines was notorius for breaking freehubs. I had one of the 10 mm nuts crack but this was caused by me over tightning it. It is also not unusual for them to freewheel in both directions from dirt or rust in the freehub making the pawls stick this can be fixed by running motor oil through the ratchet.