professorbob

I'm thinking about building a new back wheel. My old LX freehub has some pits in one of the races and is on the path to self destruction, so it's time to replace it. I was thinking of just using an XT, but if I'm correct, I saw that they are using aluminum axles now. I'm not so interested in that. Are there any other affordable well-built freehubs on the market for touring. I might be able to splurge for a White Industries M15, but that would be a bit of a reach, financially. Any ideas out there?

seeker333

https://aebike.com/product/shimano-de...u0593-qc30.htm

fietsbob

sub XT are using steel, axles.. If you can swing the 3-400$ phil wood has precision parts

Including a freehub .. Lots of sealed ball and roller bearings.

MichaelW

You are right to be suspicious of the new Alu-axled hubs, they seem to have much more fragile freehub mechanisms and smaller ball bearings.
I'm using the current LX which has been moved from MTB to Trekking within the Shimano lineup. The seals seem to work OK and I have no complaints.

Tourist in MSN

I built up another pair of touring wheels a year ago. At that time Surly was using the XT M770 rear hub (aluminum axle) for the Long Haul Trucker but (according to their 2010 catalog) they were using XT M756L for their cargo bike, the Big Dummy. I took component selection for a cargo bike as an endorsement for the older steel axle hubs and I built my new rear wheel using an M760 XT steel axle rear hub.

Surly 2011 catalog lists the M525 Deore disc version hub for the Big Dummy. Presumably a Deore should work for you if it will work for a cargo bike.

I have not heard of front wheel failures with the aluminum axles, only rear. I was willing to use an aluminum axle XT M770 on the front wheel for my foldup bike.

Nycycle

I would really like to know,,What is Shimano thinking behind this, it has to cost more to build..
I got one in my new LHT 2011,,,I gona do some research and I no care so much $20 bucks either way I just want something that wont need a tow truck.

I got no plans to write off this Deore XT just yet, I got a bunch of MTB pals think they are just dandy and when I asked my contact at the bike store he looked at me funny, said, they never had any issues.
Jury still out in my book.

Carbonfiberboy 

I've never run a Chris King hub before, but our tandem came with two of them. I am so impressed. I hate maintenance and ride in the rain a lot. Bad combination, right? These CK hubs maybe need a look once a year, but even that is incredibly quick. None of that fooling around with repacking or new sealed bearings or any of that stuff. Their insides look like something developed for the space program.

Nycycle

Chris King Hub $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$pendy

professorbob

I agree that the Chris King and Phil Wood hubs are probably pretty darned good, but this is champagne on a beer budget. The LX M570's I have are very good for my purposes. I mis-maintained my rear hub-it got wet inside and I didn't do anything about it. Mea culpa. Would an SLX be the modern replacement for these? And does SLX have rubber seals-or seals at all to keep dirt and water out? In my OP, I said that I might be able to spring for a White Industries. At $250-300, that's a lot of money. CK and PW are more in the $450-550 range. Steep.

rzldzl

Are there real reported problems with the Shiman FH-M770 XT Rear Hub, or is this the steel is better than aluminum argument? I googled for problems and found only one on Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-XT-M77.../dp/B0017OD9KQ. It appears the reviewer was using a 32 hole hub for loaded touring. Maybe he weighed 125 lbs., maybe 275?

I believe this is the third reference to problems with this hub I have encountered since researching a wheel build, but the Amazon reference is the only first person reference I can find. Can anyone provide others?

fietsbob

then again Phil Wood, their freewheel hubs are just fine.
cost much less ..
Thats what I have toured on for years.
Axles dont bend, period.
I built a 48 spoke rear hub, so even if a broken spoke.
So there were spare spokes, already in the wheel.

You could consider modifying one of Shimano's Tandem hubs , they use steel axles.
and can be rebuilt with a narrower axle, and offer 40 and 48 hole drilling.

seeker333

SLX is a center-lock disc hub, although it can be built for use with either rim or Shimano disc brake. The closest match in current Shimano product offering is Deore 590 (black or silver). Because it has same dimension as your LX hub (i'm assuming it's a fairly recent 9spd), you can rebuild your wheel with same spokes and rim.

See post #2.

pexio

The newest LX hubs (660) might be a better choice than SLX since they're rim brake only and would build up to a less dished wheel - at least in the front. Shimano does not actively market the new LX hubs in North America for some reason but do sell them on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-Deore-.../dp/B002K2ON72

https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-Deore-.../dp/B002K2HAYU

Tourist in MSN

Some more comments here:
https://groups.google.com/group/surly...ff3f8455e59681
and here:
https://groups.google.com/group/surly...8d34bfc410f7b4

Nycycle

I emailed Surly, asked some bike shops, read all the stuff here,,,,think I will keep mine and just take it apart every 1K and service it, if it fails it will get a replacement.
I have read more good stories than bad,

I just took mine apart, Looks to me like an improper preload on the bearings could cause an issue, double seals on both sides, hard steel allen head caps fit in the dropouts, I think if you put it together real careful and avoid the car wash it would be a good hub.

professorbob

But one of the problems is that while on tour, you're quite likely to get them wet and dirty with little opportunity to dissasemble and repack them. I'm going to have go out and visit some shops so I can look more closely at what's out there. Thanks to all!