SRAM problems/SHIMANO

[marmite71]

Hi all .
I know this is more of a tech question but i thought it could do with being on the main stream page .
My brothers having big problems with SRAM rear mech's
he's running a X-9 rear and in just three months its knackered.
(sloppy main bearing & jammed jockey wheels ) I keep telling him he's cleaning it too much .But he used to work in a bike shop & he
only use's the best lubes/grease.
Any body else having problems.
He's that pissed off he says he's going to switch to shimano (XTR 07) .
so should he stick to SRAM & maybe try X-0 or go for shimano
08 xt/07 XTR.
Many thanks PAUL (marmite71)

[disturbedracing]

As far as im aware the only bearing in the sram mech are the jockey wheels. Do you mean the main top knuckle (the part that bolts to the frame)

Because the knuckle doesnt have a spring in the top knucle like shimano there should be no play there as its not piviting on that point. Over time though they do gather a bit of float. but im talking about 1mm. Ive been running sram for over 5 years and havnt really found this a problem.

If he's taking it on and off on a weekly basis then i suppose it would start to wear quicker.

Otherwise talk to fishers the uk supplier and see what they think or can do.

[marmite71]

Thanks for the reply ,yes the top knuckle sorry was having a blond moment & could'nt remember the name of the part .
not only does he get more than 1mm play side too side but up/domn play of more than 1mm ? i'll tell him to get in touch with the suppliers.
his first SRAM rear mech lasted 4+ years

[yetivandal]

I ran a XTR rear meg last year with sram cassette and shifters and chain and had nothing but trouble, what ever i did i could not stop the ghosting, i then changed everything to sram OXs, its the best shifting ive ever had, they work brilliant, no matter how much mud or crap there is, i also tent to run a dry chain, just with a bit WD40, or the dry lube,, all that chain lube stuff just seems to glog every thing up,
they say that sram and shimano are compatible through my experience there not, they clealy work better all in one house!

[Eddy B]

SRAM and Shimano are not compatible, the only SRAM shifters that will work with Shimano are called the Rocket. this is because Shimano have a 2:1 pull ratio and SRAM have a 1:1 pull ratio.

Personally I prefer Shimano.

[tribegrandaddy]

yeah i,m with eddy b go with shimano I us xtr apart from the rear mech which is ultegra with a dura ace cassette but I might change too a shadow mech but only because it,s carbon the only time I did not use shimano was when I was an out + out roadie and then campag record was all I would use but for the dirt in the absence of campag it has to be the big S

[perttime]

I've been running X7 on my AS-X without any problems (as long as the deraileur hanger is straight...). I have little to compare it with but it is waayy better than Deore.

I also like to shift with my thumbs, so prefer to use SRAM shifters.

[marmite71]

A big thankyou for everyones feed back on this subject ,spoke to my brother today and he's going to get in touch with the supplier about the rear mech + he's also going to ask them about the shifters too .
when he replaced the rear mech three months ago he also replaced the shifter pod (rear only/both X-9) the old pod was made up of both alley top/bottom & if you wanted to change the cable ,it was just a case of removing the grub screw and feeding the new cable in .
on the new X-9 pod its ally & plastic and you have no grub screw you have to remove the plastic top cover and faff around holding the spring back to remove cable
He say the guts of the shifter seem to be of poorer quality than before ....Not Impressed.

[EddyB]

I would say that when you look at the internals of X9 and X0 its quite a surprise, is all really cheap stuff.
plus the return spring has to be carefully refitted which I think is a very poor design.
But X0 does have a carbon top cap which i like.

[marmite71]

EddyB said:

I would say that when you look at the internals of X9 and X0 its quite a surprise, is all really cheap stuff.
plus the return spring has to be carefully refitted which I think is a very poor design.
But X0 does have a carbon top cap which i like.

X-0 looks great but comes at a price, is it realy worth the extra dosh compaired to XTR. I'm looking at XTR on my 575 when i build it up .but if money's no abject which do we think
SRAMS X-0 or SHIMANO'S XTR or is it worth looking at the 08XT and useing the savings on better wheels/fork etc

[EddyB]

I'd go XT with an XTR Shadow R/mech.

OR XTR if you can afford it.

My '99 XTR shifters are still working strong in my Indy.

[tribegrandaddy]

i,d go with xtr if you can afford it or the format Eddy b suggests I have been using my xtr shifters for about 7 months now and have not adjusted anything and it shifts with an ultegra mech like a hot knife thru butter and they are well made I expect them to last for quite a while

[yetivandal]

Theres two things i like about Sram XOs over XTR and thats the rear meg is desined not to flap around and hit the rear chainstays when caining it down hill, and two you only shiffed with your thumbs which i is brilliant, but i guess its personal preference, but i have to say iam very impressed with XOs set up.

[Andrew]

The new XT and XTR Shadow mechs get around the problem on mech slap.

So thats Srams unique idea gone then.

[Eddy B]

Plus the new shifters are thumb and finger operated.

Though I think I will be looking at Saint for my next shifters.
I like the minimal design and you can run them outboard of the brakes.