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DT350 Rear Hub: Noisy?

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rochrunner

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I'm looking into getting wheels built for my e-bike, which is not MTB-style but has 12x110 and 12x148 Boost hub spacing. One recommendation is to use DT350 hubs. For various reasons, I really want the freehub ratcheting noise to be a lot quieter than the Specialized OEM hub. It's hard to gauge this without actually having a wheel to spin, but how noisy is the 350 considered to be?

My road bike and hybrid are very quiet in this regard. I know that an MTB hub and especially e-bikes generally require a more robust mechanism, but OTOH my wife's Trek e-bike is very quiet.

Any comments?
 
#2 ·
Depends on which ratchets are in that hub. More teeth = louder.

Current 350's come with 36t ratchets.

350 Hybrid (e-bike) hubs come with 24t ratchets.

I run 18t (what the older 350's used to come with) ratchets in mine, because a lack of noise is important to me.

I frequently install 18t ratchets in the wheels I build for customers, too.
 
#5 ·
As stated above, they 18 and 24T ratchets are almost silent if you keep up on service with the proper grease.
Take 10-15 minutes to do a quick clean and lube.
The 36T ratchet is a also quiet, but will make a bit of noise earlier than the lower engage ratchets prior to service.
54T can be loud, but it's nothing like an I9 hub.
If quiet is important to you and you want to run the higher engagement ratchets, then just service them frequently.
The 36T in my brand new 350 hub is almost silent prior to first ride.
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
Thanks for all the clear, concise answers to my questions. It sounds like the 350 is the answer and I'll keep the lowest tooth count that's available. Once I looked at a Youtube about lubing them, I can see that they work on a different principle from the common pawl-based hubs and was impressed by that (I'm a mechanical engineer by education) and can see why it would be quieter especially when greased.

Things were so much simpler when I last had custom wheels made for a road bike back in the rim brake/QR era. Literally the only technical "decision" was Shimano or Campagnolo! ;)
 
#11 ·
I've also stuck with 18point on my DT350's; I find the loud hubs really annoying. at this somewhat low engagement angle, it IS a bit noticeable, but not too bad, for me to date not worth the change. I'll also have to decide shortly, though, as pointed out above, new 350's come stock with 36pt's. The worst of it is - it's only mtb's ridden aggressively where it really matters in a technical/functional sense - but those are also the bikes I ride in the woods where the noise is most painful! Built-in bear-bell I suppose :(

While I know the DT 36pt's are louder - I honestly don't know exactly how much as I don't own a 36pt, and my friends hubs are either different brands or also 36pt. Anyone have a video they could link they know is "objective"?
 
#12 ·
rochrunner said:
One recommendation is to use DT350 hubs.
Click to expand...
I should add to this part of your question - absolute +100 for DT350's. I believe I have broken every other hub I've owned (from well-maintained XT loose-balls, to salsa/surly; also freehub bodies on XT's and a name-brand xD (can't remember brand). I now have more miles on my dt350's then those hubs saw (including my BFD which is ... heavy? hauling the family) - zero issues with dt350's.
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
high_desert_mud said:
I've also stuck with 18point on my DT350's; I find the loud hubs really annoying. at this somewhat low engagement angle, it IS a bit noticeable, but not too bad, for me to date not worth the change. I'll also have to decide shortly, though, as pointed out above, new 350's come stock with 36pt's. The worst of it is - it's only mtb's ridden aggressively where it really matters in a technical/functional sense - but those are also the bikes I ride in the woods where the noise is most painful! Built-in bear-bell I suppose :(

While I know the DT 36pt's are louder - I honestly don't know exactly how much as I don't own a 36pt, and my friends hubs are either different brands or also 36pt. Anyone have a video they could link they know is "objective"?
Click to expand...
According to @mikesee they have a "Hybrid" hub with 24t, so probably quieter than 36t but not 18t either. My bike is mainly in the hybrid category and I'm sure that hub would be suitable if the 18t is not available. I won't be having these built until next winter when my bikes are in my shop for maintenance, so...
 
#14 ·
rochrunner said:
According to @mikesee they have a "Hybrid" hub with 24t, so probably quieter than 36t but not 18t either. My bike is mainly in the hybrid category and I'm sure that hub would be suitable if the 18t is not available. I won't be having these built until next winter when my bikes are in my shop for maintenance, so...
Click to expand...
If your new hub comes with 36 tooth I think you'll be quite happy with it. It is way way quieter than all these ridiculously loud hubs on the market these days.
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
Thanks -- great video! Just by coincidence, I dropped by my Specialized dealer yesterday and found that some of their higher-end MTBs come with the latest DT350 hubs installed. I gave them a spin and the 36t default ratchet sound was acceptable. if the 18t is as much quieter as the video indicates, I'll be very happy. My wheel builder has told me that regardless whether I get the newer or older hubs, they can install whatever ratchet I like (at the appropriate cost, obviously)
 
#17 ·
rochrunner said:
Thanks -- great video! Just by coincidence, I dropped by my Specialized dealer yesterday and found that some of their higher-end MTBs come with the latest DT350 hubs installed. I gave them a spin and the 36t default ratchet sound was acceptable. if the 18t is as much quieter as the video indicates, I'll be very happy. My wheel builder has told me that regardless whether I get the newer or older hubs, they can install whatever ratchet I like (at the appropriate cost, obviously)
Click to expand...
New 350's come 36t nowadays. Folks are giving away 18t ratchets so don't go paying for those unless they're like 20 bucks.
 
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