[cvbrewer]

Hey Guys,

My Giant came with 25 mm rims and SMRT 54 rotors (180mm) that are for resin pads only. They seem to work fine.

I’m looking to get a 30 mm Shimano rim (XTWH M8120) for the front to be better suited to a wider tire, and I have two questions.

1. Would it make sense to get an SMRT 64 that would enable me to use other types of pads? It’s like ten bucks more. Would the two rotors be interchangeable fit wise?

2. What type of center lock wrench/ tool will I need for the installation?

Thanks,
CV

 

[Taroroot]

The better rotors are hardened, can use either pad, likely last longer.
Which tool depends on if the lock rings are the external or internal splines. External its same as shimano bottom bracket, internal its same as shimano casette lockring.

 

[cvbrewer]

Thank you. This is great information. According to the listing for the rotor on Jenson, the SMRT 64 comes with an internal splined lock ring, so I now know I ought to be able to use my Shimano cassette tool.

 

[FlaMtnBkr]

Are you sure your wheel uses a centerlock rotor and not a 6 bolt?

If it is a centerlock, does your front wheel use a quick release axle thats skinny or a bigger 15mm thru axle (which technically can also be quick release)? Just because the rotor comes with a certain lock ring doesn't mean it will be the correct one for your setup. But you can use what's on it with the new rotors.

The lock ring will either have teeth on the inside which uses a cassette tool, or teeth that are more like rounded indentations or scallops around the outside that uses the BB tool.

 

[cvbrewer]

When I looked at my existing rim, there were rivets in place of bolts in the six holes, and I could see the spline interface.
But I am actually more interested in the wheel that I am buying, which says it has centerlock. So I bought a matching rotor.

 

[cvbrewer]

Update-I had it backward. The tool goes where the splines aren’t, so internal splines require the external (BB) tool and not the cassette tool.

Ordered a Shimano BB tool on line- measured 41mm and counted notches—16 on the retaining ring. Tool was too small. What a pain.

Put on the ring with channel lock pliers.

 

[FlaMtnBkr]

Not sure what you mean? On the hub there are splines around the outside of a lip and the inside is threaded. The rotor slides over and engages the splines and a lock ring threads in to hold the rotor on. If you have a quick release skinny skewer it doesn't need much room so the hole can be smaller with notches on the inside which a cassette tool will engage. If using a bigger thru hub axle then the notches basically need to be drilled out for the axle to pass. So instead, the outside has indentations/scallops that a BB tool will engage. Other than where the tool meshes with lock ring, they are basically the same. The one with the external indentations (hate to call them notches) that uses the BB tool will work with any axle. The one with the notches on the inside will only work with the old school quick release type axle and probably shouldn't even be made anymore since the other will work.

 

[cvbrewer]

The tool meshing part was my only concern as I wanted to determine what tool I’d need through reading specifications prior to having the drum and ring in hand.
I have a boost through axle and a new deore wheel though, and the tool notches are in the outside of the ring, which you are saying is typical.
I wish I could identify which Shimano BB tool actually fits. I measured 41 mm and counted notches yet the matching tool was too small.

 

[FlaMtnBkr]

Shimano TL-FC32 and TL-FC36 both work and are a flat wrench type tool. Or something like a Park Tool BBT-69.2 (need a better naming system!) that is like a socket. It needs to be 16 notches and 44 mm nominal OD. The socket can have rounded teeth at the very edge that don't engage as well as if it was a square edge like the flat wrench so probably go with a flat type unless it specifically says it works with centerlock.

 

[cvbrewer]

Thank you. It sounds as if my measurement was off by a few mm. Now that I know it is 44mm not 41 mm, I will be able to source a tool.