What hub do you currently have?

 

Do you mean the freehub or wheel hub?
I couldn't find out either because

• I don't have the tools to remove it yet
• The rear wheel hub part no. Isn't listed

 

Freehubs are not universal. Let us know your hub, then we can assist. You need to figure out the part number or link for an HG freehub that fits your rear hub specifically.

 

See above reply. I can't work out what the rear hub is even with the serial number listed.

 

What rim? What bike? Maybe those will help us help you.

 

It's a specialized rim. The only thing I could find was this from the original bike spec

Specialized alloy, hookless, tubeless ready, 25mm inner width

 

Given the number of different hubs and freehubs and the lack of any easy ID on this hub, it may just require removing the existing freehub and seeing what is there. Maybe your Specialized dealer might have some more info, or access to manuals with exploded diagrams. I've got one set of Roval wheels, but I've never had the freehub off.

 

what year what specific model specialized

so we can check the specs sheet for that year

or just pull off the cassette and send a picture of the freehub as it
is attached to the hub

 

just pull off the cassette and send a picture of the freehub as it
is attached to the hub

This - in all honesty:
Picture = 1K words.
I betcha you post that baby -> case closed.

 

this looks like it [but yours may be different driver ]

Hub Rear, Ta, 12x148, 28h, Disc, 6-bolt, Shimano 10-spd Fhb, Bear Pawl (bmb-00412o1a).

https://www.tradeinn.com/bikeinn/en/specialized-mtn-10s-rear-hub/138672741/p

 

This is what I think the wheel hub is, but not 10 speed...

I mean the free hub body like the thing in the link I posted.

 

Don't NX cassettes use the HG free(whatever!)?
From the intrawebs: "The Sram NX 12 speed cassette uses the Shimano HG freehub body"

 

I’m no expert but I know this to be true. SRAM NX uses an HG free hub. No need to disassemble, take pics, etc.

 

That’s news to me.

You're welcome!

Freewheels are an old school gear cluster with the ratchet mechanism built in.

Freewheel is the generic technical term for the part on the bike that allows the sprocket to rotate at a smaller rate than the hub (or more accurately at negative speed with respect to the hub shell).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freewheel

Some people also know the word freewheeling for rolling on a bike without pedals being driven by the rear wheel as it is in a "fixie".

Shimano first brought free hubs to the mass market

Not only that, Shimano invented the word "Freehub". They wanted to point out that the freewheel is an integral part of the hub in their then new design.

but almost all hubs use some form of that system now.

No. The Shimano freehub design bolts the freewheel to the hub shell and includes a structural axle bearing in the freewheel. Shimano's design eliminated bent axles, in particular for non-preloaded, solid axles with a nut.
In most non-Shimano rear hubs today, the axle sees a bending load between the hub shell and the freewheel body.

 

No. The Shimano freehub design bolts the freewheel to the hub shell and includes a structural axle bearing in the freewheel. Shimano's design eliminated bent axles, in particular for non-preloaded, solid axles with a nut.
In most non-Shimano rear hubs today, the axle sees a bending load between the hub shell and the freewheel body.

Here are examples of Shimano freehub-style freewheels (this actually a Sram model) and a non-freehub freewheel, both use Shimano's Hyperglide interface for the cassette.

 

ok how about freehub body, is that better?

Not to me.
If the hub is a freehub, then the freehub body would the shell, the thing that has the spokes laced to.

I don't see a reason why not calling it freewheel (body). Some call it driver, even here in this thread. Certainly better than freehub or freehub body.

When I order freehubs from qbp for any hub brand I sure as heck don't look under the freewheel sub-category. All of them are listed as freehubs, that's what the industry calls them so that's good enough for me.

Google bike freewheel and see what comes up.

Yeah, I know. I wonder what the origin of this is. I doubt this came from engineers in the bike industry. Must have been a confusion by consumers or sales people that got out of control.

Shimano called it freewheel body in the 1990 catalog.

 

Right so what people are calling a freehub body is not a freehub? Even the Shimano part numbering (FH) suggests 'free hub'???

So, to get back to my original question...

Can anyone point me to a 'ratcheting thing' that is not the wheel hub (thing spokes attach to) and interfaces between the NX cassette and the wheel hub?

Does the SRAM one above work ?

 

I have that hub. It came with an HG driver (under the NX 12 speed cassette)
If you want to to an XD driver you can buy one from Specialized themselves.
That's what I did in order to run a lighter SRAM cassette.
I'll dig out the part no if I still have it.
You can pull the driver off by hand, no tools needed.

Complete with metal shavings from my first install attempt
🤦

 

Ah finally someone with my problem!!

It really came off on its own? Really what I want to do is inspect the bearings on both the freehub and the wheel hub.

 

That’s news to me. Freewheels are an old school gear cluster with the ratchet mechanism built in. Shimano first brought free hubs to the mass market but almost all hubs use some form of that system now.

He is right though. Structurally, modern quad bearing rear hubs are more like screw-on freewheels of ye-olde-time than the original Shimmy freehubs. Modern hubs only work reliably because axles grew from ~9mm to about 15 to 17 these days.

Yeah, I know. I wonder what the origin of this is. I doubt this came from engineers in the bike industry. Must have been a confusion by consumers or sales people that got out of control.

When Shimmy released the cassette freehub, their only competition were screw-on freewheels. The freehub was patented, so when it turned out that the market wants 'freehubs' a plethora of pretend designs that were utilizing the cassette concept emerged. Most were not, technically, freehubs, but looked like one, thus the name stuck for any rear hub with a cassette.

 

He is right though

I disagree but neither of our opinions matter. The industry that produces and sells these products calls this a freewheel-

and they call this a freehub-

You guys can call them whatever you want.

 

Right so what people are calling a freehub body is not a freehub?

See the Shimano graphics above. "Freehub" is sort-of-a trademark for a specific hub design. A hub is the complete assembly in the center of the wheels where to spokes attach to.
Some people, not all, call the freewheel a "freehub", which is totally nonsensical. Others call any cassette rear hub "freehub", which is technically also nonsense. But that's how some people call things.

Even the Shimano part numbering (FH) suggests 'free hub'???

Shimano FH parts are the hubs.
FH freewheels use don't use FH, as far as I know. Y3SL98030 is a part number for an 8-speed freewheel.

When Shimmy released the cassette freehub, their only competition were screw-on freewheels. The freehub was patented, so when it turned out that the market wants 'freehubs' a plethora of pretend designs that were utilizing the cassette concept emerged. Most were not, technically, freehubs, but looked like one, thus the name stuck for any rear hub with a cassette.

Suntour did have a real freehub design, they even called it that way in the 1990 catalog. I'm not sure IIRC, the difference might have been that the bolt connecting the freewheel to the hub shell threaded into the freewheel in Suntour while it threads to the hub in Shimano designs.
Are you sure the Freehub design was patented? I didn't find anything saying the name "Freehub" was an actual, registered or unregistered, trademark.

I disagree but neither of our opinions matter. The industry that produces and sells these products calls this a freewheel-

This picture clearly shows sprockets on a freewheel.

and they call this a freehub-

As usual, you are generalizing your experiences and ideas.
Some in the industry call things this way. Probably mostly marketing and sales people. Perhaps some younger engineers today, too. Who knows.
Google "Y3SL98030", and you'll find plenty of hits for "freewheel". Not too surprising as Shimano still calls it freewheel

https://dassets.shimano.com/content/dam/global/cg1SHICCycling/final/ev/ev/EV-FH-M475-2198B.pdf

You guys can call them whatever you want.

Thanks for stating the obvious. We aren't alone though.
Look at DT Swiss

To me, people who call a freewheel a freehub don't know what they talk about. And this might apply to pro mechanics, if they use and defend this wording, and this is all "news to them".
Shimano and DT Swiss, two of the most relevant bike freewheel inventors and makers, don't. (Despite DT does call the freewheel (body) "freehub body" on the same web page, probably because of the very common misconception amongst miseducated consumers and shop staff who they don't want to confuse.)

 

As usual, you are generalizing your experiences and ideas.
Some in the industry call things this way.

If by “some” you mean 99% then ok. How long have you worked in a his industry?

 

Hi,

I've been trying to work out what freehub to replace my own. I have a SRAM NX 12 speed 11-50t cassette.

I'm reliably informed I need a Shimano HG freehub but when I search this in Google I get a load of options that are not HG!!

I found this on Amazon
Shimano Freehub Body Replacement F/BODY FH3500 Sora,Black Amazon.co.uk
It says for Sora, is that wrong?

So, again, I think you already have an HG on your wheel. Unless it's damaged, I don't see why you need a new one.

Is it your plan to replace the 12 spd NX cassette with a 12 spd Shimano cassette? If so, I think you can already do that. Remove the NX and put the Shimano on it. They both use the same system, AFAIK.

Part of the confusion is that the freehub/hub assembly is in two parts. The "female" part that the spokes are attached to and the "male" part, to which the cassette is attached. All HG freehubs work with NX and Shimano (HG) cassettes, but the difference is in the "rachet "connection between the two parts of the freehub/hub. For example, I have a Torch hub on one bike and a Hydra hub on another. Both take SRAM GX and above (in price) cassettes, but they are not interchangeable in how they interact with the "female" part of the system - the hub - because the rachet mechanisms are different.

Sorry about the weird terminology, but I feel like I'm walking through a rhetorical mine field!

 

Right, thanks. So I think my issue is I don't know what the wheel side part of the hub is, and probably won't till I pull the cassette off and see what part it is...

My hidden agenda is to see whether the bearings need servicing.

 

Here is Sheldon Brown's overview of the freewheel and Freehub:
Shimano Cassettes & Freehubs (sheldonbrown.com)

I was working in bike shops when Shimano introduced the Freehub. We used the terms "freehub body" and "cassette" to help customers differentiate between the cogs that slid onto a hub with the freewheel mechanism built into the hub and the "freewheel" cogs that screwed onto a threaded hub. Industry-wide it became the norm to call the freewheel mechanism on a freehub type rear hub the "freehub body" (and more recently the "driver") while thread-on mechanisms were referred to as a "freewheel."

This was similar to the way we used "clipless" to help customers differentiate between the new type of retention pedals that did not accept or require toe clips to attach the foot to the pedal, and the traditional pedals everyone was used to. The terminology stuck, whether it was technically correct or not.

 

I was working in bike shops when Shimano introduced the Freehub. We used the terms "freehub body" and "cassette" to help customers differentiate between the cogs that slid onto a hub with the freewheel mechanism built into the hub and the "freewheel" cogs that screwed onto a threaded hub.

Thanks for clarifying that shops dumbified the consumers
That's how I pictured it.

 

If by “some” you mean 99% then ok.

LOL, I'm showing you documents by Shimano where they do not call it "freehub body" and you claim that 99% do it. 99% in your perception, that I believe.

How long have you worked in a his industry?

I am not currently working in this industry as you probably have guessed.
But apparently I know the history and what a freehub really is, despite a lot of people don't.

 

The original question was whether a HG freehub body I gave the link to was correct for my setup.

However I did not quite understand these so called freehub bodies do not have a common interface to the wheel hub. (Still not sure I have the right nomenclature).

 

Guys - thanks everyone for your help. I can see this is a confusing topic! I'm going to start a new thread on why the hell I want to inspect the freehub body in the first place. Maybe I am banking up the wrong bush.

 

Freehub bearings are generally well protected and are not common bearing replacement items. I suspect they are prolly in acceptable condition. YMMV

 

I like your use of caveats (generally, suspect, prolly). Are you a lawyer? Consultant? 😎

 

Mechanic removed it for me. It's running rough, suspect bearings need servicing.

I'm still struggling to ID it from the part number. Mechanic struggling to find a locknut to service it, may not be viable so I need to ID the part.

 

View attachment 2110835

Wondering how this ring or whatever it is in front of the RHS bearing got beat up.
Anyways, I'd just replace the bearings, not seeing a need to replace the full body. Some manufacturers consider the freewheel not serviceable, and recommend to not disassemble it. Why, is beyond my knowledge, and I wouldn't and don't care.

It probably mean more profit for them, than if you go and buy high quality bearings elsewhere, instead of their cheap bearings in an complete aluminum body that they sell for $50-$100.

 

regular old shimano

 

Any chance you can point me at one online? Would also love to know how to get the locking ring off.

 

in this pic

A is standard shimano splines you can mount most shimano cassettes on here
(as long as the number of cogs match the system...10 speed)

B is proprietary to Bear Pawls OEM hubs, so you still need to find a specific one to use on your specific hub
though it may be some type of common interface and will work on multiple hubs. Bear Pawls make that hub
specialized sells it and you can buy different ones that will go into the same hub (see link I pasted in post 55 below)

 

What lock ring?

 

Specialized 3 Pawl Shimano Freehub Body (Steel) (10-Speed) (HFH-0001)
(made by Bear Pawls for specialized)

Bear Pawls Shimano 10-SPD 3 Pawl HFH-0001 Freehub Body
Alternative part codes
HFH-0001
BMB-00412O1A
BEB-51412P1A
S202100004 Specialized New Code
S202100001 Specialized Old Code

Specialized 3 Pawl Shimano Freehub Body (Steel) (10-Speed) (HFH-0001)

Specialized 3 Pawl Shimano Freehub Body Description: This Specialized 3 Pawl Shimano Freehub Body is 10 speed compatible and a replacement part for... S202100004

www.performancebike.com

 

Thanks for this, really appreciate it!!

I don't know my freehub from my rear end so this is helpful. Are any of these likely to be more durable than others. I'm conscious I wore this out in almost 1 year exactly but it did get a hell of a wash over winter and I didn't necessarily know what I was doing with degreaser, water repellent etc.

 

for that hub you won't be able to get 'more durable' pawls and ratchet, it is what it is. a commodity hub

however, the splines are steel and very robust (and heavy)

most splines are aluminum nowadays and those can develop notches
where the cogs cut into the splines by .2 or .5 mm, which makes cassette
removal problematic at times if they snag.

so, you have a very robust spline being steel, but the pawls are sort
of generic and you are stuck with 3 pawls. more robust systems have 4, 5, or 6 pawls.

Freehubs explained: standards, compatibility and how a freehub works | BikeRadar

What is a freehub, how does it work and what are the different types?

www.bikeradar.com

 

Thanks, ok well that's good. It's more the bearings inside that have worn, as you say it is what it is.