[oldeschool]

Can I use a new 9 speed XT rear Derailluer with older 8spd shifter pods ?

 

[Call_me_Clyde]

You should be OK

Just make sure it's not a rapid rise derailleur, as the shifting will be opposite (e.g 8 on your shift indicator will be 1 on the cassette, and vice versa). I am running a set of XT integrated 8 speed shifter/levers with a 9 speed LX derailleur and it's fine.

FWIW, if you want an 8 speed XT derailleur, you can still get them new from places like jonesbikes on ebay. They also have a brick and morar store in CA if you don't care to buy online.

Best wishes,

Bob

 

[Jayem]

No problem, that will work fine.

 

[Hecubus]

8 speed and 9 speed derailleurs are one and the same rapid rise or high normal. The total cassette spacing for 8 and 9 speed is the same and since the indexing is performed by the shifter the derailleur has no impact.

 

[Coaster?]

8 speed and 9 speed derailleurs are one and the same rapid rise or high normal. The total cassette spacing for 8 and 9 speed is the same and since the indexing is performed by the shifter the derailleur has no impact.

Is this also true for 7 speed derailleurs, or do they not travel enough (even with limit screws maxed out) to reach all nine gears?
Thanks.

 

[Shayne]

Seven spd derailleurs will work fine too.

 

[wddamf]

The derailleur doesn't know what travel it is - it just does what the shifter cable tells it to do - so they all work on all cassettes. The shifter makes the decisions.

 

[Coaster?]

The derailleur doesn't know what travel it is - it just does what the shifter cable tells it to do - so they all work on all cassettes. The shifter makes the decisions.

Understood - I thought maybe the parallelogram of the 7 speed rear might be too short for the as-yet-unthought-of additional width of the 8/9 speed cassette.
But a 7 speed rear won't work on all cassettes, correct? They still must stay within certain max and min teeth? Or is that just a matter of cage length?
Thanks for any clarification.

 

[Shayne]

That Is Just A Matter Of Cage Length

Or rather a matter of which gears you shift into.