MTB gears advice (8-speed to 9-speed)

Rilot

Rilot

Rilot

Don
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
23,198
Location
Wargrave, UK
My MTB is currently running a Shimano Deore setup (8-speed) with Alivio shifters and v-brakes. I've recently bought a set of Avid Juicy 3s but the shifters for my current gearset are integrated in to the brake levers.
So, levers and shifters ditched, meaning I need to buy some new 8-speed shifters, which, aren't easy to find and the ones that I can find are either gripshifters (uuuughhhh!) or expensive.

So, I've decided to convert to 9-speed:

Shimano Deore 9-speed M530 pods
SRAM PG950 cassette
My current Deore rear mech is 8 or 9 speed so the throw should be OK
SRAM PC951 chain

What I want to know is, will my current Deore front mech be able to shift the thinner 9-speed chain with no issues or should I really swap that for a 9-speed compatible item too?
 
It should be fine - at worst you'll just have to adjust the high & low postions slightly.
9 speed front mechs are just a touch thinner than 8 speed versions so it's more of a problem the other way around. i.e. 8 speed chain on 9 speed mech
 
Last edited:
I suggest changing just the chainrings instead of the whole crankset.

Or if you want an excuse to upgrade your crank, just do it :)

I sugguest going for external bearing cranksets are so much stiffer than internal bearing ones, well worth the upgrade and you will feel it straight away.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom