“Its the freehubs that are the problem…. “
+1
more than the short lifespans, the sudden failures I like least about them. Either something snapping to lose all drive or something dislodging to lock the almost lock up completely but requiring constant pedalling to try to prevent ripping the rear mech off
Also the freehub isn’t the quickest (16 point), shimano SLX centrelock can be had for similat money and weight as XT 756 but twice the pickup speed (32 point). Its possible to bodge the SLX freehub onto a (6 bolt) M756 XT, but its obviously not meant to work
Theres a gap between the freehub and hub body so dirt will get to the seals in the back of the freehub much more easily, you’ll need to ditch a couple of spacers from the axle assembly to keep the 135mm spacing, and the rim will need re-centring (negatively so, the driveside spokes will have to be a steeper angle under more sress. I’ve not noticed many more spokes going than normal, nor on just the driveside, it has let me get a 32point pickup hub without having to rebuild my 6bolt XT hubbed wheel though
As above, keep on top of any play in the hub, keep it greased and replace the ball bearings and cone nuts once in a while. If you don’t you’ll get some pitting in the races, the driveside is part of the freehub so that’ll be replaced in time but the nondriveside is part of the hub body(?) so you’re stuck with it. Its much harder to keep on top of play once you’ve got even a little pitting in a race IME
I’d like to go cartridge if/when I get some new wheels but I want at least 32 or 36 point pickup, hope pro IIs noise levels don’t sit well with me (so I believe thats dmr and superstar standard out too), nor do I really want to spend more than £100, ideally less than £50
770 centrelock 36point oversize axle/caged cup/cone bearinged XTs would probably where I’d spend now