http://www.woollyhatshop.com/view_product.php?id=2679
http://www.woollyhatshop.com/view_product.php?id=1183
Whats the difference between these two? Or are they the same?
They're different, it's down to the cable routing/swing, check your current one to see which if any matches
Well its for a new bike, a santa cruz chameleon. Is there one that will work/fit with any frame/cable routing/swing?
The first one fits to a 28.6mm seat tube as well as the two larger diameters. It will be suppled with a couple of spacers.
The tube clamp appears to be situated above the mechanism in the first mech. and the second is more of a compact design.
Both work with top or bottom pull (the routing of the cable depends on your frame).
Check that you are running the right thickness of chain.
Front mechs are much of a muchness IMHO. They don't get a great deal of use and front shifting has never been a slick affair.
So does it not matter which one I buy?
I dunno! 😆
Measure your seat tube diameter and also check Shimano's website. They have groupset compatibility charts on there somewhere.
Ok they seem to be exactly the same, except for one is a down swing, and the other is a top swing. The top swing can deal with 48t, and the down swing can only deal with 44t.
Anyone know whats better between top and down swing?
I'd go for the one that has the clamp above the mech as from my experience they tend to last longer before they start slopping around. Personal choice though and you will need to make sure your frame can fit that kind of mech - I suspect as it is a standard looking diamond-framed bike it should, but if it is a small frame the water bottle bolts may be in the way.
Both are Dual Pull so could work with cable routing from above or below...