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Sram and Shimano compatability.

Excuse my ignorance on this subject.... I don't know a whole lot about drive train parts. Can someone please tell me if Sram and Shimano are able to be used in a drive train combination? I am thinking about buying a Sram rear casette but only if I can use it with my current running gear on the front which is Shimano Deore or something of that calibre. I think that they are able to be used together, but I'm not positive. Any advice would be appreciated :o)

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Permalink Reply by Nathaniel Peek on November 21, 2011 at 17:23

I have swapped sram rear cassettes with lighter Shimano XT/XTR ones before with on issues at all. You will need to get a new chain installed due to the wear matching your old cassette and maybe replace your front chain rings as well but this depends on the wear once again.

Best to check with your bike store I guess just to make sure.

Nat

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Permalink Reply by Christopher Giuliano on November 22, 2011 at 7:00

I too have mix-and-matched SRAM with Shimano rings/chains/clusters with no problems.

You can't mix a rear derailler with a rear shifter because SRAM and Shimano move different amounts of cable with every shift - that fact may lead to people thinking they aren't compatible.

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Permalink Reply by tegski on November 22, 2011 at 23:16

Happily run Sram or Shimano chains on Shimano XT drive train in the past.

Then rear XT cassette replaced with bling Sram one…no problems at all.

As has been said though if the parts are too worn there will be slippage problems. (Obviously don't mix'n'match with 9 and 10 speed…)

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Permalink Reply by Steve K on November 23, 2011 at 5:36

Good info, but I assume Shimano Dynasys is a different story?

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Permalink Reply by Craig Martin on November 23, 2011 at 7:18

I have also swapped cassettes. Also the front mech is shimano, shifters sram, its only a rear that cant go with other shifter, as mentioned. Dynasys is just a ten speed, so same story I think. Cassette wears chain, chain wears rings, thats all you need to think about when changing things.

I think all my bikes are mongrel blend.

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Permalink Reply by Steve K on November 23, 2011 at 7:44

Oh cool I thought DynaSys was a tapered sort of effect that was on the chain and chainrings and cassette, meaning it all had to work together sort of thing. Good news if it's interchangable :)

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Permalink Reply by Noodle on November 23, 2011 at 8:16

So, these are going to be 'race' wheels. I'll run my old wheels normally which all have Shimano Deore front to back.... does that mean if I change my wheels over for racing, I should change my chain too? And, now that I have everyone's attention, what are the sizing differences and what is the effect on riding?

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Permalink Reply by Craig Martin on November 23, 2011 at 9:19

Steve, all shimano rings I have are shaped for shifting, but it wouldnt surprise me if they have made them incompatable, big business is like that. Noodle, I run a regular set, and a race set, but run the same type of cassette on both. I have never had any problems, but if you run two different cassettes, I think you might get some ghost shifting, weird wearing on the chain, and therefore rings. For sure you need the same ratio, or the chain wont fit.