Dereailleur hanger replacement

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SWSteve

Guru
Location
Bristol...ish
I have a feeling after a fall I may need to replace the derailleur hanger/RD. It's now out of sync, it doesn't shift like it did before, but how do I check/find the part to order? Obviously something is wrong, but how do I identify if it's the hanger or the RD? Does it need to be manufacturer specific? As my LBS doesn't stock Specialized.

Thanks
 
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User33236

Guest
Your LBS should at least be able to tell you if its the hanger or the derailleur that out of kilter no matter what brand of bike.
 

PK99

Legendary Member
Location
SW19
I have a feeling after a fall I may need to replace the derailleur hanger/RD. It's now out of sync, it doesn't shift like it did before, but how do I check/find the part to order? Obviously something is wrong, but how do I identify if it's the hanger or the RD? Does it need to be manufacturer specific? As my LBS doesn't stock Specialized.

Thanks

google is your friend here, lots of sites with pretty pictures to match
 

shadow master

Well-Known Member
Google won't be your friend when you put the new dropout on and the bent rear mech shoots straight on the wheel again.....strike up a relationship with your local shop,dropouts generic as specialised don't make frames.
 

bpsmith

Veteran
Before thinking about the mech, the hanger alignment needs to be checked. If it's bent, which the chances are it is and it's taken a knock, then no amount of tweaking of the mech will fix it.

The hanger is the weakest link, by design, so will be the first component to bend. If it's not broken, then no need to replace, as easily realigned.
 

bpsmith

Veteran
Take the old hanger off and place it on a flat work top/surface. You should be able too see if it's even slightly bent.
How do you check if the frame is bent though?

A perfectly straight hanger is meaningless if the frame is out. Adjusting the hanger on bike avoids this being an issue.
 

bianchi1

Guru
Location
malverns
How do you check if the frame is bent though?

A perfectly straight hanger is meaningless if the frame is out. Adjusting the hanger on bike avoids this being an issue.


Possess of elimination really, while bearing in mind it could be a combination of factors.

A rear hanger takes 5 minutes to check. If it's bent, chances are it's the problem. If it's completely flat and straight chances are it might be something else.

I agree they are pretty soft, and can be bent around to try and 'manufacture' a fix, but if my frame was bent I would want to know about it and perhaps get it professionaly looked at.
 

screenman

Legendary Member
If you frame is bent a good wheel mounted in the hangers will tell you. A rear mech hanger alignment tools is as I have written before a very worthwhile tool to have in the box. As many are starting to realise.
 

bpsmith

Veteran
Exactly @screenman. Sorted out my Defy nicely and I am not aware of knocking the hanger in its short 17 month life so far.

Going to give it a whirl on my mates bike later too, as he has problems that need attention.
 

screenman

Legendary Member
I talked about this tool a couple of years ago, a lot of people said they did not need one, it was a waste of money etc. personally I find it a useful and cheap tool. I check mine every few months and there is always a little tweeking to do, more so obviously on the MTB, but even the roads bikes go out of alignment a bit, chains are lasting longer I feel as well.
 
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