CLD vs. 6 Bolt Disc Hubs
04-17-24, 10:20 AM
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CLD vs. 6 Bolt Disc Hubs
I'm upgrading wheels and am wondering about centerlock discs. All my wheels are currently 6 bolt discs, which are fine in my opinion. It appears that the higher end hubs are mostly, if not exclusively, CLDs.
With a number of bikes, interchangeability is important to me. Are CLD wheels interchangeable with 6-bolt wheels without any adjustments?
What are some of the folks' here favorite road hubs?
With a number of bikes, interchangeability is important to me. Are CLD wheels interchangeable with 6-bolt wheels without any adjustments?
What are some of the folks' here favorite road hubs?
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04-17-24, 10:49 AM
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I have a sample size of 1, but going from DT Swiss 6 bolt hubs to Onyx center lock hubs, I did not have to move my brake calipers.
However, I have had to move my calipers for changing from one 6 bolt wheelset to another 6 bolt wheel set.
They'll be close, but how close depends on the hubs' and rotors' stack up of tolerances.
I assume that's what you're referencing?
However, I have had to move my calipers for changing from one 6 bolt wheelset to another 6 bolt wheel set.
They'll be close, but how close depends on the hubs' and rotors' stack up of tolerances.
I assume that's what you're referencing?
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04-17-24, 11:03 AM
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I have a sample size of 1, but going from DT Swiss 6 bolt hubs to Onyx center lock hubs, I did not have to move my brake calipers.
However, I have had to move my calipers for changing from one 6 bolt wheelset to another 6 bolt wheel set.
They'll be close, but how close depends on the hubs' and rotors' stack up of tolerances.
I assume that's what you're referencing?
However, I have had to move my calipers for changing from one 6 bolt wheelset to another 6 bolt wheel set.
They'll be close, but how close depends on the hubs' and rotors' stack up of tolerances.
I assume that's what you're referencing?
Also, are all centerlock discs interchangeable (not asking about rotor diameter, but other potential incompatibilities).
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04-17-24, 11:25 AM
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Yes it's a standard, but as noted earlier the precise location of the disc varies. If you plan on using various wheels on the same bike, you can shim the discs (or on some adjust the axle spacing) so that all the wheels match exactly and no brake adjustment would be needed with a switch.
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04-17-24, 11:26 AM
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Discs are the same, there are two (as far as I know) types of lock rings.
04-17-24, 01:20 PM
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Are the two types of lock rings interchangeable?
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04-17-24, 01:35 PM
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Yes...maybe.
Both will lock the rotor to the hub. However, I encountered an issue where this type...
...rubbed against my frame at the rear hub, but this type...
...cleared just fine.
On other frames I have, there is plenty of clearance for the first type.
One of the advantages of the second type is that it uses a standard Shimano cassette tool, which many people already have in their tool box.
Both will lock the rotor to the hub. However, I encountered an issue where this type...
...rubbed against my frame at the rear hub, but this type...
...cleared just fine.
On other frames I have, there is plenty of clearance for the first type.
One of the advantages of the second type is that it uses a standard Shimano cassette tool, which many people already have in their tool box.
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Last edited by Eric F; 04-17-24 at 02:04 PM.
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04-17-24, 01:38 PM
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OP: you can use an adapter to mount a six-bolt rotor to a center lock hub, but NOT vice-versa. Since most of the good rotors (e.g., Shimano Ice-Tech) are center lock, you are better off choosing center lock rotors -- they'll be pretty much future-proof. You can keep using your current six-bolt rotors with the adapters (which are cheap and almost weightless), then buy center lock rotors when you need new ones.
As others have mentioned, it's very possible that your two wheelsets will put the rotors in slightly different positions; you can either re-align the rotor(s) when switching wheels, or you might be able to shim a rotor to account for the difference in tolerances. It's no big deal.
As for specific hubs: I'm a big fan of the DT Swiss 350. You can spend a lot more money to save very little weight with other hubs (like the DTS 240s), but the 350 is pretty light. Very robust and reliable, too.
Last edited by Koyote; 04-17-24 at 01:51 PM.
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04-17-24, 01:47 PM
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04-17-24, 01:57 PM
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sometimes the bolts can interfere with the fork/bracket depending on the overall design.
For the most part, i'd not worry much if one will fit or not unless it was a bicycle build that has long lead time for parts or if it's an expensive build.
Personally, I'd opt for CLD to reduce the chances of having to deal with hardware corrosion issues.
For the most part, i'd not worry much if one will fit or not unless it was a bicycle build that has long lead time for parts or if it's an expensive build.
Personally, I'd opt for CLD to reduce the chances of having to deal with hardware corrosion issues.
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04-19-24, 07:36 AM
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It seems that 6 bolt are getting less popular. Hopefully that doesn’t become an issue for people hoping to buy new decent quality rotors. With the service life of rotors, this probably isn’t a big deal.
Center lock change out faster, with few tools, and less chance to contaminate the rotors with your grubby little hands.
Center lock change out faster, with few tools, and less chance to contaminate the rotors with your grubby little hands.
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04-30-24, 05:37 PM
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IF a caliper adjustment is needed between the two sets of wheels, you can probably fix that with shims so you don't have to make the adjustment every timg.
04-30-24, 09:20 PM
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I have stuck with 6 bolts for years. I don't actually have an CLD stuff yet and no issues. Though did have an minor issue where the bike initially came with CLDs and had a magnet that was mounted on the lockring and didn't realize till the bitter end but made my own with some high heat epoxy and a strip of metal and a magnet and it works fine.
I don't hate CLD I think it is a great concept but being able to swap rotors between bikes as needed is quite nice and swapping over to CLD for everything would be expensive.
I don't hate CLD I think it is a great concept but being able to swap rotors between bikes as needed is quite nice and swapping over to CLD for everything would be expensive.
